Why does my hard candy turn to sugar?

by Myrna Stall
(McDermott, Ohio USA)

I am trying to make toffee candy but when my mixture gets to 300 degrees and I spread it on a cookie sheet it turns to sugar...

Help!

Hi Myrna,

Are you making hard candy or toffee? By that I mean "toffee candy" as a mixture of sugar and butter or "hard candy" as a mixture of sugar and corn syrup?

There are different conditions that can cause the candy to fail. Here are some of the most common faults:

humidity
thermometer off
stirring too much
stirring too fast
sugar crystallization

If it IS toffee you are making, here are a few tips I gave to another visitor who was having trouble with her homemade toffee getting gritty.

Here are some other tips on toffee making as well. You may find them helpful, too.

Let me know if you get it sorted out.
Blessings,
Angie

Comments for Why does my hard candy turn to sugar?

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Nov 30, 2014

Scottish Tablet
by: Angie from chocolate-candy-mall.com

Hi Mary,
If you are referring to Scottish Tablet (sort of like fudge), than I don't believe it is supposed to be soft and smooth. It's not exactly grainy, but a little bit gritty, I guess you could say. :) Is that how yours turns out? It's a sweet and yummy treat even though it is a different texture. If yours is too grainy it may be that the sugar has crystallized when you were heating it. That happens sometimes when making candy.
Blessings,
Angie

Nov 26, 2014

making tablet
by: mary mcmillan

I make lots of tablet occasionally when it sets it turns sugary and crunchy, it should be soft and smooth?

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