From fruit to milk chocolate, a hard candy shell makes everything better. Use this recipe to create a shiny candy shell to make gifts for friends or a special treat for yourself.

Fill the bowl with ice and cold water, leaving a few inches at the top so the saucepan will fit without causing the water to spill over the sides of the bowl.

Grease the flat baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

  • From fruit to milk chocolate, a hard candy shell makes everything better.
  • Grease the flat baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

Combine the corn syrup, sugar and water in the saucepan. Place on the stovetop.

Set the heat to medium-high.

Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Leave the pot on medium-high heat, testing the temperature after 10 minutes. The temperature needs to be 149 degrees Celsius. (It may take longer than 10 minutes.)

Once the temperature reaches 148 degrees C, remove the pan from the heat, turn off the stovetop and immerse the saucepan in the bowl of cold water. Be sure that no cold water spills into the candy mixture.

The candy will take a moment to stop boiling, so put the items to be dipped on the skewers in the meantime.

  • Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
  • The candy will take a moment to stop boiling, so put the items to be dipped on the skewers in the meantime.

Being careful to touch only the top of the skewer, dip the items into the candy. Let any excess coating drip off into the saucepan.

Place the dipped items on the baking sheet and let them sit at room temperature for at least one hour.

TIP

After the items have rested at room temperature for at least one hour, it is a good idea to place them in the refrigerator to ensure the coating does not melt off.

WARNING

Once the candy mixture has stopped boiling, it is important to start dipping right away. The candy mixture will harden as it cools, making dipping difficult if it sits too long.