With the holidays right around the corner, candy canes serve as a treat or tree decorations.

Materials Needed:

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup light corn syrup (light in color, not sugar content)

1/2 cup water

1-3 teaspoon peppermint extract or other flavoring oil, to taste

red gel paste food coloring

Candy thermometer

New latex gloves

Estimated time: Three hours. Heating sugar takes 45 minutes.

Makes approximately: 15-20 candy canes

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 170 degrees fahrenheit. This keeps the sugar warm later. Line three baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2: Melt the sugar, corn syrup and water in a double boiler over high heat. Stir the sugar thoroughly until the sugar dissolves. Don’t stir again until the temperature reaches 295.

Step 3: Remove mixture from heat. Add peppermint. Pour half of the sugar mixture onto nonstick pan. Place pan into oven until ready to use.

Step 4: Put on a pair of rubber gloves then stir red food coloring into the remaining mixture. Form mixture into sticks of preferred length. Caution, it will be hot.

Step 5: Take the pan with the white candy on it out of oven and place red candy pan in oven. Make sure the white candy stays hot.

Step 6: This step needs to be completed quickly so that the red candy doesn’t melt. Form white candy into sticks being same shape and size as red candy. If candy hardens, place candy back into the oven to heat back up.

Step 7: Twist red sticks with white sticks to form the cane. Don’t forget to make the hook. Let candy canes cool for ten minutes then enjoy!

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Photo By Austin Kintz