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Old-Fashioned Homemade Cinnamon Rock Candy: The Ultimate Fiery & Spicy Holiday Treat

Close-up of bright red, crystalline cinnamon rock candy pieces dusted with white sugar on a white plate.
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Create classic, vibrant red cinnamon rock candy at home. This easy recipe delivers a bold, spicy-sweet flavor perfect for holiday gifting or festive snacking.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup light corn syrup
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon oil (or 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon for a milder flavor)
  • 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring (gel or liquid)
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Instructions

  1. Prepare your surface: Lightly grease a large baking sheet or line it with parchment paper. If you plan to break the candy into pieces, have a heavy-duty zip-top bag ready.
  2. Combine sugar, corn syrup, and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely.
  3. Insert a candy thermometer into the pan, making sure it does not touch the bottom.
  4. Increase the heat to medium-high and boil the mixture without stirring. If sugar crystals form on the sides of the pan, use a wet pastry brush to wash them down.
  5. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit (the hard crack stage). This usually takes 15 to 25 minutes.
  6. Remove the saucepan immediately from the heat once it reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
  7. Carefully stir in the cinnamon oil, red food coloring, and cream of tartar. Stir quickly but gently until the color and flavor are evenly distributed. Do not overmix, as this can cause crystallization.
  8. Immediately pour the hot candy mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it slightly with the back of a spoon if necessary, but avoid working it too much.
  9. Let the candy cool completely and harden at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Do not refrigerate.
  10. Once fully hardened, place the candy sheet into a heavy-duty zip-top bag. Cover the bag with a clean kitchen towel and use a rolling pin or the back of a heavy pan to break the candy into small, irregular pieces of cinnamon rock candy.
  11. Toss the broken pieces lightly with confectioners’ sugar to prevent sticking. Store your homemade cinnamon candy in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

  • For the boldest flavor, use pure cinnamon oil. If you use ground cinnamon, your candy will be less intensely flavored and may have small specks.
  • To achieve the classic, vibrant red hue, use a concentrated gel food coloring.
  • If you want to make homemade edible gifts, package the finished cinnamon rock candy in small cellophane bags tied with red ribbon.
  • If the candy sticks together after cooling, place the pieces back on the baking sheet, heat briefly in a 200 degree Fahrenheit oven for 5 minutes, then cool again before dusting with more confectioners’ sugar.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.unfoldrecipes.com/cinnamon-rock-candy-easy-homemade-hard-candy/