Old-Fashioned Lemon Hard Candy

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Medium

Clear, glassy lemon drops made from sugar, corn syrup and water boiled to the hard-crack stage. They are tart, bright and classic. Makes 60 pieces in about 1 hr 5 min.

Prep 10 min

Cook 25 min

Cooling 30 min

Total 1 hr 5 min

Yield 60 pieces

Diet Dairy free, Gluten free, Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

pieces

1 ½ cups (300 g)granulated sugar
½ cup (120 ml)light corn syrup
½ cup (120 ml)water
½ tsp (2 ml)lemon oil (candy flavoring), or 1 tsp lemon extract
2 dropyellow food coloring, optional
¼ cup (30 g)powdered sugar, for dusting

Fresh ingredient guides

LemonsHow to pick, season & nutrition · 24 kcal per 84 g

Baking tools for this recipe

Convert to grams Scale it Change the pan

Instructions

Lightly oil a silicone mat or sheet pan and set it near the stove. Measure the flavoring and color ahead; you must work fast.
Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in the saucepan. Stir over medium heat just until the sugar dissolves, then stop stirring.
Clip on the thermometer and boil, without stirring, until it reaches 300 F (149 C), about 20 minutes. Brush any crystals from the pan sides with a wet pastry brush.
Remove from the heat at once. Wait for the bubbling to settle, then carefully stir in the flavoring (it will steam) and color.
Pour onto the mat in a thin layer. When it is firm but still warm and pliable, snip into small pieces with oiled scissors, or let cool and break.
Toss the cooled pieces in powdered sugar to keep them from sticking together.

Tips

Do not stir after the sugar dissolves or it can crystallize.
Humidity makes hard candy sticky; make it on a dry day.
Use candy oil rather than extract for stronger flavor; extracts can sputter.

Made this?

Log it to keep your bakes, ratings and notes together in My Kitchen.

Be the first to share one.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make old-fashioned lemon hard candy?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking, plus 30 minutes to chill. The recipe makes 60 pieces.

How should I store old-fashioned lemon hard candy?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 weeks; add a food-safe desiccant packet if humid.

Can I make old-fashioned lemon hard candy ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 60 servings this recipe makes.

27 Calories / serving

0.0g Fat

7.1g Carbs

0.0g Protein

5.8g Sugar

Whole recipe (60 servings): ~1620 cal · 0g fat · 426g carbs · 0g protein · 348g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.