Hard Maple Taffy

Serves: 5

Jacklyn McClure

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

36

Spice

51

Sweetness

43

Sourness

39

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.3

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1.25 cups

Sugar

6 tbsps

Water

1 tsp

Salt

1 tsp

Baking Soda

1 cup

Heavy Cream

Directions:

1

Oil a large marble slab or other heatproof work surface (see note, above), a bench knife (see note, above), a large knife (not serrated), and scissors

2

Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper

3

Cut butter into bits

4

In a 3- or 4-quart saucepan cook maple syrup over low heat until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 10 minutes

5

Add sugar, corn syrup, water, salt, and baking soda and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until sugar is completely dissolved, about 10 minutes

6

Increase heat to moderate and cook mixture, without stirring, until a candy or digital thermometer registers 235°F

7

Add cream, butter, and extract and boil, without stirring, until thermometer registers 255°F

8

, about 10 minutes

9

Remove pan from heat and immediately pour mixture onto oiled work surface

10

Cool mixture 2 minutes (do not touch mixture; it will be very hot)

11

With oiled bench knife lift and fold edges of candy toward center to form a 4- by 2-inch loaf

12

With bench knife continuously flip loaf over until barely cool enough to handle

13

With oiled hands pick up taffy

14

Working over work surface, pull ends of taffy loaf away from each other and bring hands together to fold in half

15

(Use caution because taffy will be cooler on surface than in center; it will cool and harden rapidly as it is pulled

16

) Release one hand and with it pick up folded end of taffy

17

Holding ends and working rhythmically, continue to pull and fold taffy (it will turn from a sticky mass to a golden, streaked ribbon) until it begins to feel firm and starts to harden

18

Put taffy down on work surface and pull into a 20-inch length

19

With oiled knife cut taffy into fourths

20

Pull and twist each fourth into an even 15-inch "rope," about 1/4 inch thick

21

With oiled scissors cut taffy ropes into 3/4-inch pieces and arrange in one layer, without touching, on baking sheets

22

Let taffy stand at room temperature until hard, about 1 hour

23

Individually wrap taffy pieces in wax paper or candy wrappers or layer between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container

24

Taffy keeps at cool room temperature 2 weeks

25

Oil a large marble slab or other heatproof work surface (see note, above), a bench knife (see note, above), a large knife (not serrated), and scissors

26

Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper

27

Cut butter into bits

28

In a 3- or 4-quart saucepan cook maple syrup over low heat until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 10 minutes

29

Add sugar, corn syrup, water, salt, and baking soda and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until sugar is completely dissolved, about 10 minutes

30

Increase heat to moderate and cook mixture, without stirring, until a candy or digital thermometer registers 235°F

31

Add cream, butter, and extract and boil, without stirring, until thermometer registers 255°F

32

, about 10 minutes

33

Remove pan from heat and immediately pour mixture onto oiled work surface

34

Cool mixture 2 minutes (do not touch mixture; it will be very hot)

35

With oiled bench knife lift and fold edges of candy toward center to form a 4- by 2-inch loaf

36

With bench knife continuously flip loaf over until barely cool enough to handle

37

With oiled hands pick up taffy

38

Working over work surface, pull ends of taffy loaf away from each other and bring hands together to fold in half

39

(Use caution because taffy will be cooler on surface than in center; it will cool and harden rapidly as it is pulled

40

) Release one hand and with it pick up folded end of taffy

41

Holding ends and working rhythmically, continue to pull and fold taffy (it will turn from a sticky mass to a golden, streaked ribbon) until it begins to feel firm and starts to harden

42

Put taffy down on work surface and pull into a 20-inch length

43

With oiled knife cut taffy into fourths

44

Pull and twist each fourth into an even 15-inch "rope," about 1/4 inch thick

45

With oiled scissors cut taffy ropes into 3/4-inch pieces and arrange in one layer, without touching, on baking sheets

46

Let taffy stand at room temperature until hard, about 1 hour

47

Individually wrap taffy pieces in wax paper or candy wrappers or layer between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container

48

Taffy keeps at cool room temperature 2 weeks