Liz Makes Rock Candy
There was a trial run many months ago, but I never got follow-up photos. Today, Liz made another batch of rock candy, and set it aside so that the crystals would grow. I think we messed things up by constantly taking the sticks out and checking them, so the goal this time around is to let them sit more.
First step involves boiling down a lot of sugar. A LOT of sugar.
Aaaaand, more sugar. To create more than a handful at a time, Liz used some old Christmas paper cups. They’re double-stacked, in case the liquid seeps through the paper over the course of a few days.
Getting the sugar mixture heated and melted down.
Just a little bit of food coloring added.
And it turns blue pretty fast.
Setting aside the sticks to crystallize. I’m pretty proud of the suggestion I made: putting a bit of plastic over the lids, to keep the sticks upright and straight. An added benefit was that we could put more than one stick in per cup.
Note that the rock candy sticks are cooling next to a few batches of chocolate buttons, and a ton of glass containers for the eventual candy table that will be at the wedding reception.
But if you put multiple sticks per cup, how will you keep them from forming a blobbier two-sticked candy?
Mellzah (August 3, 2009 at 5:02 pm)Yeah, that’s my question too. I’m assuming you’ll break them apart, but won’t you have sugar shards everywhere?
juliet (August 4, 2009 at 12:20 am)Sugar cyrstals only form on the objects. I don’t know how or why, but they are. :) So they’re currently forming on the sticks, the sides of the cup and for some reason there is a thin layer on the top of the cup. So at the moment I just have to “chisle” away the stick base from the top of the cup to realease it. In the ‘free’ space there is just liquid (sugar/water).
Liz (August 4, 2009 at 9:32 am)That’s funny, because I was wondering the same thing! It’s so, so cool that you’re making these! Now for my next question…you see those glass containers and cake plates in that last picture?? What are you going to do with those after the wedding? I only ask because if the answer is sell them, I may be interested in buying some off you for our wedding.
Marty J. (August 4, 2009 at 11:07 pm)I actually haven’t thought about it. I probably would consider selling them after the wedding. I got really good prices on some of them too($5-$10). Feel free to remind me again, if I don’t remember. :)
Liz (August 5, 2009 at 9:30 am)I very well might do that! Thanks, Liz!
Marty J. (August 5, 2009 at 9:08 pm)this is awsome
Anonymous (February 4, 2011 at 8:13 am)