Honeycomb Candy Recipe - Saving Room for Dessert (2024)

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The instructions for crunchy sweet Honeycomb Candy (a/k/a sponge toffee or cinder toffee) couldn’t be easier and the results are consistently wonderful! The honeycomb has an amazing crunchiness and terrific honey flavor.

Honeycomb Candy Recipe - Saving Room for Dessert (1)

Honeycomb Candy is fun to make, and totally delicious!

If you’ve thought about making homemade candy but were afraid the recipe might be too complicated, or hard to get just right, start with this honeycomb brittle by Martha Stewart.

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Overview of ingredients:

This easy Honeycomb Candy is made with a three simple ingredients, plus a little water.

  • granulated or white sugar
  • honey (or golden syrup) some recipes call for corn syrup but we use all honey instead
  • baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
  • water

How to make homemade Honeycomb Candy:

Honeycomb candy brittle is made on the stove-top and takes about 15 minutes, start to finish.

  • First combine the sugar, honey and water in a heavy-bottom large saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat.Reduce to medium heat and continue cooking.
  • Once the candy reaches 300 degrees F and is a deep golden caramel color remove from the heat. Immediately and carefully stir in the baking soda.
  • Whisk briefly just to combine and then watch the magic happen!
  • The candy brittle bubbles up and grows in volume by about three times its original size.
  • Baking soda causes a chemical reaction giving the brittle its namesake appearance and airy texture.
  • Finally, pour the mixture into a prepared pan or baking tray and let it cool completely.
  • Once cooled, break the crunchy candy into pieces and enjoy!
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Do you need special equipment to make a honeycomb recipe?

  • For best results use a candy or instant-read thermometer for this recipe.
  • If you don’t have a candy thermometer you can try and wing it, but it’s much more difficult to perfect the recipe.
  • Take the guesswork out of candy making and achieve perfect results every time by using a thermometer.
  • Check the Amazon link featured below for an inexpensive candy thermometer you can use when making toffee, brittle andfudge.
  • When making candy use a heavy bottom stainless saucepan for even heat distribution and a lower risk of burning. A good pan makes all the difference when making honeycomb toffee.
  • We don’t recommend using nonstick cookware when making candy.
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How long will honeycomb candy keep?

Properly sealed away from moisture honeycomb candy will keep for up to a week at room temperature.

Store honeycomb candy in an airtight container at room temperature.

When storing, separate the layers with sheets of parchment paper.

Humidity can cause the brittle to become sticky. Therefore use a good, well sealed container for storage.

Honeycomb also travels well making it great for gifting, especially during the holidays.

What are some other ways to use honeycomb candy?

Honeycomb makes a fabulous garnish for cakes, cupcakes andpies.Break the candy into large pieces for a more dramatic presentation.

Dip part of each piece in melted chocolate and allow to set before serving.

This candy is utterly irresistible swirled into our honey ice cream.

Crushed honeycomb is a terrific topping on just about any dessert! It’s really great on anything creamy adding a nice textural contrast.

Add a sprinkle of sea salt if desired.

What does honeycomb taste like?

This golden-hued candy taste like honey. Therefore we recommend using a good quality, light, floral honey that you love. The honey flavor is front and center so don’t use anything too strong or bitter.

One note of caution: If you have extensive dental work, you may want to skip eating honeycomb candy. Follow recommendations made by your dentist about eating toffee, taffy and brittle.

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Sweet, crunchy and fun to make, and perfect as a garnish for ice cream.

Equipment

  • candy or instant read thermometer

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (335g)
  • ¼ cup honey (90g or 3oz)
  • ¼ cup water (60g or 2oz)
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda

Instructions

  • Lightly spray a large baking sheet with vegetable cooking spray. Set aside.

  • In a medium-large, heavy bottomed saucepan combine the sugar, honey and water. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly.

  • Reduce the heat to medium-high and continue cooking and stirring until the mixture darkens and reaches 300°F.

  • Remove from the heat and immediately add the baking soda. Quickly whisk the mixture, just until blended. The honeycomb will grow in volume by almost 3 times its' original size, so be careful.

  • Immediately pour the hot candy onto the prepared baking sheet. Do not spread or touch the candy. Let the honeycomb cool completely before breaking into pieces.

  • Store the honeycomb brittle in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Recipe Notes

  • Recipe by Martha Stewart

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 71kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 165mg | Potassium: 3mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg

Here are a few more recipes you might enjoy:

Easy homemade hard candy is easy to make and can be adapted to your favorite flavors and colors. It’s fun to make too!

