Boiled Sweets & Hard Candy: 20 Traditional Recipes for Home-Made Chews, Taffies, Fondants & Lollipops - Tapa dura

Indulge your sweet tooth with this gorgeous collection of classic confectionery. From traditional hard candies and suckable lollipops to chewy taffies and shaped fondants, there is a best-loved treat for everyone here. Irresistible morsels include classics such as Pear Drops, Peppermint Humbugs, Aniseed Twists, Raspberry Lollipops, Salt-water Taffy and Sugar Mice, as well as lesser-known twists such as Honey and Star Anise Chews, Fondant-stuffed Pecans and Lemon Cream Dreams. It includes sugar-working techniques, such as making a sugar syrup, using a sugar thermometer, working fondant, and pulling and stretching taffy. Every recipe is described clearly, with easy-to-follow instructions and an inspiring photograph of the finished confection, making it simple to achieve success. This delightful little book brings the tastes of childhood to the present day, with 20 foolproof recipes for sweet-shop classics. It explains how sugar can be worked in various ways to achieve different effects - for hard, soft or chewy bites. You can impress your friends with home-made Sour Drops, Candy Canes, Rhubarb and Custards, Barley Sugar Sticks, Jewelled Lollipops, Pineapple Chews or Maple Cream Candy, which are all perfect for gifts. Vibrant photography shows difficult stages of preparation and includes a gorgeous picture of each finished sweet, making this recipe collection a delight for the eye as well as the tastebuds. The recipes are written clearly and simply, and there are plenty of helpful tips and variations, which make this pretty gift book a real treasure.

Claire Ptak is an American who worked as a pastry chef for Alice Waters at Chez Panisse in Berkeley before moving to London. Upon her arrival she worked in restaurants including Moro, The Anchor and Hope, and St. John before starting Violet Cakes, her stall at Broadway Market in east London. Claire is also a food stylist who has styled numerous cookbooks, magazines and large advertising campaigns worldwide. Claire has made cakes for Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson and made her friend and chef Thomasina Miers' wedding cupcakes.