What Is Candy and How Can I Use It?
Here's everything worth knowing about candy and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 24 recipes to cook tonight.
What is candy?
Candy is made by dissolving sugar in water or milk to form a syrup, which is boiled until it reaches the desired concentration or starts tocaramelize.
The type of candy depends on the ingredients and how long the mixture is boiled. Candy comes in an endless variety of textures from soft and chewy to hard and brittle.
The final texture of candy depends on the sugar concentration. As the syrup is heated, it boils, water evaporates, the sugar concentration increases, and the boiling point rises. A given temperature corresponds to a particular sugar concentration.
In general, higher temperatures and greater sugar concentrations result in hard, brittle candies, and lower temperatures result in softer candies.
Where found
Candy is usually found in the baking supplies section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
| In Chinese: | 糖果 | |
| British (UK) term: | ||
| en français: | des bonbons | |
| en español: | caramelo |
Recipes using candy
There are 24 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Homemade Coconut Pani Popcorn
Homemade coconut pani popcorn coats popped corn in a glossy coconut-treacle caramel, then presses it into chewy-crisp squares. A Sri Lankan sweet that beats any bagged caramel popcorn.
Homemade Kid Friendly Dessert
One of the most delicious desserts. Easy to make and wonderfully sweet. Try this recipe.
Homemade Fried Bananas
Caramelized bananas pan-fried in butter until golden, tossed in homemade caramel sauce, topped with toasted coconut and chocolate, served with yogurt.
Homemade Sweet Muffins
A simple, delicious snack. Mouthwatering muffins which are perfect for breakfast, coffee or tea later in the day. Try it!
Stained Glass Valentine's Day Cookies
These cookies are great for holiday parties, as well as just having around the house. The cookies look like stained glass, and you can switch up the colors and flavors depending on your theme!
Homemade Mixed Fruit Bread
A soft homemade yeast bread rolled around sweet candied mixed fruit, baked into a tender loaf with a fruity spiral through every slice. Lovely toasted with butter for breakfast or afternoon tea.
Poke A Hole In the Cake cake
Poke hole cake made with a German chocolate cake mix drenched in sweetened condensed milk and hot fudge, topped with whipped topping and crushed Heath bars. The ultimate church potluck dessert.
Halloween Chocolate Surprise Cupcakes
These chocolaty and moist cupcakes are filled with cream cheese and chocolate chips filling that adds extra creaminess and chocolaty taste into every bite. Decorate these delicious cupcakes into Halloween spiders, skulls, skeleton, mummies... Whichever way you or your kids love. Being creative and make sure to make a few bunches, they will disappear quickly.
Halloween Chocolate Mice
Tasty Halloween treats made into the shape of mice. Very chocolaty but not too sweet.
Peppermint Candy Cookies
Peppermint candy cookies with a buttery walnut shortbread shell hiding a pink cream cheese filling inside. Rolled in crushed peppermint and powdered sugar after baking.
Jello Skating Pond Recipe
Jello skating pond dessert: blue jello set in a clear pie plate, topped with whipped cream snow banks, gummy bear skaters, and a wafer roll log. A winter craft dessert kids can build themselves.
Gingerbread Cutouts
Classic gingerbread cutout cookies with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger in a sturdy dough that holds its shape. Corn syrup keeps them soft while vinegar adds a subtle tang that balances the warm spices.
Peanut Polka Dot Bars
No-bake peanut butter bars packed with crispy rice cereal, chopped peanuts, and colorful M&M's pressed on top. A fun, kid-friendly treat that comes together in one saucepan, no oven required.
Red Hot Salad
Red Hot Salad is a vintage molded gelatin salad with cherry Jell-O, Red Hots cinnamon candies, crushed pineapple, and applesauce. A sweet, spicy-cinnamon holiday side that jiggles and shines.
Raspberry-Chocolate Cheesecake
Raspberry-chocolate cheesecake: dense chocolate cream cheese filling with a raspberry candy flavoring, set on a graham dust crust. A bold, dark chocolate showstopper dessert.
Jujube Cake
Korean jujube rice cakes made with just two ingredients: dried jujubes kneaded with glutinous rice flour and steamed. Soft, chewy, and naturally sweet with no added sugar.
Halloween Crisp Candy Corn Treats
Halloween rice crispy treats loaded with candy corn, mini chocolate chips, and candy pumpkins. Dyed bright orange, these no-bake bars are a hit at school parties.
Mrs. Claus's Peppermint Cream Torte
Chocolate peppermint pinwheel torte with crushed candy cane filling and whipped cream frosting. Stunning Christmas dessert made from a cake roll cut into spirals.
Eggnog Parfait Pies
Eggnog parfait pies with lemon gelatin, vanilla ice cream, nutmeg, rum flavoring, and whipped egg whites in baked tart shells. A fluffy no-bake holiday dessert topped with whipped cream.
Halloween Horrific Witches Brew
Halloween horrific witches brew floats a frozen blood-red severed hand of raspberry-cranberry ice in fizzy ginger ale and sparkling cider, garnished with gummy snakes. A spooky non-alcoholic party punch.
Marshmallow Popcorn Christmas Tree*
Marshmallow popcorn Christmas tree, a green-tinted popcorn cone made with melted marshmallows, lime jello, and butter. The edible holiday centerpiece kids can build and decorate.
Chewy Rolo Cookie Bar
Chewy Rolo cookie bars: a yellow cake mix base studded with halved Rolo candies that melt into rivers of chocolate caramel. Five-ingredient bake-sale magic.
Marshmallow Popcorn Christmas Tree
Festive marshmallow popcorn Christmas tree shaped from lime Jello-coated popcorn and decorated with candy pieces. A fun, edible holiday centerpiece kids can help build.