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English Toffee

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Homemade Almond Roca Recipe

Buttery, sweet, crunchy and delicious! Great for gifts too

View this Recipe

Honeycomb Candy Recipe - Saving Room for Dessert (2024)

FAQs

How do you store homemade honeycomb? ›

Leave to cool and harden for at least an hour. When set, break it into shards. Store in a sealed container somewhere cool and dry – not the fridge. The honeycomb will keep for a week.

What to do with failed honeycomb candy? ›

Instead, if it is enjoyable as is, I would suggest just eating it as a toffee like candy. Otherwise, chalk it up to experience and watch the temperature more closely next time. I have a batch of gooey toffee now too. So im just either enjoying it as is or adding bit or chunks of it to my coffee or ice cream.

What is the science behind honeycomb candy? ›

They're all names to describe a candy that's made from combining brown sugar, corn syrup and baking soda. The lattice structure of the candy is caused by the baking soda reacting with the acid, resulting in these little air pockets throughout the candy. These pockets of air make it look like honeycomb!

How do you keep honeycomb candy from sticking? ›

The best way to store honeycomb is in an airtight container. Make sure the container is completely dry. You can add some pasta or rice to the container to help absorb moisture and keep the honeycomb from going sticky. It will keep for up to a week.

What is the best way to store honeycomb? ›

If you store your honeycomb in the fridge or in a humid environment, it will make it go soggy. The best way to store your honeycomb is in an airtight container. Now put what you've learnt into practice with these delicious recipes that all feature the scrumptious crunch of honeycomb.

Does honeycomb candy go bad? ›

Uncoated honeycomb

These will keep in an airtight container for about a week (maybe longer depending on the container). Make sure to separate the candy pieces with parchment paper or wax paper in between them. The more they are exposed to air, the more sticky and soft the candy will become.

Can you save honeycomb? ›

Honey and honeycomb are incredible substances you can keep in your pantry forever—they never expire or spoil if you store them properly.

Why is my honeycomb candy chewy? ›

If your homemade honeycomb candy is chewy, it is usually due to the mixture not cooking for long enough or hasn't reached 305°F. A candy thermometer is key for the recipe to ensure your honeycomb gets a crumbly, crunchy texture.

Why is my homemade honeycomb sticky? ›

The mistake most first timers make is to take the syrup off the heat too soon. This makes the honeycomb sticky and doesn't allow it to set correctly. Whole volumes have been written about the science of candy making.

What does baking soda do in candy making? ›

The soda reacts with the acid to make bubbles, and the syrup foams. When the cooked syrup is poured out and begins to harden, many of the tiny bubbles are trapped before they can escape (another reason the baking soda is added at the end).

Why is my honeycomb bitter? ›

Choose the best honeycomb

It's all good unless the melted sugar is cooked for too long, when it will burn and the bitterness detracts from the acid-sweet pleasures expected. If you undercook it, it will not set properly.

Why won't my honeycomb set? ›

So if you're honeycomb was not hard enough, maybe you didn't cook it long enough. You should keep stirring the whole time too, keep it moving and keep it on a mid-level heat. I get impatient too, but I have started to realise that with sugar, it's all about slow and steady, otherwise you won't get the right result.

Can you put honeycomb in the fridge? ›

Raw honeycomb is nothing more than beeswax and honey. So, the same storage rules apply – it can be stored like any raw honey. Place the honeycomb in an airtight container and keep it at room temperature. On the kitchen counter is a perfect storage place.

Can you freeze honeycomb candy? ›

Luckily, homemade honeycomb can last forever — just like honey. However, the honeycomb will keep for longer in dry environments, so if you live in a humid climate, make sure you freeze it to make sure it maintains its form. If dipped in chocolate, your crunchy bar should last a month's time.

Does fresh honeycomb need to be refrigerated? ›

The best way to keep raw honeycomb is at room temperature in a cabinet or on a countertop. Keep it in the plastic box to prevent any unwanted visitors from getting into it. Of course, avoid exposing your honey to water. It does not need to be in a refrigerator, where it may begin to crystallize.

Are you supposed to refrigerate honey comb? ›

Your raw honeycomb should be stored at room temperature, not in the fridge. Honeycomb can be kept for a long time due to its natural antibiotic properties.

Should you put honeycomb in the fridge? ›

In the cupboard or on the kitchen counter is a perfect place. Once opened, it's not necessary to store honeycomb in the fridge. In fact, by doing so, the rate of crystalisation may increase. This can result in a batch that's still edible and safe to eat but with a slightly more gritty texture.

Do you need to refrigerate raw honey comb? ›

Unless the honeycomb is stored improperly or moisture is introduced to the container. Store honeycomb at room temperature in a sealed container or jar and your honeycomb will keep as long as it takes you to eat it (not long for a bee charmer).

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