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.

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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.

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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

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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

Here are a few more recipes you might enjoy:

Easy homemade hard candy is easy to make and can be adapted to your favorite flavors and colors. It’s fun to make too!

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Honeycomb Candy Recipe - Saving Room for Dessert (2024)

FAQs

Can you store honeycomb candy in the fridge? ›

Honeycomb candy or sponge candy should NOT be stored in the fridge. They last longer at room temperature in a cool, dark place.

How to store homemade honeycomb? ›

If you store your honeycomb in the fridge or in a humid environment, it will make it go soggy. The best way to store your honeycomb is in an airtight container. Now put what you've learnt into practice with these delicious recipes that all feature the scrumptious crunch of honeycomb.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Should I keep honeycomb in the fridge? ›

The best way to keep raw honeycomb is at room temperature in a cabinet or on a countertop. Keep it in the plastic box to prevent any unwanted visitors from getting into it. Of course, avoid exposing your honey to water. It does not need to be in a refrigerator, where it may begin to crystallize.

Can you freeze honeycomb candy? ›

Luckily, homemade honeycomb can last forever — just like honey. However, the honeycomb will keep for longer in dry environments, so if you live in a humid climate, make sure you freeze it to make sure it maintains its form. If dipped in chocolate, your crunchy bar should last a month's time.

Why is my honeycomb candy chewy? ›

The baking soda (also known as bicarbonate of soda) heats up and when it does that, it releases a gas that gets trapped in the caramelized honey and sugar. This results in bubbles that resembles actual honeycomb from bees! Why is my Honeycomb Candy chewy? This is a result of the mixture not cooking long enough.

Is honeycomb inflammatory? ›

Honeycomb is a traditional natural health medicine and has antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antitumor activities.

Can you save honeycomb? ›

Honey and honeycomb do not expire. Ever. Unless the honeycomb is stored improperly or moisture is introduced to the container. Store honeycomb at room temperature in a sealed container or jar and your honeycomb will keep as long as it takes you to eat it (not long for a bee charmer).

What does baking soda do in candy making? ›

The secret is in the baking soda. As the sugar is cooking and begins turning amber in color it accumulates small amounts of acid, and that acid reacts chemically with the alkaline baking soda releasing about a zillion minuscule bubbles of CO2 that get trapped, making the sugar porous and, well… brittle.

Is it OK to put candy in the fridge? ›

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.

Can you keep candy in the fridge? ›

Overall, general recommendations suggest the pantry is the best place to store sweets, away from light and moisture. Certain candies (like chocolate) may be okay in the fridge or freezer, but any that contain fruit or nuts should not be frozen.

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.

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