These are so much fun. How you ask? Pretty easy - but I definitely recommend two people, thick gloves and no kids - as melted sugar is HOT. I also recommend watching YouTube videos of pulling sugar first too so you get the general idea.

You need

1 cup sugar

1/3 Cup corn syrup (I use light corn syrup as it won't mess up the color)

2 tablespoons H20

Few drops of food coloring (red in this case) and flavoring if you want it (cherry in this case)

Thick Gloves (or several layers of thin ones

Silpat or Parchment paper

Knife sharpener

Put the sugar corn syrup and water in a pot. Turn to medium heat and stir a bit until boils. Use a pastry brush with water to 'paint' off any sugar crystals that stick to the edge (these will make your end result cloudy) Then let boil for about 4-5 minutes. The minute you see a bit of it turn golden brown, take it off the heat and pour onto Silpat or parchment paper. It's ridiculously hot, so be careful.

Now you basically have a pile of hot lava. You need to put on gloves and wait a few minutes before touching it. Eventually you should be able to touch it (WITH THICK GLOVES ON) and pull edges up from the paper. If its still sticking to paper, its too hot. Once you can get the glob of melted sugar off the paper, basically keep folding it on to itself. Pull it out, fold it over, and repeat until it gets shimmery (this is because you introduce air into the sugar.) Now you have to work QUICKLY, because if you pull it out too thin, it will harden quickly. As soon as it shimmery, pull out a thin strand, wrap it around a knife sharpener, and cut it with scissors. First one done. Try to pull out, wrap and cut before all the sugar hardens. If it hardens before you finish, you can stick it in the microwave for small increments until it melts and start over. I recommend two people so one person can hold the knife sharpener while the other one wraps. Good luck! And don't burn yourself. And if you do a little, it's worth it

Brenda Fleming | New Mexico Art