Honeycomb Candy Recipe - Saving Room for Dessert (2024)

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The instructions for crunchy sweet Honeycomb Candy (a/k/a sponge toffee or cinder toffee) couldn’t be easier and the results are consistently wonderful! The honeycomb has an amazing crunchiness and terrific honey flavor.

Honeycomb Candy Recipe - Saving Room for Dessert (1)

Honeycomb Candy is fun to make, and totally delicious!

If you’ve thought about making homemade candy but were afraid the recipe might be too complicated, or hard to get just right, start with this honeycomb brittle by Martha Stewart.

Honeycomb Candy Recipe - Saving Room for Dessert (2)

Overview of ingredients:

This easy Honeycomb Candy is made with a three simple ingredients, plus a little water.

  • granulated or white sugar
  • honey (or golden syrup) some recipes call for corn syrup but we use all honey instead
  • baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
  • water

How to make homemade Honeycomb Candy:

Honeycomb candy brittle is made on the stove-top and takes about 15 minutes, start to finish.

  • First combine the sugar, honey and water in a heavy-bottom large saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat.Reduce to medium heat and continue cooking.
  • Once the candy reaches 300 degrees F and is a deep golden caramel color remove from the heat. Immediately and carefully stir in the baking soda.
  • Whisk briefly just to combine and then watch the magic happen!
  • The candy brittle bubbles up and grows in volume by about three times its original size.
  • Baking soda causes a chemical reaction giving the brittle its namesake appearance and airy texture.
  • Finally, pour the mixture into a prepared pan or baking tray and let it cool completely.
  • Once cooled, break the crunchy candy into pieces and enjoy!
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Do you need special equipment to make a honeycomb recipe?

  • For best results use a candy or instant-read thermometer for this recipe.
  • If you don’t have a candy thermometer you can try and wing it, but it’s much more difficult to perfect the recipe.
  • Take the guesswork out of candy making and achieve perfect results every time by using a thermometer.
  • Check the Amazon link featured below for an inexpensive candy thermometer you can use when making toffee, brittle andfudge.
  • When making candy use a heavy bottom stainless saucepan for even heat distribution and a lower risk of burning. A good pan makes all the difference when making honeycomb toffee.
  • We don’t recommend using nonstick cookware when making candy.
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How long will honeycomb candy keep?

Properly sealed away from moisture honeycomb candy will keep for up to a week at room temperature.

Store honeycomb candy in an airtight container at room temperature.

When storing, separate the layers with sheets of parchment paper.

Humidity can cause the brittle to become sticky. Therefore use a good, well sealed container for storage.

Honeycomb also travels well making it great for gifting, especially during the holidays.

What are some other ways to use honeycomb candy?

Honeycomb makes a fabulous garnish for cakes, cupcakes andpies.Break the candy into large pieces for a more dramatic presentation.

Dip part of each piece in melted chocolate and allow to set before serving.

This candy is utterly irresistible swirled into our honey ice cream.

Crushed honeycomb is a terrific topping on just about any dessert! It’s really great on anything creamy adding a nice textural contrast.

Add a sprinkle of sea salt if desired.

What does honeycomb taste like?

This golden-hued candy taste like honey. Therefore we recommend using a good quality, light, floral honey that you love. The honey flavor is front and center so don’t use anything too strong or bitter.

One note of caution: If you have extensive dental work, you may want to skip eating honeycomb candy. Follow recommendations made by your dentist about eating toffee, taffy and brittle.

Honeycomb Candy

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Yield: 20

Course: Candy

Author: Tricia

Pin RecipePrint RecipeRate Recipe

5 from 22 votes

Sweet, crunchy and fun to make, and perfect as a garnish for ice cream.

Equipment

  • candy or instant read thermometer

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (335g)
  • ¼ cup honey (90g or 3oz)
  • ¼ cup water (60g or 2oz)
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda

Instructions

  • Lightly spray a large baking sheet with vegetable cooking spray. Set aside.

  • In a medium-large, heavy bottomed saucepan combine the sugar, honey and water. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly.

  • Reduce the heat to medium-high and continue cooking and stirring until the mixture darkens and reaches 300°F.

  • Remove from the heat and immediately add the baking soda. Quickly whisk the mixture, just until blended. The honeycomb will grow in volume by almost 3 times its' original size, so be careful.

  • Immediately pour the hot candy onto the prepared baking sheet. Do not spread or touch the candy. Let the honeycomb cool completely before breaking into pieces.

