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Quick and Easy Molasses Candy

Jessica made this candy years ago and put it in one of our journals. At the last minute one day I decided to whip up a batch. It was going so well, I thought I’d get a quick video. Quick and easy molasses candy is a recipe you’ll keep.

Easy Molasses Candy

Easy Molasses Candy

The molasses gives it a deep rich flavor that is so addicting! Just a few ingredients are part of this recipe. Remember, this is not taffy, and doesn’t stay soft long. You’ll have to work quickly.

Quick Molasses Candy Video Clip

Pour the molasses candy mixture into your two prepared pie pans, dividing it evenly between the two.

Easy Molasses Candy

Easy Molasses Candy

Once the candy is cool enough to handle, quickly roll it into ropes. Using the scissors cut it into pieces. This hardens up nicely and is fun to serve at parties.

Easy Molasses Candy

Quick and Easy Molasses Candy

This is a simple molasses candy! Watch the video and make sure you read the instructions before starting.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 c. molasses
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 Tbsp. white or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. baking soda

Instructions

  1. Butter two glass pie pans and set aside. You will need a candy thermometer. In a 3 qt. heavy bottom saucepan, stir together the molasses, sugar, butter, and vinegar.
  2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring just until the mixture comes to a boil. Clip a candy thermometer on the side, make sure it doesn’t touch the bottom of the pan. Without stirring, boil over medium heat until the syrup reaches 265 degrees.
  3. Add the baking soda stir.
  4. Pour the molasses candy mixture into your two prepared pie pans, dividing it evenly between the two.
  5. Let the molasses candy cool until you can handle it but it’s still warm. Work with one batch at a time. Begin pulling the molasses candy into ropes. This is very simple! Pull the candy, double over and pull again. See the video.
  6. Continue pulling and doubling until the molasses candy is shiny and golden in color. Quickly stretch into a rope about 1/2″ wide. With a pair of kitchen scissors or just a sharp knife, cut the candy into 3/4″ pieces. Let all the molasses candy cool completely. Store in airtight containers. Makes about 6-7 dozen.

Notes

In the first video clip, I mention we are at high-altitude but became distracted and didn’t finish that sentence until the second clip. (hence, we ain’t doing quick clips anymore holding the camera ha!) So, boiling to 265 degrees is for sea-level. I explain a little in the video, but if you are high-altitude you’ll want to do a search for candy making at ‘your’ altitude.

If you haven’t tried to make candy, this is a great recipe for a beginner. Quick and Easy Molasses Candy is very simple and almost impossible to mess up. It doesn’t take much more than an hour to get these into a dish, and they are tasty!

A sweet reader pointed out that she thought the recipe was a taffy consistency – it’s not! As it cools it becomes harder to pull, which is why you need to be careful about how long you allow it to cool. This turns into a hard, delicious candy. (Easy to give as a gift!)

 

Quick and Easy Molasses Candy

Theresa

On Joyous Home, you'll find everything from food to handiwork, homeschooling to grace-filled living. Along with my daughter, Jessica, we love publishing and blogging about homemaking. We are children of Christ, and imperfect wives and homemakers. We're happy you're here!

This Post Has 45 Comments

  1. Jordan

    Looks delicious!

  2. Kim

    These look so good!

  3. Nancy Cavasoz

    I’ve never had molasses candy. I have everything for this but the thermometer. A store trip I will need to make.

    1. Theresa

      Let us know if you like it. It’s our favorite Christmas candy. Thanks for dropping by!

  4. Phyllis

    This looks like something that would be fun to make with my daughters.

    1. Theresa

      We had fun with it. It doesn’t take long either! Thank you for dropping by!

  5. Jo

    T These look good!

    1. Theresa

      They truly are! Thanks for coming by today!

  6. Bonnie White

    I love molasses, so I bet I’ll love these! I wonder if they will break my teeth or if it’s sticky? Either way, YUM and probably worth it! And by the way, I’ve always avoided recipes that require a candy thermometer, even though I have one. It always seemed involved, but maybe I’ll actually give these a shot!

