I haven't had this candy since I was a kid and it was a special treat. It would come in this block, all wrapped in clear plastic. And you would eat it until your tongue hurt and your teeth ached. And still it would be so good that you just had to keep eating it. But as the years went by and I didn't see it forever, I just forgot about it.
Sponge Candy
2 1/2 Cups Sugar
2/3 Cups Light Corn Syrup
6 Tbsp Water
2 Tsp Vanilla
2 Tbsp Baking Soda
In a large pot put Sugar, Corn Syrup, Water and Vanilla. Heat on medium/high heat (do not stir) until candy thermometer reaches 300* (hard crack stage). It will turn a light brown color. (I don't know if I messed it up, but I did stir it before I turned on the heat... I couldn't resist).
Remove from heat and immediately stir in baking soda. Mix quickly (like around 5ish seconds), and pour into parchment paper lined greased pan. Leave it to set and get hard, then pry it out of the pan, and break it into chunks. This can be messy, but I do it on a huge cookie sheet to catch most of the crumbs.
Store in an air tight container. I use quart jars. If you leave it out and air gets at it, any moisture in the air will make the candy shrink and get harder.
**** Make sure you use a very large pot, because when you add the baking soda it will foam up like crazy. Also, pre-measure the baking soda so you have it on hand ready to go. I also sifted my soda because the first time I made it, it had lumps and every once in a while when you were eating it you would get a lump of baking soda.
****You are supposed to use one of those round cheese cake pans that the sides comes off of but I don't have one, so I used a rectangle cake Pan, but I greased the sides really well (I used butter.) and made sure I had the bottom lined with the parchment paper.
~~~~~ Now, if you want to get fancy, you can dip chunks into melted chocolate, and then you will be doomed to eat it all for sure. The result is this delicious Crunchy Chocolate bar that crunches, and then somehow melts in your mouth and leaves you reaching for more. It is seriously maybe even better then those store bought crunchy bars.~~~~~~
Anyways there you have it. And it's seriously good, and not even hard to make. Surprisingly easy in fact. And sooo so good. Everyone who tried a piece said it was just like when they were a kid.
Enjoy!
All jarred up! Good to give out to friends or to hide in the pantry for a sweet craving.
