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Learn the science behind:
Candy Science
Whether it's caramel, marshmallows, brittle, sugar syrups, or jalebi. You can learn all about the science behind candy at FoodCrumbles!
Learn why you should cook your sugar syrup to such a specific temperature, learn how you can change the texture of candy, and more.
New to candy? Then we'd recommend reading our round-up article that gives you a solid foundation.
The Sugary Science Behind Candy Making
The beginner's guide to the science behind candy. From cooking sugar to whipping egg whites, from caramelization to candy comparison.
Ready to learn more about the science behind candy? Why not consider our Candy Science course?
For a deep dive into the world of candy. A structured organized and fun way to learn about candy, with plenty of theory and practical exercises.
Prefer to just browse around? Here you can find all of our articles on candy science:
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The (Scientific) Guide to Making HM Pectin Gummies
Using pectin can be a great way to make a gummy – a bouncy, slightly translucent gel-like snack. A good gummy holds its shape and isn’t sticky. However, pectin can be a finicky ingredient to work with. It is prone to clumping, or it might set long before you need it to. To make a consistent, high-quality products, having a basic understanding of how pectin works, will help tremendously. We’ll be focusing on gummies made with HM pectin. Looking for tips on using pectin but not focused on making HM pectin gummies? Then our generic pectin tips & tricks might…
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What Is The Glass Transition Temperature?
Wondering why your brittle remains soft, instead of getting crunchy? Or want to know how candy floss works? Then you might come across an important, but quite a complex concept: the “glass transition temperature”. It can be a tricky concept to wrap your mind around. The glass transition temperature describes when a material transitions from a hard, glassy material, into a viscous, but pliable product. In other words, it can explain why a previously crunchy peanut brittle turned chewy, helping you become a better candy maker.
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The Science of Non-Sticky Nougat Candy
If made well, it can have a pristine white color and be light and fluffy. But, nougat is probably one of the more daunting candies to make. Luckily, a little bit of practice can make perfect, especially if you: tightly control temperature (hello cheap reliable IKEA thermometer đź‘‹); pour your sugar syrup in at just the right whisking speed; use the right types of nuts (sorry walnuts); and do not rush doing your dishes!
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The Role of Sugar, Eggs, and Gelatin in Marshmallows (+ Recipe)
Press into a marshmallow. And let it go. What happens? It should have bounced right back up, thanks to some great teamwork of a mere three ingredients: sugars, gelatin, and possibly egg whites. Egg whites make marshmallows light and airy. Gelatin is the mastermind behind that bounce. And don’t forget the sugar, without it, a marshmallow wouldn’t be.
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3 Ways to Make a Caramel Sauce
There are literally countless recipes for caramel sauces. But, if you look more closely, you’ll find just 3 recurring patterns in these recipes. You can use brown sugar, caramelize sugar, or, make use of the Maillard reaction to make a tasty caramel sauce.
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The Sugary Science Behind Candy Making
Want to make your own sugar candy? Develop your own recipes? Maybe even start your own candy-making business? But do you feel like you’re only able to follow a recipe? Scared that even the slightest tweak will result in a failure? Not truly sure of why you’re using that thermometer? You can make candy, but don’t feel like you’ve truly mastered it? If on top of that, you also enjoy discussing science here and there, and doing an experiment or two, you’ve come to the right place: the starting point of your candy science journey!
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How to Make Fudge – Controlling Crystallization
Making fudge is all about controlling the crystallization of sugar. Dissolve the sugar first and then make sure it crystallizes in just the right way to make some melt-in-the-mouth fudge. It only becomes easier when you understand the science behind it. So grab some bags of sugar, your thermometer & a stand mixer and you’re ready to go!
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Sweet Science: How to Make Jalebi
Deep-fried, crunchy, concentric circles of batter, soaked in a flavorful, moist sugar syrup. It’s the mix of textures and flavors, that make jalebi so appealing. And even though it takes just a few steps to make them, it’s easier said than done. It’s all about controlling the consistencies of batter and sugar syrup. So let’s dissect this sweet. First, we’ll study the batter, before zooming in on the other crucial component: the sugar syrup.
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How to Make Caramel (+ Recipe Troubleshooting)
Light brown, or almost black. Runny and oozy, or firm and chewy. Sweet, slightly salty, or with a hint of bitterness. Caramel comes in all shapes and sizes. You can easily tweak it to your liking, once you understand how it works. So let’s investigate the science of caramels! Note, do you want to learn how to caramelize sugar? Then we’d recommend you read our article dedicated to caramelizing sugar instead. You can make caramels with just a few simple ingredients and a stovetop. But, caramels can be finicky. They can crystallize when you don’t want to. Or, turn too…
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The Science of Dutch ‘Borstplaat’ – A Crystalline Candy (+ Recipe)
Borstplaat is a sweet, creamy piece of typical Dutch candy. It literally melts in your mouth, thanks to the tiny tiny sugar crystals within. It’s a scientific feat and just one example of a crystalline candy. As a matter of fact, it’s closely related to both fondant and fudge. Unless it’s November or December, you will have a hard time finding Borstplaat in Dutch stores. “Borstplaat” is a true seasonal Dutch delicacy and has no real equivalent in English. Borstplaat, just like fondant or fudge, might not be the easiest to make. But, once you understand what happens when you…
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Making Confectionery Fondant: Controlling Sugar Crystallization
You may have eaten it without realizing. The ‘sister’ of the famous fondant used to decorate cakes: confectionery fondant. Made with just sugar, it’s a scientific feat. A delicate balance between crystallization & utter stickiness. Confectionery fondant literally melts in the mouth. It’s a delicate balance of tiny sugar crystals, mixed into a sugar solution. The sugar crystals are as small as 20 microns! Nevertheless, you can make it at home! Controlling crystallization is key. Let’s have a closer look.
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How to Caramelize Sugar: Dry vs Wet Method
If you’ve caramelized sugar, you might recall there are two ways to do so: the ‘dry’ and the ‘wet’ method. The only difference? The presence, or absence, of water. But which is ‘best’? Does it even matter? We’re going to find out! You can easily turn sweet, white sugar, into a brown, almost bitter, product: caramel. All you need is heat. Once the sugar is hot enough, it will turn brown and change flavor. This is the result of a series of chemical reactions jointly called “caramelization”. Caramelization needs heat Just how hot the sugar needs to be to caramelize…
