Fruity Taffy

Ingredients:

-1/2 cup water

-1 Tbs. cornstarch

-2 cups sugar

-1 cup corn syrup

-1 tsp. glycerin (optional to

  make it smooth and pliable)

-1/2 tsp. salt

-2 Tbs. unsalted butter

-1/4 tsp. baking soda

-1 tsp. fruit extract (lemon, raspberry, orange, etc.)

-2 drops food coloring (optional

-1 tsp. citric acid (optional for tart flavor)

-In a bowl, combine the water and cornstarch and stir until the cornstarch has completely dissolved into the water and it resembles milk.

-Pour the mixture into a heavy saucepan along with the sugar, corn syrup, glycerin, salt, and butter. Stir with a wooden spoon over medium heat until the sugar is completely melted.

-Attach a candy thermometer, stop stirring, and raise the heat to medium-high. Cook until the temperature reads 250 degrees.

-Remove the pan from the heat and immediately stir in the baking soda.

-Pour the sugar mixture onto a prepared surface (the back of a sheet pan, a marble slab, or a silicone baking mat) sprayed with nonstick spray.

-Using a bench scraper or two spatulas, also sprayed with nonstick spray, immediately start folding the outer edges of the sugar syrup into the middle. (The syrup is runny when it’s first poured out and you’ll naturally want to catch it to stop it from dripping onto the floor.) Keep putting the scraper underneath the outer edges of the syrup and folding it over. It will start to cool and thicken after a few turns.

-When the syrup is no longer runny, add the extract along with the coloring and citric acid (if using) and start the folding process again, occasionally spraying your work surface and your bench scraper with cooking spray to prevent sticking.

-Once the taffy is cool enough to handle, spray your hands with nonstick spray-or put on some latex gloves and spray them, too-and start pulling the taffy. Pull and bring the ends together. Pull and bring the ends back together. Keep pulling until the taffy is almost impossible to pull anymore and it starts to lighten in color.

-Place the pulled taffy on a sprayed work surface. Pull one end and start to gently twist until the diameter is about ½ inch thick. Using nonstick-sprayed scissors, cut the taffy into 1-inch pieces, placing them onto a piece of wax paper.

-Wrap your finished pieces in wax paper. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to a week.