Lifesaver Candy Recipe: 10 Life Savers Facts
Make your own hard candy at home with this Lifesaver Candy Recipe using just a few ingredients like sugar, corn syrup, and flavoring oil. This fruity, colorful treat is great for snacking or gifting, and it’s easier than you think. A fun DIY candy recipe for beginners and home cooks alike.
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 25 min
- Yield
- 50 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup light corn syrup
- ¾ cup water
- ½ teaspoon flavoring oil (like cherry, lemon, or peppermint)
- Food coloring (optional, but fun!)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- 1
Lightly grease your candy molds or place parchment paper on a baking sheet. Have your food coloring and flavor oils ready—once the candy reaches the right temperature, timing is important.
- 2
In a heavy-bottom saucepan, combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely.
- 3
Clip your candy thermometer to the pan. Let the mixture boil—don’t stir now—and cook until it reaches 300°F (Hard Crack Stage). This takes about 20–25 minutes. Be patient and watch closely at the end.
- 4
Once it hits 300°F, quickly remove from heat. Let the bubbling settle, then carefully stir in the flavoring oil and a few drops of food coloring.
- 5
Carefully pour the candy into your molds or onto the parchment. If you’re not using molds, you can break the cooled sheet into bite-sized pieces later.
- 6
Once cooled and hard, dust the candy pieces with powdered sugar to prevent sticking. Store them in an airtight container.