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Home » Vegan Recipes » Dessert » Whisky-Sriracha Candy

February 5, 2013

Whisky-Sriracha Candy

POSTED BY: ERIN WYSOCARSKI | UPDATED ON: FEBRUARY 5, 2013 | 49 COMMENTS

Jump to Recipe· 4.3 from 3 reviews

This whisky-sriracha candy is spicy and sweet, perfect for Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day. Choose any kind of silicone mold to create the shape of your choice. This is perfect for a gift or someone special or just for yourself.

Whisky-sriracha candy arranged on a tabletop.

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  • Whisky-sriracha—a great flavor combination!
  • The texture of these candies
  • For more sweet treats, check these recipes out!
  • Whisky-sriracha Candy
    • Ingredients
    • Did You Love This Recipe? Please Leave A Rating Below!

Whisky-sriracha—a great flavor combination!

After reading this article on Bon Appétit a while back, I was excited to order a few sriracha lollipops from ThinkGeek, but then read the ingredients and thought—I can just make these myself. I would just need a basic hard candy recipe like this, and then some type of extract or flavoring to compliment and enhance the sriracha flavor.

After deciding that hot cinnamon extract would be the perfect flavor, I discovered after looking at two separate stores that this ingredient either doesn’t exist or is only available online. The only other extracts I had at home were almond and vanilla, so I unscrewed each tiny bottle in one hand with the sriracha bottle in the other hand. After a deep inhale, it was clear that both extracts were completely wrong for this. I then looked through my refrigerator and cabinets, which offered no other options, then strolled into our dining room and saw it … whisky! I placed both the sriracha and whisky bottles under my nose and inhaled, then smiled. This was it.

A close-up shot of whisky-sriracha candies.

The texture of these candies

This was my first stab at making hard candy, but I found it to be pretty simple. I did expect a hard and glassy result, but these candies are more melty and crumbly, with a texture similar to after-dinner mints. I’m not sure if I did anything wrong, or the whisky or sriracha interfered with the hardening, but I really liked them. They ironically ended up having a flavor very similar to red hot cinnamon candies—only more intense, and with a little more darkness and depth.

Whisky-sriracha candy arranged on a tabletop.

For more sweet treats, check these recipes out!

Vegan Caramel Blizzard

Easy Vegan Pumpkin Cupcakes

Vegan Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Vegan Macarons

German Chocolate Cake Frosting Truffles

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Whisky-sriracha candy arranged on a tabletop.

Whisky-sriracha Candy


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.3 from 3 reviews

  • Author: erin wysocarski
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 14 1X1-inch candies
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This whisky-sriracha candy is perfect for Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day. Choose any kind of silicone mold to create the shape of your choice. This spicy and sweet candy makes a nice gift or someone special or just for yourself.


Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/8 cup corn syrup
  • 1 TB sriracha
  • 1 TB whisky
  • 1/2 tsp cream of tartar (optional-it will give the candies a glassier appearance)
  • cooking spray, for the mold

Instructions

  1. Grease a silicone mold with a little bit of cooking spray or coconut oil. Wipe out any extra oil with a paper towel.
  2. Combine the sugar, water and corn syrup in a small saucepan. Stir with a silicone spatula to combine, then heat over medium high heat.
  3. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and insert the thermometer into the mixture, making sure it doesn’t touch the bottom of the pan.
  4. Watch carefully until it registers at 300 degrees. Remove it from the heat immediately.
  5. Mix the sriracha, whisky and cream of tartar (optional) together in a small bowl. Then pour into the heated mixture with a silicon spatula slowly—it will steam and bubble immediately. Once it stops, pour the mixture into a glass measuring cup, then slowly pour the mixture into the compartments, filling them 3/4 full. You have to work very quickly during this step, as  the mixture starts to gum up really fast—the first of the 14 compartments I filled hardened very well, while the last two I poured did not.
  6. Allow the candies to fully harden before removing from the mold. Dust with a little powdered sugar on top if you want. Store in an airtight container.
  7. To get the stuck-on reside out of your pot and measuring cup, just soak them in hot water for 10-15 minutes, then wash as usual.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes

Did You Love This Recipe? Please Leave A Rating Below!

