Today’s candy is a very old recipe that I remember my mom making for Christmas. I have not made it for years, but ran across the recipe the other day and decided in honor of my mother that I would make this! It is a hard tack candy that you could actually use to make suckers with, but I just made it the way my mom used to. For those of you who do not know what Anise is, it is a black licorice type flavor.
So let’s make some Anise Candy! First you are going to put 3 cups sugar, 1 cup corn syrup and 1/2 cup water in a large kettle. Bring to a boil.
You will let it boil to the hard crack stage. To test if it is at the hard crack stage, drizzle a small amount of the candy into a bowl of cold water, like this.
When the candy come out hard and brittle, it is at the crack stage, if it is soft and pliable you need to keep boiling it until you reach the crack stage. I tested my about 3 times, until I got it to where I wanted it. If you have a candy thermometer, you could also use that, you need to reach 300-310 degrees F, but I am showing you the good old fashioned way to test it! :)
When it gets to crack stage, add 1/2 tsp red food coloring and 1/2 tsp anise oil.
Pour out onto a buttered cookie sheet and let cool just a bit. (sorry about the flash spots in this picture, but the candy is so shiny that it just kept reflecting)
When slightly set, mark off in squares. (I actually do not remember my mother doing this, I remember her just using the handle of a butter knife and breaking it into pieces, but I have this step written in my recipe, so I tried it!)
After it has cooled off, break into pieces. Maybe this is why my mom just broke it with the handle of the knife, because it just kind of breaks into pieces! But it looks so pretty!
Put all those pieces into a bowl and look at how festive they are. They are also fun to add to plates of cookies or fudge etc to just add some bright color!
Here is the recipe:
Anise Candy
3 cups sugar
1 cup white syrup
1/2 cup water
Put in kettle and bring to a boil. Cook to crack stage.
add: 1/2 tsp red food coloring
1/2 tsp anise oil
Mix and pour into buttered cookie sheet. When slightly set, mark off in squares. Cool and then break into pieces.
This made me smile! I have a recipe for anise caramels that my MIL always used to make. I was thinking of doing the same – making a batch in her honor – besides, it’s really good!
Thank you soo mush for this recipe! I have made it twice now, and each time it turned out great ! My grandma used to make this year round and it brings back great memories:)
Carrie, I am glad that it brings back fond memories of your grandma…it brings back fond memories of my mom, so it must be a good recipe! :)
Anxious to make this Anise candy 👍🏻 Over 50 years ago there was a Candy Store in Columbia,S.C. That sold it and I loved it so much and I love ❤️ Licorice also but the Anise flavoring tastes a lot better to me. I usually add just a little Anise extract to my icing for cakes but only a little and taste so much better and everyone always loves it and they try to figure out what that little different taste is they love ❤️I have wanted to know how to make the hard candy for years and now maybe I can 👍🏻 Thank You for this recipe.
Brenda, You are welcome! Good luck with this recipe. It is one of my family favorites!
Thinking about how I also have started using a little Anise in my icing for cakes and it’s delicious and everyone ask what it is that gives it such a great flavor and everyone has loved that addition
Brenda, Great idea!! Thanks for sharing!
This recipie needs more anise. Reminds me of the candy that was made by family when I was a child, but not as flavorful. Next batch I will increase the anise.
Paul, Thank you for taking the time to write your comment. I will have to try that sometime. Anise is such strong flavor that I tend to go on the lighter side of it. But if you really like that licorice flavor, then by all means add more extract!