Likely the most important development in the area of science remains the ability to make everyone’s favorite snack: candy. In this post, you will learn about three different types of candy that you can make from the comfort of your kitchen. Just be careful. These experiments will involve heating up sugar to very hot temperatures, so grab an adult, be safe and use appropriate kitchen equipment!
Cooking Up Caramel Syrup!
Supplies:
- ½ cup of sugar
- ½ cup of water
- Small, heavy frying pan
- Wooden spoon
- Stove
Experiment:
Heat up a small, heavy frying pan over medium heat. Put the ½ cup of sugar into the pan and continuously stir until it melts and starts to turn brown. When it becomes straw colored, remove the pan from the heat. Very slowly and carefully add the ½ cup of water to the pan. If you add the water too quickly, the caramel may spatter and burn you! Return the pan to the heat and stir for 10 minutes until all of the caramel is dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat after ten minutes and let the syrup cool. Apply to apples, ice cream or other sweet treats!
Rock Candy Concoction!
Supplies:
- ½ cup of water
- ½ cup of sugar
- Measuring cup
- Small saucepan
- Stove
- Wooden spoon
- 3 or 4 small shallow dishes
Experiment:
Pour ½ cup of sugar and ½ cup of water into a small saucepan and place the saucepan on the stove on low heat for a few minutes or until the sugar has completely dissolved in the water. Then, bring the temperature to medium high until the sugar begins to boil for one minute. The solution should be thick, clear and contain no sugar crystals when it is finished boiling. Pour the solution into small dishes while it is hot. Wrap these dishes up and let them sit at room temperature for up to a week or more. By the end, you will have crunchy rock crystals! Place a stick in the solution early on to make rock candy lollipops!
Creating Color Swirl Candy!
Supplies:
- 9×13 inch cake pan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Pot
- Long-handled spoon
- Candy thermometer
- Stove
- Oven mitts
- Table knife
- Cooking spray
- 1 cup of water
- 1 ¾ cups of sugar
- Food coloring
- ½ cup of corn syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon of cream of tartar
Experiment:
Coat the cake pan with cooking spray. Pour 1 cup of water, 1 ¾ cups of sugar, ½ cup of corn syrup and ⅛ teaspoon of cream of tartar into the pot. Put thermometer into the pot. Stir the sugar solution with long handled spoon. While stirring constantly, heat the sugar solution over low heat until it begins to boil. Turn the heat up to medium. Continue to stir until the sugar solution reaches 300 to 400 degrees Farenheit. Quickly pour the solution into the cake pans, add 10 to 20 drops of food coloring and use a knife to swirl the colors a little, but do not mix the solution. Left cool for 1 hour at room temperature. The sugar should be as delicious as can be and as smooth as glass.
With these experiments, you’ll be left with sweet treats to enjoy for any occasion or holiday. If you found these experiments fun and enjoyable, be sure to make use of Orange County Library System’s extensive number of science related books located at select library locations. If you can’t wait to take a look at these fantastic tomes, you can use our home delivery system, completely free of charge! Leave your favorite candy related experiments or experiences in the comments below!