  • Store the honeycomb brittle in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Recipe Notes

  • Recipe by Martha Stewart

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 71kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 165mg | Potassium: 3mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg

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Honeycomb Candy Recipe - Saving Room for Dessert (2024)

FAQs

Can you store honeycomb candy in the fridge? ›

How Long Can You Store Honeycomb Candy? Honeycomb can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to one week. It tends to absorb moisture in the air and become sticky so it will not last as long in a more humid environment. Do not refrigerate your honeycomb.

What to do with failed honeycomb candy? ›

Instead, if it is enjoyable as is, I would suggest just eating it as a toffee like candy. Otherwise, chalk it up to experience and watch the temperature more closely next time. I have a batch of gooey toffee now too. So im just either enjoying it as is or adding bit or chunks of it to my coffee or ice cream.

What is the science behind honeycomb candy? ›

They're all names to describe a candy that's made from combining brown sugar, corn syrup and baking soda. The lattice structure of the candy is caused by the baking soda reacting with the acid, resulting in these little air pockets throughout the candy. These pockets of air make it look like honeycomb!

How long is homemade hard candy good for? ›

Most candies will keep 2 to 3 weeks (if not longer) if stored tightly covered in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator. It's best to avoid storing different types of candy together in the same container because hard candies will become soft and sticky, and soft candies will dry out.

How to store honeycomb in the fridge? ›

Storing raw honeycomb

Your raw honeycomb should be stored at room temperature, not in the fridge. Honeycomb can be kept for a long time due to its natural antibiotic properties.

What is the best way to store honeycomb? ›

Storage Tips To Extend the Life of Your Honeycomb
  1. Store Honeycomb at Room Temperature. Honeycomb thrives in a dark, dry, room-temperature spot. ...
  2. Use an Airtight Container. ...
  3. Avoid Refrigeration and Freezing. ...
  4. Use Warm Water To Thaw or Decrystallize.
Jan 31, 2023

Is honeycomb good or bad for you? ›

Honeycomb is a natural bee product consisting of waxy, hexagonal cells which contain raw honey. Honey and its comb are edible and offer numerous health benefits, such as fighting infections and improving heart health. Honeycomb may also boost liver function and serve as a sugar alternative for people with diabetes.

Why is my homemade honeycomb sticky? ›

The mistake most first timers make is to take the syrup off the heat too soon. This makes the honeycomb sticky and doesn't allow it to set correctly. Whole volumes have been written about the science of candy making.

Why is my honeycomb candy chewy? ›

If your sugar syrup isn't hot enough, it will make your honeycomb very chewy. The best way to make sure your sugar is at the right temperature is to use a sugar thermometer. The mixture should be at the 'hard ball' stage, which is normally between 121-130 degrees Celsius.

Which candy has the longest shelf life? ›

Hard candy like Jolly Ranchers, lollipops and other individually wrapped candies can essentially last forever if they're stored right and kept away from moisture. Dark chocolate can last one to two years in a cool, dark, dry place. Milk and white chocolate will last up to 10 months.

How long does candy last unrefrigerated? ›

Hard candy - Hard candies can last up to a year when stored at room temperature or in a cool, dry location. Jellied candies - If the packaging has been opened, soft candies should be stored away from heat and light at room temperature (about 70 degrees). Stored in this manner, the candy should last 6-9 months.

Can you eat candy 2 years out of date? ›

Most candies do have expiration dates, but like most foods, these dates serve more as guidelines for when to consume them. It's generally fine to eat candy past its expiration date, though the quality and texture does decline after a certain point.

How long does honeycomb last in the fridge? ›

Honeycomb can last for years. It is simply pure honey inside beeswax cells, which means it generally doesn't expire. However, if honeycomb is stored incorrectly and exposed to moisture then it can potentially crystallise or go a little gooey.

Does honeycomb candy go bad? ›

Nigella's Hokey Pokey, or honeycomb candy, (from Nigella Express) is made from sugar, syrup and bicarbonate of soda and so theoretically should not turn bad for some time. The main problem is that it will soften over time, so the conditions of storage will be the main factor in how long the Hokey Pokey lasts.

Can you put hard candy in the fridge? ›

For storage, keep hard candy at room temperature, in a dry place – never in the refrigerator. Properly kept, candy should last for weeks.

Should you put candy in the fridge? ›

Protect Candy in the Pantry.

While different types of candy have different storage requirements, the pantry is generally a safe place to stash sweets. Airtight storage in a cool place will ensure a longer shelf-life. Some treats may also be frozen.

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