This Red Hot Cinnamon Hard Candy is a classic homemade treat—spicy, sweet, and packed with bold cinnamon flavor! With its bright red color and crackling texture, this candy is perfect for holidays, gifting, or just satisfying your spicy-sweet cravings!
🛒 Ingredients
✔ Butter (for greasing the pan) (prevents sticking!) 🧈
✔ 4 cups granulated sugar (creates the hard candy texture!) 🍚
✔ 1 cup light corn syrup (prevents crystallization & adds shine!) 🍯
✔ 1 cup purified water (helps dissolve the sugar!) 💧
✔ 1 teaspoon red gel food coloring (for that signature fiery look!) 🔴
✔ 1 teaspoon cinnamon oil (not extract!) (adds intense spicy cinnamon flavor!) 🌶️
✔ *½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, for extra depth!) 🌿
✔ *Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional!) 🍚
👨🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the Candy Mold or Baking Pan
- Grease a large baking sheet or candy molds with butter.
- If using a baking sheet, line it with parchment paper and lightly butter it.
2️⃣ Heat the Sugar Mixture
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water over medium heat.
- Stir gently until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Stop stirring once it starts boiling—this prevents crystallization!
3️⃣ Boil Until Hard-Crack Stage
