Old Fashioned Sweets in the Victorian Tradition

Toffee Candies, Boiled Sweets, Retro Sweets & Homemade Fudge Recipes

Oct 3, 2009 Fleur Hupston

What sorts of sweets and candies did the Victorians like to eat? How to make or buy good old fashioned sweets for family treats in the Victorian tradition.

Generally people love homemade gifts because it represents time and effort on the part of the giver. Not only are retro sweets fun to make but they make great gifts.

Homemade Fudge Recipe

Ingredients:

3 squares dark chocolate
2 cups white sugar
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla essence
2 tablespoons butter

Method:

In a heavy based saucepan, stir in the sugar, salt, corn syrup and milk until well mixed. Add the butter and chocolate and turn the heat up. Continue stirring, but do not boil or the sugar will crystalise. When a drop of syrup dropped into cold water and forms a soft ball, remove from heat.
Beat mixture with a wooden spoon until the mixture is thick. Stir in the vanilla essence and pour into a greased, flat baking dish. Allow to set, cut into small squares. Wrap each piece of fudge in cellophane when cool.

Homemade Toffee Candies

Ingredients:

40g butter (2½ tablespoons)
30ml water (2 tablespoons)
30ml vinegar (2 tablespoons)
60ml syrup (4 tablespoons)
340g sugar (1 3/4 cups)

Method:

Combine ingredients in a heavy-based saucepan, stirring constantly at a high heat until mixture begins to boil. Cover with a lid and boil for 2 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking until the mixture thickens - about 5 minutes.
Pour into a greased baking dish.
While still warm, cut into blocks with a sharp knife which has been dipped in oil - a batch should make about 36 pieces. Allow to cool.

Boiled Sweets - Peppermint Humbugs

Ingredients:

350g sugar
5 tablespoons liquid glucose
250ml water
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ teaspoon peppermint oil
few drops of green food colouring

Method:

Mix sugar and glucose in a heavy-based saucepan. Add the water.Heat until sugar has dissolved.
Add the cream of tartar, bring to the boil.
Continue to boil until the mixture registers 140°C (275 °F) on a sugar thermometer.
Remove from the heat and add the peppermint oil.
Empty mixture onto a lightly oiled board and divide in half, adding green colouring to one half.
Pull each portion into a rope and twist around each other. Cut in 1 cm (½ inch) pieces, turning the rope at each cut. When cold and hard, wrap each piece individually and place into a pretty gift box, along with other old fashioned sweets.

Where to Buy Retro Sweets

For those who like the idea of giving retro sweets and candies as gifts but don't want to go through the trouble of making them, the Internet abounds with sites where one can place orders and the gifts will be delivered, such as Sweets For U, UK. An online search will reveal the most convenient old fashioned sweet store in the reader's area of residence.

More Recipe Articles that may Interest the Reader:

Xylitol Chocolate Clusters and Date Squares: recipes for sugar free treats.

How to Make South African Koeksusters: a sweet donut recipe unique to Southern Africa.

Beginners Guide to Making Mead: background information and recipe for homemade honey wine.

Source:

GreatBritishKitchen.co.uk, information retrieved on 3rd October, 2009

The copyright of the article Old Fashioned Sweets in the Victorian Tradition in Recipes is owned by Fleur Hupston. Permission to republish Old Fashioned Sweets in the Victorian Tradition in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Old Fashioned Sweets	Retro Sweets in the Victorian Tradition	Homemade Fudge- a Delicious Treat
Make Retro Sweets to give as Gifts	Toffee Candies and Boiled Sweets