Swedish Hard Candy Food

HARD CANDY

Steps:

• Mix syrup, sugar and water.
• Bring to hard/crack boil on candy thermometer.
• Stir in Candy oil and food coloring. (watch about the steam coming off of the mixture, it can really get you).
• Butter the heat resistant surface you will be working on. (She had a marble candy board, I use a cookie sheet).
• When cool enough to touch with hands (but not too cool or it will be too late), butter you hands and kitchen scissors and begin cutting pieces with scissors.
• Put pieces in a bowl of confection sugar (coats each piece from sticking to one another) and when you get alot in the bowl, skake it thru a stainer to get excess off.
• This is a very, very fast paced thing! We always cut it to make small pieces, and we bent in any sharp edges to make it easier for the kids. I have poured it into the cookie sheet and as it sets up, you scour it with a pizza cutter. When completely cooled you can break it apart. It all depends on whether I have help or not.

SWEDISH HARD TACK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Rub in the shortening until the mixture appears sandy. Stir in the buttermilk until the dough holds together. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thick. Cut into 4-inch squares, then cut each square diagonally into triangles, and prick with a fork.
• Bake the triangles in preheated oven on ungreased cookie sheets until dry and lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

SWEDISH HARD CANDY

Steps:

• Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter and half-half in 2 qt heavy saucepan.
• Cook over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• (Watch so it doesn't overflow).
• Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, to the hard ball stage (250*).
• Remove from heat; add chopped almonds.
• Pour into small fluted paper dessert cups (about 1 1/2" diameter- and once paper removed.. will have a pretty edge) or drop from teaspoon onto waxed paper- to make patties.

SWEDISH HARD CANDIES (KNäCK)

Steps:

• Combine sugar, syrup, butter and cream in a heavy saucepan.
• Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture forms a firm ball, about 250 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Add nuts and pour into small fluted waxed paper candy cups or onto well-buttered cookie sheet. If poured on a cookie sheet, allow to set before cutting into small squares with oiled scissors.
• Wrap in waxed paper.