Posts Tagged ‘pulling taffy with kids’

This weekend the kids and I made Salt Water Taffy.  It was a practice run for the 4th of July, when pulling taffy will be one of the activities for all of the kids.  I figured I better work out the kinks before I make it for a crowd.  It was so much fun we can’t wait to make it again… kind of like playing with play dough only sweeter.

The only change I will make for the 4th is to make a few more flavors… maybe lemon, orange and peppermint.  If I thought the kids would go for it, I would make licorice… my favorite taffy flavor.

I used the recipe from the Lion House Recipes, First Edition Cookbook.  It’s an old-time recipe.

Lion House Taffy

2 cups sugar
1 ½ cup water
1 tsp. salt
1 cup white corn syrup
½ tsp. glycerin
1 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. butter

Mix sugar, water, salt, corn syrup, and glycerin in a heavy sauce pan.  Bring to a boil and cook to a temperature of 258 degrees.  Remove from heat and let stand for two to three minutes.  Then add vanilla and butter.  Stir vigorously until butter is melted.  Pour into a buttered cookie sheet.  Cool until lukewarm taffy can be handled.

Before pulling have children wash and dry their hands thoroughly.  Give them each a small piece to work with, and instruct them to stretch and fold, stretch and fold until the taffy turns white.

I cooked the taffy to 265 degrees instead of 258… so it was a little less sticky.  And I added food coloring to some of the taffy as we pulled (a bit messy on the hands, but oh well.)  I rolled the taffy into ropes and cut them with my kitchen scissors that I had rubbed with butter.  Then the kids and I rolled them in wax paper.  For the 4th I thought it would be fun to have each child pull the taffy and make it into the initial of their first name.  I’ll give the kids a piece of wax paper to keep their initial in.

Pulling taffy is one of those old fashioned activities that deserves a comeback. 

Oh, it’s a little sticky…

but she can handle it…

“What you thinking about, Emma?”     “…mmm, candy”