How to Make Jolly Ranchers

Jolly Ranchers are a type of “glass candy” that is made from a mixture of sugar and corn syrup. You can customize flavors and colors with this recipe. Individually wrap or coat the candy with powdered sugar to serve it without getting sticky hands.

Ingredients

3 cups (600g) granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups (355ml) corn syrup
3/4 cup (177ml) water
Food coloring
1 tbsp. (15ml) cherry, strawberry, lemon or other flavor extract

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cooking the Candy

1
Grease your cookie sheet with vegetable oil. Set it close by the stovetop on a flat surface.
2
Place a heavy saucepan on your burner. Add the granulated sugar, corn syrup and water. Turn the burner up to medium heat.
- If your burner runs cool, use medium high heat.
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3
Clip your candy thermometer to your saucepan. The tip should be submerged inside the syrup mixture.
4
Stir continuously. The sugar mixture should reach boiling.
5
Keep the mixture boiling. It should boil until it reaches 310 degrees Fahrenheit (154 Celsius). Be patient, since achieving this temperature can take a while.
- It is essential that the candy reach 300 to 310 degrees, which is considered “hard-crack.” At this point the sugar will change consistency.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Adding Flavoring

1
Remove from the burner. Hold on to the handle and keep stirring.
2
Pour in your flavor extract. Jolly Rancher flavors include cherry, apple, lemon, watermelon, strawberry and grape, so you can make several batches to achieve a mixed bag of candies.
3
Add several drops of food coloring to match your flavor extract. For example, green apple should be green, while cherry will be red.
4
Continue stirring until the boiling stops and the bubbles stop forming on the surface. Your candy texture will be smoother thanks to the extra stirring; however, it should still be very hot when you pour it into your baking sheet.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Separating Candies

1
Pour the hot candy into your greased baking sheet. Let it cool on the flat surface until you can touch it lightly. Test it with your finger. It should be slightly firm but malleable.^{[1]
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2
Flip your pan onto a cutting board. Try to do this in one swift motion so it doesn’t stretch
3
Score the candy into rows every one-inch (2.5cm) with a knife. Turn the cutting board 90 degrees and score it in the opposite direction every one-half inch (1.3cm). This will make rectangular Jolly Rancher candies.
4
Cut all the way through a second time. Wrap each candy in wax paper or cellophane while it is still warm. Try to keep the candy separated and airtight so that it doesn’t absorb too much moisture from the air.

Community Q&A

Question

How long does it take to make jolly ranchers?

Qamar

Top Answerer

It can take up to 3 hours to do the whole process.
Question

Is it mandatory to use corn syrup?

Community Answer

Yes, you need the corn syrup.
Question

What would I do if I want them to be the shape I buy at the store?

Community Answer

When it is almost hardened, you can mold them into whatever shape you'd like them to be.