Description
Kentucky Cream Pull Candy: Sweet, creamy treat made with butter, sugar, and cream. Irresistibly smooth and perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace Before beginning, butter a large marble slab, baking sheet, or heat-resistant countertop where you’ll pour the candy. Alternatively, line a baking sheet with a silicone mat. Keep extra butter nearby for your hands during the pulling process. Ensure all ingredients are measured and ready, as timing becomes crucial once cooking begins.
- Step 2: Combine Base Ingredients In a heavy-bottomed saucepan (at least 3 quarts), combine the sugar, water, and corn syrup. Stir gently until the sugar is moistened, being careful not to splash crystals up the sides of the pan. Insert your candy thermometer, ensuring it doesn’t touch the bottom of the pan.
- Step 3: Cook the Mixture Heat the mixture over medium-high heat without stirring. Allow it to come to a boil and continue cooking until it reaches exactly 260°F (127°C). The mixture will transform from clear to a light amber color. This typically takes 10-15 minutes, but rely on your thermometer rather than timing. If sugar crystals form on the sides of the pan, wash them down with a pastry brush dipped in water.
- Step 4: Add Remaining Ingredients Once at temperature, immediately remove from heat and add the butter, stirring gently until melted. Next, add the vanilla extract and baking soda. The mixture will foam up dramatically – this reaction incorporates air bubbles essential for the candy’s texture. Stir just enough to incorporate all ingredients without deflating the mixture too much.
- Step 5: Begin Cooling Process Pour the hot mixture onto your prepared surface. Don’t scrape the pan, as crystallized sugar on the sides could affect the texture. Allow the candy to cool just until you can handle it – about 2-3 minutes. The edges will cool faster, so fold them toward the center as they become manageable.
- Step 6: Pull the Candy Butter your hands generously and begin pulling the candy. Lift, stretch to arm’s length, fold over, and repeat continuously. The Kentucky Cream Pull Candy will gradually change from golden and transparent to a pearly white as air is incorporated. This pulling process typically takes 10-15 minutes and provides quite a workout!
- Step 7: Form and Cut When the candy becomes difficult to pull, has lost its shine, and holds its shape, it’s ready. Quickly pull it into a rope about 1/2-inch thick. Use buttered scissors to snip into 1-inch pieces, placing them on wax paper to fully cool and set.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 120 calories
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 5mg