Colorful holiday platter featuring rock candy, festive chocolates, and sparkling sugar confections for a sweet centerpiece.
# What You'll Need:
→ Rock Candy
01 - 2 cups granulated sugar
02 - 0.75 cup water
03 - 0.5 cup light corn syrup
04 - 0.5 teaspoon flavored extract (peppermint, cherry, or lemon)
05 - Food coloring (red, green, or desired)
06 - Powdered sugar for dusting
→ Holiday Chocolates
07 - 7 ounces high-quality dark chocolate, chopped
08 - 3.5 ounces white chocolate, chopped
09 - Holiday sprinkles or edible glitter
→ Sugar Confections
10 - 1 cup assorted gumdrops
11 - 0.5 cup candied fruit (cherries, orange peel, etc.)
12 - 0.5 cup sparkling sugar or edible glitter
# Directions:
01 - Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly dust them with powdered sugar to prevent sticking.
02 - In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, mix granulated sugar, water, and corn syrup. Stir constantly over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely.
03 - Increase heat and bring mixture to a boil without stirring. Continue cooking until the temperature reaches 300°F (150°C), indicating the hard crack stage.
04 - Remove the saucepan from heat immediately. Stir in the flavored extract and add a few drops of chosen food coloring; swirl gently to combine.
05 - Carefully pour the hot syrup onto the prepared baking sheets. Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then score with a buttered knife or wait until fully set (approximately 1 hour) to break into shards. Dust with additional powdered sugar.
06 - Melt dark and white chocolates separately in a double boiler or microwave in short bursts, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
07 - Pour melted chocolates into festive silicone molds or spread on parchment paper, swirling white chocolate into dark for a marbled effect. Sprinkle with holiday decorations and allow to set at room temperature or refrigerate until firm.
08 - Arrange rock candy shards, holiday chocolates, gumdrops, candied fruit, and sparkling sugar artfully on a large serving platter, creating a vibrant holiday centerpiece.
