Who wouldn’t love a Candy Month? Well, sometimes you don’t want your little artist on a sugar rush, but we all do love candy. Even though the month is almost over, we are using the next couple of days to do our best to celebrate candy.

In our first project we are using science to make our own batch of glass candy. This project does use a stove or a hot plate, so adult supervision is required. We don’t want to burn our best art supplies, our fingers!

Supplies:

1. 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
2. 1/2 cup corn syrup
3. 1/2 cup water
4. 1 or 2 drops food coloring
5. 1 cup powdered sugar for coating
6. Candy thermometer
7. Stove or Hot plate
8. Aluminum foil, for easier cleanup
9. Cookie sheet
10. Pot
11. Freezer bag
12. Metal spoon (plastic will melt)
13. Measuring cups

Directions:

1. Place a piece of aluminum foil to cover a cookie sheet.
2. Put the granulated sugar, corn syrup, and water in a saucepan. Clip your candy thermometer to the side of the pan. Stir!
3. Bring to a boil, while stirring to dissolve the sugar. Once boiling, stop stirring and let it bubble away until it reaches 300F on the thermometer. As it gets close to 300F, add in the drops of food coloring,
4. When it reaches 300F, take it off the heat and immediately pour out onto the cookie sheet. It will spread out by itself. Be VERY CAREFUL; it is very hot!
5. Let the candy sit until fully cooled and hardened.
6. Use a meat tenderizer or mallet to lightly tap to break into pieces.
7. Working in batches, put the pieces of candy into the freezer bag with powdered sugar and coat well.
8. Store in airtight container.

While you are waiting for your candy to cool and harden, let’s make a craft about candy. In our project we are using candy stickers to make the witch’s house from the Brothers Grimm story, ‘Hansel and Gretel’. I recommend reading the story before making our project. If you would like to add ‘Hansel and Gretel’ to your library, click HERE.

Witch’s House

Supplies:

1. Copy of house
2. Candy stickers

Directions:

1. Print copy of house.
2. Use stickers to make the witch’s house.

We hope you had fun making and celebrating Candy Month. I know you are sure to tell your little artist, “You’re so creative!”