Cinnamon hard candy is a holiday tradition that began in my household about 12 years ago. Daughter, Megan, received a bag of candy from a friend and we were instantly in love with it.  We’ve made several batches every year to give to family and friends.  The sumptuous smell of cinnamon lingers in your home for the day. The candy keeps for a long time, especially in the dry Colorado climate.  It’s pretty to wrap up in festive bags for gifts.

Cinnamon Candy Gift Bag

CINNAMON HARD CANDY

1 cup white sugar
1 cup karo syrup
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon oil (usually behind the prescription counter at your grocery store)
1/4 teaspoon red food coloring                                                                     powdered sugar

Ingredients for Cinnamon Hard Candy

Combine sugar, syrup and water in a sauce pan.

Sugar, Karo and Water ready for the stove

Boil without stirring, over medium-high heat until it reaches hard crack stage (300-310 degrees).

Once the candy starts to thicken and turn golden brown, watch carefully or it can scorch.

Candy reaches hard crack stage

When done, remove from heat and quickly add cinnamon oil and food coloring.

Candy mixture after red food coloring and cinnamon oil have been added

Pour into a metal pan that has been lined with about 1/4 to 1/3″ powdered sugar.

Cinnamon Hard Candy Mixture poured into pan with powdered sugar

Sprinkle powdered sugar on top of candy immediately. Let cool until the edges start to firm up and then immediately begin to score the pieces from around the edges and keep cutting inward, in squares, as the candy hardens.  This makes it easier to break into more uniform pieces once the candy has hardened.

Cinnamon Hard Candy scored in pan