Pull Candy Recipe - making candy the old fashioned way (2024)

by Chloe Tuttle

on January 2, 2014

inHeritage,Recipes

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Pull Candy Recipe – Old Time Stewed Sugar

Pull Candy Recipe - making candy the old fashioned way (1)

Old Fashioned Pull Candy is still the best!

My mother called this wonderful confection pull candy or stewed sugar. Some folks call it taffy. When she described a child’s pretty blond hair she would say it was the color of stewed sugar — a gorgeous translucent white color with a faint golden tint.

Making this recipe during the holidays or in the New Year seems appropriate for me – it brings back memories of winter on the farm in the kitchen with my mother who was also named Chloe. She told me that when she was growing up, folks in the neighborhood would have a Candy Pulling party and they had so much fun.

Pull Candy Recipe - making candy the old fashioned way (2)

Making Pull Candy – the Old-Fashioned Way

This candy is a special treat from my childhood.

Print Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Course: Dessert, Treat

Cuisine: American, American southern

Keyword: pull candy, pulled sugar candy, stewed sugar, taffy, toffee

Servings: 25 servings

Calories: 62kcal

Author: Chloe Tuttle

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/4 pound butter for greasing hands and surface

Instructions

  • You will need a candy thermometer for this recipe.

  • 1. Stir together the sugar, water and vinegar in a heavy saucepan. Clip on candy thermometer and don’t let it touch the bottom of the cooking pan.

  • 2. Heat the sugar syrup until the candy thermometer reaches the hard ball stage or 260-265 degrees. Don’t stir while it is cooking.

  • 3. Slowly pour the syrup onto a buttered surface like a large cutting board. Be very careful — this is a molten mass of hot syrup. DO NOT scrape bowl. Just let whatever candy comes out, come out. Allow candy to cool for a few minutes.

  • 4. As soon as the syrup is slightly cooled, scrape it into a large ball. If you are going to add any flavorings like vanilla or peppermint, now is the time to do this. Flip the ball of candy over several times using some sort of scraper like a candy scraper.

  • 5. When it is cool enough to handle, gather the ball of candy into your well-greased hands and pull the candy using both hands until you have reached as far as you can. Fold the pulled part over and repeat. Do this for about 4-5 minutes or until the candy is getting stiff and has turned a beautiful white color.

  • 6. Once this happens, pull out a long rope of candy about 1/2" thick. You can twist this if you want a twisted look for your candy. Lay it out on waxed paper to cool.

  • 7. When it has thoroughly cooled, break it into 1 1/2 ” pieces. Wrap each piece of candy in waxed paper and store in airtight container. If candy is sticky, store it in the refrigerator.

Notes

This candy is messy to make - but it is worth it. There also seem to be MANY different Pull Candy recipes on the internet, and they are all a wee bit different.

Nutrition

Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 15g

Like this recipe?Follow us on Pinterest: @bigmill or tag #bigmillbb

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This is an old recipe. I haven’t seen or heard of it in many years. It also is very inexpensive to make, which may explain why it was so popular in its day. If you are going to try this, remove your rings or else they will be sticky mess.

To make this candy I used my mother’s Betty Furness Candy Thermometer that she bought in the 1950s.

Pull Candy Recipe - making candy the old fashioned way (4)

Note how the candy turns a glistening white color – the color of stewed sugar.

.

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PS: I wanted to include a video of the “pulling” phase, but I didn’t have enough hands on deck to pull it off (bad pun). I did find a video on YouTube of two folks pulling taffy(they call it “cream candy”)that’ll give you a good idea of how it’s done.

Chloe is the Innkeeper at Big Mill Bed and Breakfast, Williamston, NC 252-792-8787

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Pull Candy Recipe - making candy the old fashioned way (2024)

FAQs

What does pulling candy do? ›

As it turns out, pulling taffy aerates it, or incorporates many tiny air bubbles throughout the candy. This makes it lighter and chewier. Taffy isn't the only candy out there that gets pulled this way.

