Homemade Red Licorice Recipe - Take 3, 4 and 5

Despite a definite change of gears into holiday mode around the house, our quest for a homemade red licorice recipe has continued. I haven't bothered sharing every trial, because quite frankly, they were more error than trial. Like, for instance, switching the flour from our first try, to wheat flour (not good). Or, attempting to order the amounts of the ingredients according to how they are listed on the back of the package of store bought licorice (this led us to put in way too much salt).

But, tonight, we hit on something kind of tasty. It's not licorice, but it's a yummy enough candy, that I thought I'd share.

Cherry Chews (we thought this was a better name, than Red Licorice - Take 5)

• 1 3/4 cups light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon corn starch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 packets of sugar free cherry flavored gelatin
  

In a small mixing bowl, mix the flour, salt, corn starch, and oil together until smooth.

In a medium sauce pan heat the corn syrup, and sugar to the soft ball stage, on a candy thermometer, stirring constantly.

Remove the pan from the heat, and pour in the gelatin. Stir until dissolved. And, then stir in the flour mixture.

As soon as the mixture cools enough to handle, spoon out tablespoon sized globs, and roll into ropes. The mixture might be sticky at first, and so you might want to roll it in powdered sugar, to make it easier to handle. It will become less sticky as it cools, but it will also become harder.

After the candy ropes have cooled, you can break them apart into bit sized pieces.

This candy has a nice fruity taste, a little like a Jolly Rancher, but a texture closer to a slightly stale Laughy Taffy. My kids love it.

With only 10 days to go until Christmas, we'll have to postpone any additional trials, until after the holiday. After all, I'm going to need some corn syrup left, for making peanut brittle.

It's great to be a homeschooler.