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Crystal Candy
5 from 2 votes

Crystal Candy

This gorgeous crystal candy tastes as good as it looks! Inspired by the Japanese candy "Kohakutou," it's such a fun treat to make with the kids. It has an addictive crunch to it and can be made with any flavor of your choosing!

Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
6 mins
Drying Time
5 d
Total Time
5 d 31 mins
Servings: 4 Cups Candy
Calories: 578 kcal
Course: Dessert, Snacks
Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients

  • 1 ⅔ cup water
  • 3 teaspoons agar agar powder
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon flavoring of choice
  • 1-3 Liquid food coloring as desired, drops

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Before you begin make sure you have everything out and ready because the candy begins to set up quickly after cooking. However many different flavors and colors you would like to use, lightly grease small containers. I used small tupperware and do 2-3 flavors per batch. Have your food coloring and flavoring ready to go.
  2. Add the water to a small pot and sprinkle the agar agar in. Stir and let stand for 5 minutes.
  3. Bring the water and agar agar to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Add the sugar and stir. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
  4. Remove from the heat and separate into the different prepared containers. Move quickly but carefully and add your flavoring and coloring to the candy. In total you should use about ¼ teaspoon of flavoring, so if you choose to do more than one flavor stick with just a few drops of flavoring to avoid it being too strong.
  5. Use a toothpick or wooden skewer to swirl the flavoring and color through the candy.
  6. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours, until the candy is firm. Use a knife to pop the candy out in one piece onto a cutting board. It should be firm but sticky.
  7. Use a paring knife to cut the candy it to whatever shapes you want. You can trim, or “bevel” the edges to make the pieces look more crystal or gem like. If you have scraps from trimming the edges, chop them into small pieces and add them to a larger one or form them into their own crystal cluster. 
  8. Lay all the candy pieces out on parchment lined baking sheets.
  9. Store in a cool, dry place for 5-7 days at minimum, rotating them as needed so all the pieces form a crust on the outside. You can cover them with a lid, but they will take longer to form the crust. 
  10. Once the candy has fully crusted, you may add edible gold luster dust or gold leaf if desired. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 578kcal (29%) Carbohydrates 149g (50%) Protein 0.01g (0%) Fat 0.5g (1%) Sodium 7mg (0%) Potassium 4mg (0%) Fiber 0.01g (0%) Sugar 150g (300%) Calcium 5mg (1%) Iron 0.1mg (1%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 Cups Candy

Amount Per Serving

Calories 578

% Daily Value*

Calories 578kcal 29%
Carbohydrates 149g 50%
Protein 0.01g 0%
Fat 0.5g 1%
Sodium 7mg 0%
Potassium 4mg 0%
Fiber 0.01g 0%
Sugar 150g 300%
Calcium 5mg 1%
Iron 0.1mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.