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Sugar glass looks amazing but it so cheap and easy to make yourself. Perfect for Halloween Glass Shard Cupcakes but you’ll use this technique all year long. Make Sea Glass or Lollipops, too!

SUGAR GLASS

Patti Diamond
Sugar glass looks amazing but it so inexpensive and easy to make yourself. Perfect for Halloween Glass Shard Cupcakes but you’ll use this technique all year long. Make Sea Glass or Lollipops, too!
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Allow the glass to cool 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Course Desserts, Holidays and Entertaining
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • Candy Thermometer

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla or peppermint extract or another flavoring - optional

Instructions
 

  • In a high-sided saucepan over medium heat, bring sugar, water and corn syrup to a boil, stirring the mixture until sugar dissolves.
    Sugar glass looks amazing but it so cheap and easy to make yourself. Perfect for Halloween Glass Shard Cupcakes but you’ll use this technique all year long. Make Sea Glass or Lollipops, too!
  • Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan, making sure that the tip is submerged but does not touch the bottom of the pan.
    Don't stir the mixture again once the sugar is dissolved.
    Sugar glass looks amazing but it so cheap and easy to make yourself. Perfect for Halloween Glass Shard Cupcakes but you’ll use this technique all year long. Make Sea Glass or Lollipops, too!
  • Wait for the candy thermometer to reach 290°F to 300°F which is the hard crack stage of candy making. This will take some time, so prepare to be patient. If you crank the heat the mixture will turn a darker shade of amber. It’s up to you.
  • If you don’t have a candy thermometer, cook until mixture turns pale gold. Test it by dipping a spoon in the syrup. Wait until it cools then carefully touch the candy on the spoon. If it’s sticky, you’re not there yet! It should be hard, like glass.  
  • Be very careful as the heated sugar mixture is extremely hot and will stick like lava to skin if spilled. Always use hand protection when dealing with heated sugar syrup.
    Sugar glass looks amazing but it so cheap and easy to make yourself. Perfect for Halloween Glass Shard Cupcakes but you’ll use this technique all year long. Make Sea Glass or Lollipops, too!
  • Remove from heat, add flavoring if using, and immediately pour syrup onto rimmed baking sheet. Working quickly, tilt (the HOT) pan to spread candy to edges to make a very thin layer.
  • Let cool at room temperature to harden.  Depending on temperature and humidity, this could take up to an hour.
  • Twist pan to release and break the candy. Use a metal spoon, or other object, in order for it to resemble broken glass.
    Sugar glass looks amazing but it so cheap and easy to make yourself. Perfect for Halloween Glass Shard Cupcakes but you’ll use this technique all year long. Make Sea Glass or Lollipops, too!
  • Place a shard or two of sugar glass in the center of each cupcake. For added effect, drizzle or pipe red tinted preserves where candy glass has entered the cupcake.
    Sugar glass looks amazing but it so cheap and easy to make yourself. Perfect for Halloween Glass Shard Cupcakes but you’ll use this technique all year long. Make Sea Glass or Lollipops, too!

Notes

Diva Tip - Do not attempt to speed up the hardening process by placing the candy glass in the freezer or refrigerator. This could cause it to shatter suddenly, sending pieces of the hardened "glass" flying.
Please note – this sugar glass can have sharp edges when you break it. I’ve never had any issues with it cutting people but I have read about other people reporting problems. So you should be cautious. Supervise small children. You can file sharp edges with a clean emery board or a fine grater. Or break them off and eat them, like I do.
Keyword Candy, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Halloween, How To, Vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!