Make Jawbreakers

Jawbreakers, also known as gobstoppers, have been satisfying sweet teeth for over a century. Penny candy shops started to make jawbreakers in the late 1800s, and Nestlé started large-scale production of Everlasting Gobstoppers in 1976. Candy lovers can enjoy a single jawbreaker for hours, letting each layer of the sugary treat dissolve to reveal a new flavor and color. This article will show you how you can make your own!

Ingredients

 * 8 cups sugar
 * liquid hard candy flavorings (if you can't find them locally, search online)
 * food coloring (optional)
 * water

Steps

 * 1)  Gather the ingredients and supplies (see the list of Ingredients above and "Things You'll Need" below).
 * 2)  Mix three cups of sugar and one cup of water together in a pot. To make the most flavorful jawbreakers, use filtered water.
 * 3)  Turn the stove on high. Add two teaspoons of flavoring and stir frequently. Add food coloring if desired.
 * 4)  When the jawbreaker mixture acquires a syrupy consistency, pour a thin layer of the liquid into each of your molds or muffin tins.
 * 5)  Cool the jawbreakers for about half an hour in the refrigerator.
 * 6)  Repeat the steps until you make jawbreakers with the desired number of layers and thickness.
 * 7)  When the candy has completely cooled in the refrigerator, twist the muffin tin or candy mold as you'd twist an ice tray to release its contents.
 * 8)  Enjoy your jawbreakers!

Tips

 * Your homemade jawbreakers probably won't be perfectly round like the commercial varieties!
 * If you want to make jawbreakers that look personalized or more professional, experiment with different ways of packaging them as gifts. You can also make jawbreakers in particular colors for holidays or other special occasions.
 * If you prop a stick in the mixture as it solidifies, you can make a lollipop version.

Warnings

 * Never, ever put a jawbreaker in the microwave. The layers heat at different rates and the jawbreaker can explode.

Things You'll Need

 * muffin tin or other oven safe mold
 * a stirring spoon

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Make Gummy Bears
 * How to Make Rock Candy
 * How to Make Old Fashioned Hard Candy
 * How to Make Candy Clay