Make old-fashioned Christmas hard tack candy at home — red and green peppermint and cinnamon candy dusted in powdered sugar. A vintage holiday favorite!
Hard Tack Christmas Candy
This Christmas Hard Tack Candy is a vintage recipe that’s been part of our family celebrations for generations. You make it in one glossy sheet, then crack it into little bite-size pieces that look like sparkling jewels on a holiday dessert tray. Bright red cinnamon pieces, cool green peppermint pieces, and a dusting of powdered sugar… it’s as beautiful as it is delicious!
I grew up seeing bowls of these hard candies at every Christmas gathering, and it’s one of those nostalgic treats that instantly reminds me of family, laughter, and sticky fingers. My kids were thrilled when we tried making it ourselves for the first time — breaking the candy into shards is just as fun as eating it! Even better, you only need a few basic ingredients, and the whole process feels like a little kitchen science experiment in the best way.
Pack the pieces into a holiday tin, wrap them in cellophane bags, or add them to a cookie tray for something unexpected. The colors are festive, the flavors are classic, and this candy makes the sweetest DIY gift for friends, neighbors, or teachers. Once you make it, the tradition is hard not to pass on to the next generation! My middle daughter especially loved this (her first time trying them!) and we got more flavorings to do more candy making for different occasions. – Stacey
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Ingredients
- Sugars: Granulated Sugar, Light Corn Syrup, Powdered Sugar
- Mix-ins: Flavoring extract (we used cinnamon and peppermint), Food coloring
- Liquids: Water
Full ingredient amounts are available in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Instructions
To Prep: Line a large baking pan with parchment paper.
- Make the Candy Mixture – Combine the sugar, water and corn syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook while stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture reaches hard crack stage on a candy thermometer (300 – 310°F). This will take about 25-30 minutes.
- Add Flavor & Color – Stir in the food coloring and flavoring, then remove pot from heat.
- Pour & Set – Pour the hot sugar mixture onto prepared pan, allowing it to spread and cover the entire pan. Let sit for at least 30 minutes until the candy hardens.
- Finish – Break the candy into bite size pieces and toss in a bag with powdered sugar.
Prep Tips
- When Pouring The Candy – Work quickly, as the candy will start to set almost as soon as poured. Move the saucepan around as you pour, so you can cover the pan.
- Safety Note – The hot candy liquid will stick to skin if it gets on you, so work carefully. You may want to wear long sleeves just in case to protect skin from any accidental splashes. The candy pieces can also be a bit sharp once they are broken into shards, before they are coated in the powdered sugar.
- Flavorings – We used cinnamon extract for the red candy and peppermint extract for the green candy. But you are welcome to use your favorite flavorings!
- Storage – Keep the candy in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to a month.
More Homemade Candy Recipes To Try:
Christmas Hard Tack Candy Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
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Christmas Hard Tack Candy Recipe
Equipment
- medium saucepan
- Candy Thermometer
- Large baking sheet
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon flavoring extract we used peppermint for green candy and cinnamon for red candy
- 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- Food coloring
Instructions
- To Prep: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine the sugar, water and corn syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Cook while stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches hard crack stage (300-310°F or 149-154°C). This will take about 25-30 minutes.
- Stir in the food coloring and flavoring, then remove pan from heat.
- Pour the candy mixture onto prepared pan, moving the saucepan as you pour, allowing the candy to spread and cover the entire baking pan surface.
- Let sit for at least 30 minutes until the candy hardens.
- Break the candy into bite size pieces.
- Add the candy pieces to a large zip-top bag with powdered sugar and shake to coat.
Video
Notes
Pouring the Candy
Work quickly when pouring — the mixture begins to set almost immediately. Tilt or move the saucepan as you pour to help spread the candy evenly in the pan.Safety Note
The hot candy syrup is extremely sticky and can cause burns. Pour carefully, and consider wearing long sleeves to protect your skin from accidental splashes.Flavorings
We used cinnamon extract for the red candy and peppermint extract for the green, but you can use any flavoring you love.Storage
Store the finished candy in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to 1 month.Nutrition
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Thank You for Sharing Your Recipes and Information ☺️ I LOVE Old Recipes .God Bless YOU and YOUR FAMILY and MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄🎁 TOO YOU ALL.(I Can’t wait to start Baking and Making, Heavenly Delicious Yummy DISH’S,Thank YOU So Much.