Old Time Hard Candy

Photo: flickr user paulidin

Ingredients

3 cups sugar

1 cup water

3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon oil flavoring

Preparation

Combine sugar, water and cream of tartar in heavy saucepan and heat to 300 degrees. Remove from heat, add flavoring (add coloring if desired). Stir and pour immediately onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. When cool, break into small pieces, dust with confectioners' sugar and store in a jar.

Hard Candy Lollipops: Make 1 recipe Old Time Hard Candy. After candy reaches 300 degrees remove from heat, stir in oil flavoring and food coloring. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Lay sucker stick in place on each circle of candy. Spoon another layer of hot candy syrup over each piece.

Lollipops With A Mold: Molded suckers can be made by using a metal mold. Coat the mold with vegetable oil before using. Insert the rolled paper sucker stick into the cavity made for it. After candy reaches the required cooking temperature and flavoring has been added, pour it into the prepared mold. Do not attempt to touch or move the mold; it will be VERY hot. Let set until cool and turn upside down to release.