Kentucky Cream Candy (Printable)
Silky Kentucky cream candy—creamy, melt-in-your-mouth confections that make perfect holiday gifts or small-batch treats.
# What You'll Need:
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01 - 3 cups granulated sugar
02 - 1 cup heavy cream
03 - 1/2 cup whole milk
04 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
05 - 1/8 teaspoon salt
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
# Directions:
01 - Line a 9x9-inch pan with parchment paper, or lightly butter a marble slab for shaping the candy.
02 - In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, heavy cream, whole milk, unsalted butter, and salt. Stir over medium heat until the butter melts and the mixture is fully blended.
03 - Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat and continue cooking without stirring until the mixture reaches 240°F (soft ball stage) on a candy thermometer.
04 - Remove the saucepan from heat. Add the vanilla extract without stirring it in. Set the mixture aside to cool undisturbed to 110°F, approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
05 - Once cooled to 110°F, beat the mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon until it thickens, turns creamy, and loses its glossy sheen, about 8 to 10 minutes.
06 - Quickly pour or spoon the thickened candy onto the prepared pan or slab. Gently shape into logs or squares and allow to set for 20 to 30 minutes.
07 - Cut the set candy into individual pieces and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- This candy has that old Southern magic of turning five humble ingredients into something that genuinely melts on your tongue.
- It makes people close their eyes when they take a bite, and that reaction never gets old.
02 -
- Humidity is the enemy of cream candy, and a rainy day will turn your beautiful confection into a weepy, sticky disappointment no matter how perfectly you follow every step.
- Not stirring after adding the vanilla feels wrong and unnatural, but that undisturbed cooling period is exactly what builds that silky smooth grain free texture.
03 -
- Start testing your thermometer's accuracy by boiling plain water and confirming it reads 212 degrees Fahrenheit before you commit a batch of ingredients to it.
- The beating stage is a workout, and enlisting a second pair of hands to tag in when your arm tires will save both your shoulders and the candy from over or under beating.