Candy Making for Beginners: Easy Recipes for Homemade Caramels, Gummies, Lollipops and More Paperback – February 18, 2020

I bought this for my granddaughter for Christmas, she wanted to learn to make candy. I thought this would be a good starter book.

Wanted to try my hand at making some candy. This book gave me all the details that I needed. What type of cookware to purchase, what ingredients to have on hand and a great variety of recipes to try. Perfect for someone just wanting to see what home candy making is all about.

I have been making candy for several years, learning from my mother who made all sorts of delectable confectionery delights. But I would not consider myself a pro, I just have more experience than perhaps the average person. So I am reviewing it with the knowledge that I have and whether I would recommend it for someone who is just starting out.Candy making is a fun pastime, though it does take some time and effort if you want it to turn out to be delicious. However, the recipes in this book have some very simple ways of creating sweets. And if you have children, then this is fun to have them join in the making.The chapters are :It's Candy TimBarks & FudgeChocolate & TrufflesCaramels & ButterscotchBrittle & ToffeeLollipops & Hard CandyGummies & ChewsMints & Party FavorsMeasurements ConversionResourcesIndexThe author provides some good information about equipment and tools that are important. And this is an important chapter. The author discusses ingredients and what the various items are used for and why they are important. I like how she explains the different types of chocolates ( and there are so many varieties of each available). I'm not a dark chocolate lover, but my spouse is so I use many types.The author explains how it can be difficult to get a good fudge. I've had positive experiences with making fudge, so to me, it is simple. But she lists good rules to follow, and if you do, you will be rewarded with a treat to satisfy even the most discerning of skeptics. There are not too many recipes for fudge, only a couple, so this was a disappointment to me.Chocolate tempering is covered and that can be quite an experience, so that is good information to learn about.Caramels is also a small chapter and I love making caramels. The author has some great information in this chapter if you like to make these.Brittles and Toffee are both something that is enjoyed in my family. There is nothing that makes the holidays better than homemade peanut brittle and almond toffee.I'm not one who enjoys lollipops or hard candy much, although I have a history of making these. The recipes are easy to follow and easy to make.There are not a plethora of recipes in each section, but there is enough to whet your appetite for creating sweet treats. And the author has made the directions simple to follow with good tips throughout the book. Remember this a beginner-friendly book and it has enough information to be simple for anyone to learn and then if you desire, you can move on to more complicated recipes.It is nice to have some no-cook recipes in the book as well.The only downside that I can comment about is the lack of pictures. This is a case where less is definitely not more. Sometimes it is a good idea to have pictures of the texture and how things should look as you are making them as well as how they should look when they are done. Other than that, this is a great book.I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know how to make candy.

Great candy cookbook! I will be using this forever! It makes me want to order new gadgets to try more recipes. This is my new favorite hobby

A lot of great recipes in this book that I am looking forward to trying

Has some good information but the first recipe I wanted to make calls for certain candy molds. Not a problem but when you look at how much the recipe makes---it tell's you how many pounds you will get out of it. I need to make sure I have enough molds so why not tell me how many candies it makes to ensure I have everything ready or that I have the supplies I need before I start?

I bought this as a gift, the recipient was quite pleased!

Lemon heads is a great recipe