Turkish Delight

When most of us think of Turkish delight we think of Edmund and his encounter with the evil White Queen in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. This candy is unique in flavor and texture - it's soft, chewy, delightfully sweet, and thankfully, not evil.

Ingredients

4 1/2 c. water (divided)
1 1/4 c. cornstarch
4 c. granulated sugar
1 tsp. cream of tartar
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 Tbsp. rosewater
3 drops red food coloring
Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions

Prepare a 9x9 pan by lining it with parchment paper.

Combine the cornstarch, cream of tartar and 3 cups of water. Use a bowl with a spout or transfer to a pitcher for easy pouring. Set aside.

Place the sugar, lemon juice and 1 1/2 cups of the water in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and bring to a boil.

Brush down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Insert a candy thermometer.

Boil the mixture until it reaches 240F.

Add the cornstarch mixture, whisking constantly until it is combined and the mixture thickens.

Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about an hour, stirring every ten minutes, until it is a light yellow and very thick.

Remove from the heat and add the food coloring and rosewater. Rosewater can be hard to find so feel free to substitute lemon or vanilla.

Pour candy into prepared pan and let it set, uncovered, overnight.

The next day, remove the candy from the pan and cut into squares. Dust each square with powdered sugar and enjoy.

 

When most of us think of Turkish delight we think of Edmund and his encounter with the evil White Queen in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. This candy is unique in flavor and texture - it's soft, chewy, delightfully sweet, and thankfully, not evil.