Cinnamon Hard Candy

1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon oil
1/4 teaspoon red food coloring

Combine sugar, syrup, and water in a sauce pan. Boil without stirring over medium-high heat until it reaches hard crack stage. Use a thermometer or very cold water. I use the cold water. When you put about a teaspoon in the cold water and let it sit for 10 or 15 seconds you can take it out and it will break with a snap. Towards the end of the cooking time the mixture will thicken considerably and turn a yellowish color. It is essential to watch the pot at this point because it will burn easily and quickly. You may also stir it at this point to prevent scorching.

When done, remove from heat and quickly stir in the oil and coloring. Pour into a 9 x 9 metal pan that has been lined with about 1/4 to 1/3 inch of powdered sugar.

Let cool until the edges start to firm up and then immediately begin to cut the pieces from around the edges. Keep cutting around the edges as the candy hardens. Cutting takes practice because the candy can harden quickly. Some just let it get rock hard and break it with a mallet but this makes it harder to control the size of the pieces and also the pieces have sharp edges that can cut one's mouth.