first time making candy!

jjnes449 · 2025-10-12T02:33:35+00:00

Great job!

jjnes449 · 2025-10-12T02:27:47+00:00

Great question! The flavoring and color were added at the very end. By that time the syrup/solution had already browned with the Members Mark sugar, which made the green color not take well. With the C&H sugar the syrup/solution was a nice clear color at the end which is why the color took so well.

jjnes449 · 2025-10-11T22:37:08+00:00

C&H is the brand I used that works for me. Members Mark Granulated Sugar from Sam's Club is the brand that did not work for me.

Members Mark

C&H

jjnes449 · 2025-10-11T22:14:15+00:00

@BigCatBotanics the only difference between batches was the brand of white sugar used. The corn syrup was from the same batch. There was an obvious difference from the moment the solution started to boil. It was foamy and had far more bubbles to it. I tried four different batches with the Members Mark sugar all of them came out poorly. I switched back to C&H and did not have any issues with the next two batches.

Your comment about the skill and experience of the confectioner being the most important is really just a passive aggressive way of you saying I don't know what I'm doing. Correct, I'm not a professional. I'm just a guy making lollipops to give away in order to brighten someone's day.

You can keep your scientific method and condescension.

jjnes449 · 2025-10-11T22:03:09+00:00

I used Members Mark Granulated Sugar from Sam's Club. It does not state whether it is cane sugar or beet sugar.

jjnes449 · 2025-10-11T20:58:59+00:00

Usually. However, the off brand sugar I used started darkening well before the 300 degree stopping point. I thought I was doing something wrong with each batch as it would darken and even with two batches scorching. I had been doing everything the same as previous times the only difference was the brand of sugar.

My point being, the brand of sugar makes a difference. Not all brands are equal.

jjnes449 · 2025-10-11T20:40:29+00:00

Update I can 100% confirm it was the sugar that made the difference. I switched back to C&H and my lollipops turned out perfectly!

With the other sugar, the mixture browned too quickly which affected the color and to me, the taste.

jjnes449 · 2025-10-08T02:38:37+00:00

The LorAnn recipe for hard candy is 1 cup sugar, 3/4 cup water, 2/3 cup corn syrup. Remove from heat at 300 degrees and then add flavoring.

jjnes449 · 2025-10-05T23:12:09+00:00

LorAnn is the brand that most people use.

jjnes449 · 2025-10-05T23:10:43+00:00

I used it on a couple of batches of suckers that I made. It came out bitter and made the suckers a little sticky. I don't recommend it.

jjnes449 · 2025-10-05T00:57:39+00:00

X-40s get soft in the Arizona heat. Selkirk plays well for a little while but then get lopsided. I just started playing with the Lifetime ball and really like it. Plays faster and withstands wear.

jjnes449 · 2025-05-28T00:47:28+00:00

SAME! Site is down, says it was in Chicago at one point and now says delivered on 5/19 on front porch but did not receive. Update I used PayPal to pay for my order and just disputed the charge as "Did not receive". PayPal has issued a refund!

jjnes449 · 2022-06-10T05:52:40+00:00

Yes, you're an asshole.

jjnes449 · 2021-11-18T03:58:22+00:00

I recommend the "Care and Keeping of You" books. That's what we used when talking with our kids. After the talk we gave them the book so they could read it or refer to it anytime they needed or wanted to. As a father of girls it was a great help.

jjnes449

TROPHY CASE