Hard Candy Peppermint Twists

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
1/8 teaspoon red food coloring

Directions

Coat two 9-in. square baking pans with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. (Do not use butter or foil to prepare pans.)

In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine water and vinegar. Add sugar. 

Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a boil, about 8 minutes. (If sugar crystals are present, cover saucepan for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes to allow steam to wash crystals down.) 

Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 300 degrees F (hard-crack stage), about 26 minutes.

Combine peppermint extract and food coloring. Remove syrup from the heat; stir in peppermint mixture until will blended (mixture will bubble up slightly).

Keep face away from mixture as odor is strong. Immediately and carefully pour into prepared pans (do not scrape saucepan or tilt pans to spread mixture evenly). Cool for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes.

Using a sharp knife, score candy into 1/2-in.-to 3/4-in.-wide pieces, about 3-in. long. Place both pans in a warm oven(150 degrees F or your oven's lowest temperature) for about 5 minutes or until candy is warm enough to cut but cool enough to handle.

Using a heavy-duty kitchen scissors, cut along scored lines, one piece at a time. Immediately wrap each piece around the handle of a wooden spoon; remove candy and place on waxed paper to harden. 

Continue cutting wrapping until mixture in pan begins to harden. Return pan to oven for at least 5 minutes. 

Meanwhile, remove second pan from oven. Cut and wrap as before until mixture begins to harden. 

Return to oven and repeat with the first pan. Repeat until all mixture is cut and formed into twists.

Shared by Grandma Hilda McLean