1. Basic Crystal Candy
You can buy fancy crystal candy online, but a box will set you back quite a bit. If you really want to try kohakuto, try making it yourself. Start by boiling agar-agar (a seaweed-based thickening agent) with sugar and water. Pour into an oiled dish and add flavor and food coloring. Swirl the color; don't mix for a more gem-like color. Once cool, you can slice it into any shape and leave it to dry for a week, where it will become super crunchy outside but soft in the middle.
2. Christmas Candy
Now that you know the basics of crystal candy, you can get
creative. Make festive Christmas candy by using holiday molds and colors, as
well as flavor.
3. Peony Shaped Candy
For a giant flower-shaped candy, get a large floral mold.
The bigger the shape, the longer it might take to crystalize, but the bigger
the crunch.
4. Lychee Candy
Adding flavoring to the candy is important, or else it will just taste like plain sugar. You can add drops of flavor extract to the mixture before it cools or you can add fresh fruit juice, like this lychee juice version.
5. Rainbow Candy
Play with color! One color can be well mixed for a solid gem or lightly swirled for a marbled look. Add two colors together or make a whole rainbow of gems by dividing and coloring the mix.
6. Elderflower Candy
These are so perfect with a gentle pastel color and elderflower rhubarb flavor. They are a work of art.
7. Rose Heart Candy
Start thinking about Valentine's Day now with this rose-flavored heart-shaped idea.
8. Perfect Gem Candy
This recipe is gorgeous, like cut gems sliced in an extremely satisfying way.
9. Mistake Crystal Candy
These crystals are not cute, but this clip will give you a few ideas on what not to do.
10. Detailed Instructions
This recipe is one of the most thorough and one of the prettiest.