Description

Northern Lights Candy Glow is a visually stunning and fun homemade hard candy recipe that glows under UV light. This colorful candy combines sugar syrup cooked to the hard crack stage with vibrant food colorings and tonic water to create a glowing effect. Perfect for parties and special occasions, these candies offer a delightful sweet crunch with a magical luminescent finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Basic Candy Syrup

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon citric acid

Flavor & Color Additions

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1/4 teaspoon blue food coloring
1/4 teaspoon green food coloring
1/4 teaspoon yellow food coloring
1/4 teaspoon red food coloring
1/4 teaspoon tonic water (for glowing effect)

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Instructions

Prepare the Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent the candy from sticking and set it aside for easy pouring later.
Cook the Sugar Mixture: In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely. Then increase heat and allow mixture to boil without stirring for 5-7 minutes, monitoring with a candy thermometer until it reaches the hard crack stage at approximately 300°F (150°C).
Add the Baking Soda and Citric Acid: Remove the syrup from heat carefully and stir in baking soda and citric acid. The mixture will bubble vigorously, so handle with caution to avoid burns.
Add the Flavors and Colors: Immediately divide the hot syrup evenly into separate heat-safe bowls. To each bowl add a few drops of a different food coloring along with a teaspoon of tonic water, which imparts the glowing effect. Stir gently to combine the colors and tonic water uniformly.
Pour the Candy: Quickly pour each colored syrup onto the prepared baking sheet in separate sections to create a multi-colored candy sheet. Work fast as the syrup hardens quickly.
Cool and Harden: Allow the candy to cool and harden at room temperature for 20-30 minutes until completely set.
Break into Pieces: Once hardened, break the candy into bite-sized pieces and store them in an airtight container to maintain freshness. The candy will exhibit a glowing effect under UV light thanks to the tonic water.

Notes

Use a candy thermometer for accurate temperature control to ensure proper hard crack stage.
Be careful when handling hot sugar syrup—it can cause severe burns.
Tonic water contains quinine which fluoresces under UV light; this is what makes the candy glow.
Store candy in a cool, dry place in an airtight container to prevent sticking or melting.
Experiment with different color combinations to enhance the Northern Lights effect.