3/4cupcornstarchplus 1/2 cup for dusting candy squares
3cupssugar
1/4cuplight corn syrup
1tbsp.pure orange extract
2drops orange gel food color
Cooking sprayor cooking oil (light taste, like canola) for greasing pan
1/2cuppowdered sugar
1/4teaspoonground cloves
Instructions
Pour the water into a 4-quart glass bowl. Whisk in the 3/4 cup cornstarch 1/4 cup at a time until dissolved. Microwave mixture for 2 minutes; whisk smooth. Return to microwave and heat for 2-3 more minutes, or until the mixture starts to turn opaque. Whisk again - mixture should have the appearance of white paste.
Add sugar and corn syrup. Heat for 5 minutes in microwave. Remove bowl with pot holders and whisk smooth. Heat for 5 more minutes; remove and whisk smooth again. At this point the mixture will be thick and translucent. Heat for an additional 5 minutes and whisk in orange extract and food coloring. Whisk until mixture is smooth and color is evenly distributed. Heat 3 more minutes in microwave. You'll know when the mixture is done when you try to whisk the mixture and a large portion of the candy batter holds in the balloon of your whisk. Mixture will be very thick. You can check consistency by letting a small bit candy batter sit for a few minutes in a condiment cup. When cooled a little, you should be able to pick it up and roll it into a ball without it being tacky. If your batter has not reached consistency, heat at 1 minute intervals until consistency is achieved.
Grease the 8x8 or loaf pan with cooking spray or oil and pour in candy batter. Spray/grease the back of a spoon -the batter doesn't spread well, so just do the best you can to spread it evenly with the back of greased spoon. Let candy set up at room temperature until firm enough to handle. This may take several hours - mine set up in about two.
Cut candy with a sharp knife or scissors into even squares. You can do this in the pan or turn the block of candy out on a cutting board dusted with cornstarch. I cut mine a little larger than usual at about 1 1/2" square. In a bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and ground cloves. Dust squares in mixture. Serve with cocktail picks, or in individual paper cups.
Notes
Gift these in festive holiday tins with tightly fitting lids. Generously dust the tins with extra powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture before placing the candies inside. Store in the refrigerator.
Keyword corn starch, ground cloves, pure orange extract