4/16/2008

SCORE!



I saw the cutest things, edible jewels! What girl wouldn't love a jeweled tiara cake or what boy wouldn't go ga-ga over a jewel-filled pirate treasure chest??! These would make great cupcake toppers or a fun thank-you gift (give a bag full of them with a note saying, "You're a Gem!").
...The only problem is that these little "gems" cost between $12-$26 for a pack of 80. Ack!

So, I did a little hunting around and found out that you can buy a reusable hard candy jewel mold for $1.99 from Sugarcraft!! Go to http://www.sugarcraft.com/ and look for item #8H-5117. So, use this super-easy recipe for microwavable hard candy (below) and you have about 80 jewels for about 75 cents in ingredients. You can whip these little treats out in less than 10 minutes!! I bought two of the molds so I can easily whip up a large batch. The best part? They're reusable! SCORE!

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE fancy flours, they have so many fantastic products and I highly recommend them. However, $1.99 for something I can use over and over again gets my vote.

Microwave Hard Candy
Ingredients:
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup light corn syrup
Food coloring, whatever color you want.
a few drops orange oil, if desired (or any other flavoring oil)

Directions:
Lightly spray candy mold with cooking spray.
Thoroughly mix sugar and light corn syrup in a 4-cup microwave-safe glass measure. Cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on HIGH for 3 minutes and 15 seconds.
Remove from the microwave and carefully remove plastic wrap. Quickly stir the sugar mixture and then cover with a NEW sheet of plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 3 minutes and 15 seconds.
Remove from microwave, carefully remove plastic wrap and stir with a clean spoon. After boiling has ceased, stir in coloring and then flavoring.
Pour syrup quickly, but carefully onto prepared mold(s). Wait until cooled and they should pop out easily. You can repeat as often as desired. If you are only working with one mold and want to keep your extra syrup from setting up in the mixing bowl, place glass bowl in 300 degree oven while you are waiting to use it.


Modified from Icicle Candy recipe from LorAnn Oils


8 comments:

RecipeGirl said...

This does sound like a great idea. I'm going to have to ask our local cake decorating place if they carry something like that. Very cute!

PheMom said...

Oh, I saw these too and they looked great. I tried that microwave hard candy recipe for suckers last summer and botched it up 4 times in a row! I think that making hard candy must be my kryptonite. I just got a new candy thermometer though, so maybe I'll have to try again soon!

jj said...

Edible jewels - that is a cute idea!

Cheryl said...

Oh my gosh, I love these, I am always looking for a project. Thanks for adding me to your sidebar, I shall add you when I figure out how, LOL!

Cheryl said...

Oh my gosh, I love these, I am always looking for a project. Thanks for adding me to your sidebar, I shall add you when I figure out how, LOL!

Jane @ What About Mom? said...

My girls would go crazy for something like this!

Hey, got the hairbows. Girls love those too! They found them in the mail and were trying them on before I even noticed. Thanks!

nor_lou said...

I thought of getting the mold you mentioned but the shipping was crazy, my girls would have loved the jewels

Kristen M. said...

I love this these molds. My daughter is having a Webkinz party and I just had the idea to make a "Crown of Wonders" cake using these gems.