Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy Recipe (2024)

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1Reliving Memories with an Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy Recipe

1.1Do you have a food that brings back such powerful memories?

1.2Have you tried Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy?

Reliving Memories with an Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy Recipe

Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy Recipe (1)

When I was growing up, we lived next door to the sweetest lady. We all called her Grandma Della. She really was like a grandma to all nine of us crazy Nelson kids. It was such a shock to me to grow up and learn she wasn’t really my Grandma by relation. Just a great neighbor and family friend that all us kids adopted to be a grandma. And it wasn’t just our family that were her adopted Grandkids. She was known as Grandma Della by all the kids in our little community.

One of my favorite memories as a kid was always visiting Grandma Della. She always had the best stories to tell, and delicious treats! The one treat she was most known for in our entire community was her old fashioned Vinegar taffy. I’m telling you this vinegar taffy recipe was famous!

Every Halloween kids would visit her house first just for the Vinegar Taffy. And every Christmas we’d get a plate full of these coveted goodies!

Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy Recipe (2)

Grandma Della passed away a number of years ago. She has been greatly missed. She left behind such an amazing legacy with her kindness, love and compassion. It is amazing how one can touch so many and make such a powerful impact on their lives. And she was definitely one of those women who impacted so many for good.

It amazes me how a simple flavor can bring back a flood of memories. The last time I was home visiting, I went through my Mom’s recipe cupboards to find some of my favorite recipes from growing up and I stumbled upon Grandma Della’s Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy recipe. I knew instantly I had to bring this tradition to my family.

So we got started over Christmas Holiday making the Vinegar Taffy. The recipe is quite simple and so easy to get ready.

Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy Recipe (3)

Prepare the sugar, cream of tartar, vinegar and salt in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Boil until it reaches the hard ball stage (250 degrees F). Remove from the heat and then add in the butter.

Then you will spray a dish with a little coconut oil or lightly grease it. Just so it doesn’t stick to the plate/dish. And pour in the taffy mixture. And then allow it to cool until you can manipulate it with your hands without it burning.

Next is the part that begins to bring back the memories. The taffy pulling!

Wash your hands well. Then lightly butter them to prevent the taffy from sticking.

I set up a station for each kid and pulled off a smaller section of the taffy for them each to pull.

Then you start pulling the taffy.

Pull fromthe center out. Then put the ends together and pull from the enter out again.

Just keep pulling. Just keep Pulling (I think you can think up a song for this phrase right?)

Pull the taffy until it is light in color and stiff. The whiter the better. This could take anywhere from 15 minutes to 60 minutes depending on how many people you have pulling the taffy and how much you each are working with.

How taffy begins #candy #Christmas #baking #treats #traditions

A photo posted by Amber Edwards (@jadelouisedesigns) on

This was a great activity with the kids, as I gave each one their own little section to pull. As we pulled we talked and I told them stories about Grandma Della and the history of the Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy and what it has meant to our family.

Next shape into a nice long rope. And cut with greased scissors into 1″ pieces.

Hmmm old fashioned vinegar taffy! Brings back great memories. #taffy #oldfashioned #recipe #Christmas #christmastreats

A photo posted by Amber Edwards (@jadelouisedesigns) on

Then wrap up in wax paper.

Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy Recipe (4)

As we pulled, the memories of sitting in Grandma Della’s kitchen helping her to pull taffy as she told stories of when she was a little girl came flooding back to me in such a rush. I could remember the smells, the sounds, the colors. I could remember the love emanating from Grandma Della.

And then when I tasted my first bite of Grandma Della’s Vinegar Taffy, it was like I was transported back in time. It’s amazing what a little flavor associated with great memories can do.

And while mine doesn’t look as beautiful as Grandma Della’s vinegar taffy did (she has years more practice getting it to look just right) the flavor was exactly the same! And I may have been a bit emotional for the duration. But it was so worth it, having that little piece of Grandma Della back in my life again.

Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy Recipe (5)

I think this will definitely be a new family tradition; to make Grandma Della’s Vinegar Taffy near Christmas to share with friends and family and build our own memories around for my own kids. And it will give me a great time to remember back on such an amazing woman who had such a powerful impact on my life.

Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy Recipe (6)

Do you have a food that brings back such powerful memories?

Have you tried Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy?

Yield:

Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy Recipe

Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy Recipe (7)

An old recipe passed down the generations for a family favorite Old fashioned Vinegar Taffy candy.

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time10 minutes

Total Time15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/2 cup White distilled vinegar (could substitute apple cider if needed)
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 Tablespoons butter ( Or a diary free butter substitute if you need dairy free)

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients except butter in a pan.
  2. Bring to boil
  3. Boil until it reaches the hard ball stage (~250 degrees f)
  4. Remove from heat and add butter
  5. Lightly Grease a platter
  6. Pour the Taffy onto the platter and allow to cool until you can handle without burning your hands.
  7. Wash your hands
  8. Apply a thin layer of butter to your hands
  9. Begin to pull the taffy
  10. Pull until it is light in color and stiff (15-60 minutes)
  11. Roll into a rope
  12. Cut into 1" pieces
  13. Wrap in wax paper squares
Old Fashioned Vinegar Taffy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the most prevalent ingredient in taffy? ›

It is also popular in Atlantic Canada and Salt Lake City, Utah. Modern commercial taffy is made primarily from corn syrup, glycerin and butter.

