Description
Northern Lights Candy Glow is a vibrant and visually stunning homemade hard candy recipe that mimics the mesmerizing colors of the aurora borealis. This recipe combines classic candy ingredients with neon food colorings and optional edible glitter to create glowing, swirling sweets perfect for parties or festive treats. Simple to make on the stovetop, these candies harden to a crisp texture and can be enjoyed as shards or molded lollipops.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/4 teaspoon flavoring extract (choose raspberry, peppermint, or citrus)
Color & Decoration
- Assorted neon food coloring (blue, purple, green, pink)
- Edible luster dust or glow dust (optional)
- Edible glitter (optional)
Tools
- Candy thermometer
- Parchment paper or silicone mat
Instructions
- Prepare the workspace: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat to prevent sticking and set it aside for cooling the candy.
- Combine ingredients: In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, mix the granulated sugar, light corn syrup, water, and cream of tartar. Stir constantly over medium heat until the sugar fully dissolves, ensuring the mixture is smooth before heating further.
- Cook to hard crack stage: Attach a candy thermometer to the saucepan side and continue heating without stirring until the syrup reaches 300°F (hard crack stage). This temperature ensures the candy will be hard and brittle once cooled.
- Remove and flavor: Immediately take the pan off the heat to prevent burning, and stir in your chosen flavoring extract thoroughly.
- Divide and color: Carefully pour the hot candy syrup into separate heatproof bowls, tinting each portion with a different neon food coloring to resemble the northern lights colors—blue, purple, green, and pink.
- Create the swirl effect: Quickly spoon small amounts of each colored candy onto the prepared baking sheet. Use a skewer or toothpick to gently swirl the colors together, forming a beautiful marbled and glowing pattern while the candy is still molten.
- Optional decoration: While the candy is still warm, dust lightly with edible glitter or luster dust to enhance the magical glowing effect.
- Cool and harden: Let the candy sit at room temperature until it cools and hardens completely, about 15-20 minutes depending on thickness.
- Serve or store: Once set, break the candy into shards for serving or pour into molds to form lollipops. Store any extras in an airtight container to maintain crispness.
Notes
- Work quickly after adding food coloring, as the syrup hardens very fast and becomes difficult to swirl.
- For a glowing effect under blacklight, substitute the water with tonic water and use food colors that fluoresce safely.
- Store finished candy in an airtight container to keep it crisp and prevent moisture absorption.
- Use caution handling hot syrup to avoid burns.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
