Vanilla Sea Salt Hard Candy

Jul 27, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Extract Advanced

Old-fashioned vanilla sea salt hard candy, just like the ones from the candy shop. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 1 pound (about 60 pieces).

Prep 10 min

Cook 25 min

Cool 45 min

Total 1 hr 20 min

Yield 60 pieces

Diet Vegan, Dairy free, Gluten free

Ingredients

Adjust yield

pieces

2.0 cups (400.0 g)granulated sugar
⅔ cup (219.0 g)light corn syrup
¾ cup (180.0 ml)water
2.0 tsp (10.0 ml)VanillaGoods pure vanilla extract
½ tspflaky sea salt

Make it at home

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Instructions

Lightly oil a rimmed baking sheet.
In a heavy saucepan, stir the sugar, corn syrup, and water over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Wash down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush.
Clip on a candy thermometer and boil without stirring to 300°F (hard-crack stage), 15 to 25 minutes.
Remove from the heat, let the bubbles subside, and carefully stir in the vanilla (it steams).
Pour onto the sheet, sprinkle with the flaky salt. When firm but still warm, about 10 minutes, score into squares with an oiled knife.
Cool completely, then break along the lines.

Tips

Test your candy thermometer in boiling water first; it should read 212°F at sea level. If it's off, adjust the target temperature by the same amount. Above 1,000 feet, lower every target by about 2°F per 1,000 feet.
Hot sugar causes serious burns; keep children and pets away from the stove while it cooks.
Vanilla swap: use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.
Best vanilla for this: Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Wrap individually and store airtight at room temperature for up to 1 month; humidity makes hard candy sticky.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make vanilla sea salt hard candy?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking, plus 45 minutes to cool. It makes about 1 pound (about 60 pieces).

How should I store vanilla sea salt hard candy?

Wrap individually and store airtight at room temperature for up to 1 month; humidity makes hard candy sticky.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.

Old-fashioned vanilla sea salt hard candy, just like the ones from the candy shop. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 1 pound (about 60 pieces).

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 60 servings this recipe makes.

37 Calories / serving

0.0g Fat

9.5g Carbs

0.0g Protein

7.8g Sugar

Whole recipe (60 servings): ~2220 cal · 0g fat · 570g carbs · 0g protein · 468g sugar

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

Per serving · 37 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 7 min·0.4 mi·~800 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 5 min·0.3 mi·~500 steps
Moderate cycling 4 min·0.8 mi
Swimming laps 5 min
Jogging 4 min·0.3 mi·~650 steps
Stair climbing 3 min·~250 steps
Dancing 6 min
Bodyweight circuit training 4 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 9 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.