Lemon Drops

                                              

Ingredients:
1/4 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp (i used more like 1 1/2 tsp) lemon extract
*optional: a little bit of yellow food coloring

Directions:

1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Combine the water, sugar, corn syrup, and cream of tartar in a small saucepan. Cook over the medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture begins to bubble. (add the dye…i only put like 2-3 drops. you don’t need alot). Wash down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in hot water if sugar crystals have formed on the sides. Clip a candy thermometer to the pan and continue cooking over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches 300 (So i only went to 230 and the candy set…more or less, it was just really gooey once it made it into your mouth, but at least it didn’t burn).
2. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in lemon extract (the sugar syrup should bubble a little when you pour the extract in). When the bubbling has subsided, use an oiled teaspoon to drop teaspoonfuls of the sugar syrup onto the prepared sheets.
3. To store candies, wrap them in sheets of parchment paper, making sure the candies don’t touch, as they will stick together.

*Notes:
I’ve yet to get the full 40 candies this recipe promises—mostly because the syrup dries so quickly that it’s hard to scoop fast enough. These were pretty good. they stick to your teeth like no other though. I made some lollipops. I bought lollipop sticks off Amazon last October. These candies are pretty good. they’re not traditional lemon drops like i was hoping but they’re still decent.