National Hard Candy Day and Gingerbread Houses with kids!

Today is National Hard Candy Day and Christmas is a great time to celebrate hard candies.  We thought we would combine this day with Gingerbread Houses.  We may attempt to make our own sugar candy to help decorate our houses.  We have posted a few non edible gingerbread house crafts below.  

Simple Hard Candy Recipe:

3 3/4 C. white sugar
1 1/2 C. light corn syrup
1 C. water
1 T. orange, or other flavored extract
1/2 t. food coloring (optional)
1/4 C. confectioners' sugar for dusting

In a medium saucepan, stir together the white sugar, corn syrup, and water. Cook, stirring, over medium heat until sugar dissolves, then bring to a boil. Without stirring, heat to 300 to 310° F., or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms hard, brittle threads.

Remove from heat and stir in flavored extract and food coloring, if desired. Pour onto a greased cookie sheet, and dust the top with confectioners' sugar. Let cool, and break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.
 

Watch this video on how candy canes are made...wow - it looks like a lot of work!  (ribbon candy video is at bottom of this post)

Whether you are going to make a eatable or non Gingerbread House here are few non-editable houses to help you get inspired...

 

Faux Gingerbread House

Family Fun Magazine

Felt Gingerbread Houses

Family Fun Magazine

 

Paper Gingerbread Village

Family Fun Magazine

How Ribbon Candy is made: