Just a few weeks ago we celebrated our daughters first birthday with an under the sea themed party. I spent weeks preparing and prepping coming up with the perfect menu, perfect decor and perfect party favors.
One of the hardest things I had to come up with was what desserts to make. I knew I would have a small smash cake, a small scale fondant covered cake, and cupcakes. But I wanted more on the dessert table. I wanted options. I found an adorable idea on Pinterest to use small vanilla cookies and filling (I made a banana pudding whipped filling) to make little oysters, they were adorable, but still not enough! I wanted something simple to finish the table, something for the adults. I stumbled upon sea glass candy, and knew it would be perfect!
In my true fashion, I couldn’t just use the recipe I found, that would have been too easy. I had to adjust and change it to fit the flavor I wanted. The cupcakes would have vanilla bean frosting, so I wanted vanilla bean candy. I figured, how hard could it possibly be. Turns out, it wasn’t hard at all!
This was my very first time making hard candy, so I was really nervous, but I found it wasn’t nearly as complicated as I expected. I did have to invest in my first real candy thermometer, but I had everything else I needed, which was my first surprise. The hardest part for me was waiting for the liquid to reach 300 degrees. I don’t like when things take time, but in the end it was definitely worth the wait and the candy was a huge hit!
- 2 Cups Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Aguave Syrup
- 3/4 Cup Water
- 1 Vanilla Bean-out of pod
- Food Coloring
- Attach your candy thermometer to a medium sauce pot and place on the stove over medium heat.
- Add water, sugar and aguave syrup.
- Boil and stir consistently until liquid reaches 300 degrees.
- Remove from heat and add the vanilla beans and food coloring.
- Pour the hot liquid not a silicon lined tray and allow to cool completely.
- Break apart by hitting the candy sheet with a mallet, spoon, or any hard kitchen utensil.
- Place broken pieces in a container, sprinkle with powder sugar and shake together.
- Pour candy into strainer to remove extra sugar, toss a few times, and place candy in air tight container for storage.
- This candy is extremely hard. So be careful, NO CHEWING!
That is such a unique and creative party theme for a 1st birthday, well for any birthday really!
http://www.justamilitaryfamily.com
I was so excited when it came out looking just like sea glass!