What's the difference between taffy and salt water taffy? ›

Since salt water taffy gained its moniker following that offhanded comment after the flooding in Atlantic City, there is really no difference between salt water taffy and regular taffy. There was little or no salt added to the candy over 100 years ago or now.

What makes taffy chewy? ›

A unique combination of lower cooking temperatures, the addition of fat, and pulling after cooking all work together to keep taffy pliable, chewy, and semi-solid.

What does glycerin do for taffy? ›

In this taffy recipe, glycerin helps give the candy a soft, creamy consistency. Glycerin can be found in many drugstores, as well as some supermarkets and craft stores in the baking supplies section, or in cake-decorating stores.

Are taffy and toffee the same? ›

The difference is mainly in the candy-making process: taffy is pulled and stretched until it's soft and chewy. Toffee, on the other hand, won't stick in your teeth like taffy, because it is boiled, shaped, and allowed to harden into a delicious, glossy slab.

Is taffy a laxative? ›

EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION MAY HAVE A LAXATIVE EFFECT.

Is Starburst considered taffy? ›

Starburst (originally known as Opal Fruits) is the brand name of a box-shaped, fruit-flavoured soft taffy candy manufactured by The Wrigley Company, which is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated.

Are you supposed to chew taffy? ›

There really is no wrong way to eat a piece of taffy. But we give super props to anyone that can keep it in their mouth without eating it for longer than it takes to chew it.

Why is salt water taffy only sold at the beach? ›

Perhaps the salty air simply gives people a hankering for something sweet; it's also possible that the candies' decelerated drying and oxidation in humid air give them a unique “coastal” flavor.

Are Tootsie rolls taffy? ›

Tootsie Roll (/ˈtʊtsi/) is a chocolate-flavored candy that has been manufactured in the United States since 1907. The candy has qualities similar to both caramels and taffy without being exactly either confection. The manufacturer, Tootsie Roll Industries, is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Why did my taffy get hard? ›

If our taffy feels hard, it is most likely because it is cold; try holding the taffy snugly in the palm of your hand for a few moments, the warmth should soften it right up!

How do you firm up taffy? ›

Taffy is just as sensitive to cold as it is hot, meaning that melted taffy is easily rejuvenated to its regular consistency. The best solution to melted taffy is merely to let it set unbothered at room temperature (72 for a period of 24 hours.

Why does taffy need to be pulled? ›

The purpose of pulling the taffy is to add air in to the candy. This allows for millions of air bubbles to form which is how a clear batch of cooked taffy all of a sudden begins to turn bright white. The added air into the product also adds volume, and turns the candy into a much larger piece.

Is taffy good for your teeth? ›

While you might enjoy a taffy or fruit chew every once in awhile, it is not a good idea to make these sweets a regular part of your diet. The high sugar content can increase the harmful bacteria in your mouth, leading to gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay.

How long does homemade taffy last? ›

Does salt water taffy expire? Yes, taffy can go bad and generally expires six months after purchase. Homemade taffy expires even sooner and only lasts 3-7 days.

What do British people call taffy? ›

If they are the same thing, then Wikipedia is correct that the generic term in the UK is a “chew”. We call it “soft toffee”. There's also an English word “Taffy” which is a slang for Welshman coming from the name Daffyd. It's becoming more pejorative and certainly wouldn't be used commonly anymore.

Are airheads taffy? ›

Airheads is an American brand of the taffy candy owned by the Italian-Dutch company Perfetti Van Melle. They were created on August 7, 1985, by Steve Bruner. Airheads are available nationwide in the United States and Canada where the candy is available in 16 different flavors.

What is the Halloween taffy called? ›

The oft-maligned candies are a molasses taffy stuffed with a bit of peanut butter. And there are two versions, actually - the original Mary Janes, which were rectangular; and the Mary Janes Peanut Butter Kisses - the more familiar, roundish shape that resembles salt water taffy.

What are the ingredients in sour taffy? ›

Ingredients. Sugar, Glucose Syrup, Citric Acid, Fully Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Modified Corn Starch, Mono and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Halal Beef Gelatin, Artificial Flavors (Green Apple, Watermelon), Natural and Artificial Colors (Black Carrot Extract, Turmeric, FD&C Blue 1).

What is the science behind making taffy? ›

The researchers found that air bubbles and oil droplets are the primary factors determining the rheological properties of taffy. Emulsifiers such as lecithin can promote the formation of smaller droplets and prevent them from recombining, leading to a chewier, longer-lasting product.

What is saltwater taffy made of? ›

Saltwater taffy ingredients are fairly simple. The candy is made from sugar, cornstarch, corn syrup, glycerine, butter, water, and salt. Other saltwater taffy ingredients can include food coloring and natural or artificial flavorings, especially fruit flavors.

References

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