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Lemon Drops Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 57 reviews

These homemade Lemon Drops are vibrant, tangy hard candies bursting with fresh lemon flavor. Made with simple ingredients like sugar, lemon juice, and zest, they offer a bright, zesty treat perfect for candy lovers. Coated with extra sugar for a sparkling finish, these classic candies are easy to make on the stovetop and ideal for gifting or enjoying anytime.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light corn syrup (or golden syrup)
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • ½ tsp lemon extract
  • Yellow food coloring (optional)

For Coating

  • Additional granulated sugar, for coating

Instructions

  1. Prep Your Station: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly dust it with granulated sugar. Measure all your ingredients beforehand to ensure a smooth candy-making process.
  2. Dissolve Sugar: Place the sugar, corn syrup, and water into a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring gently until the sugar fully dissolves, about 3–4 minutes.
  3. Cook to Hard Crack: Stop stirring and attach a candy thermometer to the pan. Allow the syrup to boil until it reaches 300°F (150°C), which is the hard crack stage; this typically takes 10–15 minutes.
  4. Add Flavor: Remove the pan from heat. Quickly stir in the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, lemon extract, and yellow food coloring if using. Expect the mixture to bubble vigorously; this is normal.
  5. Form Drops: Working quickly, spoon small drops of the hot syrup onto the prepared baking sheet. If the syrup hardens in the pan, gently reheat it for 20–30 seconds to make it workable again.
  6. Sugar Coating: Once the candy drops have cooled slightly, roll them in additional granulated sugar to create a sparkling sugar coat.
  7. Cool Completely: Allow the lemon drops to harden completely at room temperature for 20–30 minutes before storing or serving.

Notes

  • Lemon-Lavender: Add ½ tsp dried culinary lavender along with the lemon zest for a floral twist.
  • Lemon-Raspberry: Incorporate a few drops of raspberry extract and a tiny drop of red food coloring to create a swirled effect.
  • Sparkling Sugar Coat: Use sanding sugar instead of granulated sugar for an extra sparkly appearance.
  • Meyer Lemon: Substitute regular lemon juice and zest with Meyer lemon for a sweeter, floral flavor.
  • Spicy Ginger-Lemon: Add ¼ tsp ground or finely minced crystallized ginger to the syrup for a spicy note.

Keywords: lemon drops, homemade candy, hard candy, lemon candy, citrus candy, lemon extract, candy recipe

Find it online: https://tastemadebyclara.com/lemon-drops-recipe/