    1. Theresa

      Well, don’t bite them, they might break a tooth! They are yummy. For a thermometer, I think I’m going to upgrade to a digital candy thermometer. The clip on ones work fine and are cheaper, but my daughter put mine in the dishwasher after that video. Not sure I’ll trust the temps now! Thanks for dropping by!

  7. Regina

    I have never made anything like this. Looks good. Thanks.

    1. Theresa

      I hope you give it a try. It’s a great gift! Thanks for dropping by today!

  8. Amy

    this is one thing my young cookie baker has been trying to make without success — can’t wait to try your recipe!

    1. Theresa

      Hope you like it, thanks for dropping by!

  9. Amy

    I will try this tomorrow with my children! I love molasses! Mmmm! Thanks for the recipe.

    1. Theresa

      You’re welcome! Thanks for dropping by today!

  10. Ilka

    Oh my, this looks yummy. And I love the taste of molasses. So… I’ve just got to try this. 🙂

    1. Theresa

      I would love to know if you like it! Thank you for stopping by!

  11. Joyce

    I am thinking I will use this as part of my bake exchange recipe coming up!

    1. Theresa

      It will be a hit! It packages pretty too. Have fun and thank you for visiting today!

  12. Tammi

    This would make a nice Christmas gift. Thanks!

    1. Theresa

      They are perfect for a gift! I hope you enjoy them! Thanks for visiting today!

  13. Lynne

    It looks yummy! The only recipes I’ve tried making with molasses are cookies and gingerbread, but my dh is not a fan of molasses. I think our grandchildren would enjoy this treat though. 🙂

    1. Theresa

      Have fun, our kids love them too! Thanks for visiting!

  14. Kristi Schwisow

    Old fashioned pulled candy . . . the apple cider and molasses provide nutritional benefits, too. Love!

    1. Theresa

      Hi Kristi! Very yummy, make some for Christmas. Hugs to you all!

  15. scmorris

    This is just what I’ve been looking for! We do a cookie/candy exchange and it’s a great change from our usual, I know I’ll be the only one who brings it.

    1. Theresa

      Yes, they are unique! Enjoy and thanks for visiting today!

  16. Sherry Lauser

    My son loves molasses, this will be a fun record to try with him.

    1. Theresa

      I hope you all enjoy it. Such fun, thanks for visiting today!

  17. Nancy Ratterree

    Perfect timing, I just purchased a jar of molasses at the store, time to make candy!

    1. Theresa

      Hi Nancy! I’m ready to make more. They really are good! Thanks for visiting again!

  18. mercy

    I love how the old fashion way is making a come-back. Thanks for sharing.

    1. Theresa

      You’re very welcome! Thanks for dropping by today!

  19. Jenny

    sounds yummy!

    1. Theresa

      I hope you try it! Thanks for dropping by!

  20. Lorena

    Going to make this tomorrow!

  21. molli glowacki

    Looks delicious, thanks!

    1. Theresa

      You’re very welcome! Thanks for stopping by!

  22. Jessica Bullock

    Tasty but…
    I somehow had the idea that this was going to turn into a chewy taffy consistency so I kept pulling too long. Learned the hard way that you can’t let the candy get too cool while pulling. I made this mistake and it was impossible to then pull it into that half-inch rope for cutting, nor could I cut it with scissors or a knife at that point. I had to just wait until it cooled, and snap it off into relatively normal sized chunks. Still tastes amazing, but definitely not presentable! For dummies like me, you might add at the top of the recipe that this is a hard candy, not a chewy candy and include a note about just *how quickly* one must work near the end to not end up in my predicament. Thanks, and delish!!

    1. annjoy

      Of course! Added in a comment. Hopefully, I mentioned this in the video, but it is candy, not taffy 😀 Thanks for the suggestion, yes that’s a hard one to fix once you get to the end! Glad you still thought it was delish. Blessings, Theresa

  23. Danielle

    Can I use brown sugar instead of regular sugar? I’m out and I really want to make it right now! Lol

    1. Theresa

      Hi Danielle,
      I haven’t tried brown sugar but I probably wouldn’t substitute it, especially because of the intense flavor you get from the molasses, which really makes this candy! Hope you can try it!

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