How to make pulling sugar at home? ›

Directions
  1. Place the sugar, vinegar and water in a saucepan over high heat. Insert a candy thermometer and cook until the sugar reaches 320 degrees F. ...
  2. Pull the sugar until it becomes glossy and the color is evenly distributed. ...
  3. Pull a walnut-sized piece from the sugar and form it into a small ball.

What is pulling sugar used for? ›

Pulled sugar is a type of candy making process that results in beautiful, opaque pieces with a satin-like sheen. It is most commonly used to make sugar ribbons and bows, but you can sculpt other pieces with it too. The process is advanced, but you can still try it if you are new to candy-making.

What happens if you don't pull taffy? ›

The process of pulling taffy adds air to the taffy mixture, which in recent years has been made from corn syrup and sugar. The process of adding air to the taffy is important to keep it soft. Adding the aeration to the taffy will also make it lighter and chewier.

Why does candy turn white when pulled? ›

The incor- poration of air during the pulling action forms elongated “tubes” of air and thus addi- tional surfaces from which light can be reflected. This changes the outward appear- ance of the candy to that of a lighter or a whiter color.

What does candy do to your teeth? ›

When sugar is consumed it interacts with the bacteria within the plaque to produce acid [1]. This acid is responsible for tooth decay because it slowly dissolves the enamel creating holes or cavities in the teeth. Tooth decay can lead to tooth abscesses, which may result in the tooth having to be removed [2].

What temperature is sugar cooked to for pulling? ›

Cook the sugar over a medium heat until it has dissolved and reached temperatures of 320-360 F. I like 350 F for most things — I've always been a fan of making sure things are stronger than I need them to be. This should take a while; don't rush it. No need to wash down the sides of the pot.

What is pulled sugar made of? ›

Place sugar and water into a clean pot. Stir over low heat to dissolve sugar. Skim foam from the surface using a tea strainer or ladle (these are natural impurities that will cause the pulled sugar to be dull and streaky). Bring to a boil, then add corn syrup and cream of tartar mixture.

Does pulling sugar work on skin? ›

Sugar is a fantastic abrasive ingredient that comes with its own host of skincare benefits. It's a natural humectant, which means it helps your skin retain moisture, it contains glycolic acid which helps encourage skin cell turnover, and it's gentle enough for mature and sensitive skin.

What is the difference between sugar and isomalt? ›

Isomalt vs Sugar

Isomalt is completely sugar-free and therefore can be ingested by diabetics and won't cause tooth decay. Isomalt also has about half of the sweetness that sugar does and is lower in calories. Isomalt has a much higher resistance to crystallization and humidity when compared to sugar.

Why should you cut down on sugar? ›

Eating too much sugar can contribute to people having too many calories, which can lead to weight gain. Being overweight increases your risk of health problems such as heart disease, some cancers and type 2 diabetes.

How to store pulled sugar? ›

If you have an airtight container, it can be stored for a short amount of time, if necessary. If you have desiccant packets, place them in the container with the spun sugar – they will help absorb any excess humidity (just be sure not to ingest them).

What do Americans call toffee? ›

A sort-of-brief history of taffy (& toffee & butterscotch & caramel) Once upon a time, in both Britain and English-speaking North America, toffee and taffy were variations on the same word. This slipperiness probably started at some point in the late 18th Century and persisted well into the 20th Century.

Why is taffy bad 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.

What does stretching candy do? ›

This process adds air into the existing candy. With. aerating, the candy expands with air pockets which. will add a crunchy texture.

Does candy help with test taking? ›

In fact, there are several recent studies that show that not only will you get that extra boost, but you will have better focus and retain the information better as well. Sugar Free Candy – Believe it or not sugar free candy versions of candy may not always be the best bet on your goal of increasing your brain power.

What does candy do to your muscles? ›

Consuming high amounts of sugar regularly can deplete the body of nutrients for strong cell and muscle function.

References

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