Peppermints
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup boiling water
6 drops oil peppermint
Put sugar and water into a granite saucepan and stir until sugar is dissolved. Boil ten minutes; remove from fire, add peppermint, and beat until of right consistency. Drop from tip of spoon on slightly buttered paper.
BOILED SUGAR FOR CONFECTIONS
Eleven tests are considered for boiling sugar:—
Small thread, 215° F.
Large thread, 217°
Pearl, 220°
Large pearl, 222°
The blow, 230°
The feather, 232°
Soft ball, 238°
Hard ball, 248°
Small crack, 290°
Crack, 310°
Caramel, 350°
Fondant, the basis of all French candy, is made of sugar and water boiled together (with a small quantity of cream of tartar to prevent sugar from granulating) to soft ball, 238° F. The professional confectioner is able to decide when syrup has boiled to the right temperature by sound while boiling, and by testing in cold water; these tests at first seem somewhat difficult to the amateur, but only a little experience is necessary to make fondant successfully. A sugar thermometer is often employed, and proves valuable, as by its use one need not exercise his judgment.
White Fondant
2-1/2 lbs. sugar
1-1/2 cups hot water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Put ingredients into a smooth granite stewpan. Stir, place on range, and heat gradually to boiling point. Boil without stirring until, when tried in cold water, a soft ball may be formed that will just keep in shape, which is 238° F. After a few minutes' boiling, sugar will adhere to sides of kettle; this should be washed off with the hand first dipped in cold water. Have a pan of cold water near at