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Filed Under: Dessert, Spicy, Vegan Recipes

Filed Under: Dessert Spicy Vegan Recipes

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Comments

  1. G says

    September 26, 2020 at 2:26 pm

    Hmm, I’ve never made candy before, but now I wonder if this would work with Fireball instead? Guess there’s only one way to find out! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    February 11, 2014 at 6:48 pm

    I tried these last night. I love sriracha (and all hot sauces) and my boyfriend is a fan of whisky, so I thought this would be a cute Valentine's day treat. I didn't get an after-dinner mint texture, and mine looked more glassy (without adding cream of tartar). Mine were more like a slightly gummier jolly rancher texture. Still good though. I may play around with the proportions of sriracha and whisky since I felt the sriracha overpowered the whisky flavor a bit. I also have a cinnamon flavored whisky that I want to try in it. Overall, a fun and fairly easy treat. Thanks!

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 11, 2014 at 7:09 pm

      Glad you liked! The best thing about these is you can calibrate the flavors to your liking. I made a batch of these recently and got a completely different texture even though I used a thermometer, so candy-making can definitely be fidgety. Cinnamon-flavored whisky sounds good for this!

      Reply
  3. erinwyso says

    October 4, 2013 at 6:51 pm

    I used Edradour, a bottle that my husband picked up in Scotland. But I really think any kind of whisky will work here, only a small amount is needed. I hope you enjoy!

    Reply
  4. Matt Balaun says

    October 4, 2013 at 6:29 pm

    What kind of whisky/ey did you use? The recipe sounds amazing, but I don't want to waste good stuff if its not the right kind 🙂

    Reply
  5. sperczil says

    July 13, 2013 at 6:37 pm

    have anyone tried to replace corn syrup here with anything else? Maybe some other kind of syrup (maple?) or molasses (blackstrap or pomergranate)? Corn syrup is not that popular here in Poland, where I live 🙂 and on the other hand – I think it might be quite interesting to use another flavor too.

    Reply
  6. Sunner says

    March 5, 2013 at 3:27 pm

    I made these last night & although they taste great the texture is not as described. Mine are more chewy or gummy. I followed the directions exactly. What could have gone wrong?

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      March 5, 2013 at 11:01 pm

      Sunner, this was my first time ever making hard candy, so I'm no expert, but I suspect that the temperature did not get up to 300 degrees. Perhaps the thermometer was touching the bottom of the pan, and you got a false read or it somehow malfunctioned?

      Also, if you don't pour it immediately into the mold, the texture can also get a bit weird.

      If you give it another go, good luck!

      Reply
  7. Jennifer Byrnes says

    February 20, 2013 at 8:17 pm

    I've made these twice now with two different results in texture. The first batch came out as described in the original post: like after dinner mints (and somewhat opaque). The second time, I added about 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt. To me, flavors always shine more if fat, sugar and salt are involved. Since it seemed over the top to add fat and given that sugar was already an ingredient, salt seemed the obvious choice. Something interesting happened: the sugar mixture boiled more vigorously and the final result was less opaque. The texture a cross between Jolly Rancher and Milk Dud – good for long lastingness (Jolly Rancher) but don't try to chew because it'll stick to lock your teeth together (Milk Dud). The powdered sugar coating worked for both batches. Overall, I love this candy and will probably never buy cinnamon discs again. This is far superior.

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 20, 2013 at 10:53 pm

      Damn Jennifer, I like the way you think! I'll make another batch with a little salt and see if I get the same results — thanks for trying the recipe out!

      Reply
  8. Riva Arecol says

    February 15, 2013 at 6:05 am

    A quarter teaspoon of cream of tartar might help you get a glassier texture. I also usually use more water and corn syrup, though I suppose that doesn't matter overmuch. Also, I've used whiskey before, it doesn't seem to hurt the glassiness. It may have been the sriracha, but I don't know for sure. I have used hot pepper in many forms to no ill effect.

    That said, I love making hard candy like this. I have about half a dozen different molds, and I do everything from fruits to this type of strangeness to mixed drinks and more. It's wonderful to play with, and I'm going to try this one out for myself.

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 15, 2013 at 11:32 am

      Thank you, Riva! I will try that next time I make a batch, and I hope you enjoy this combo!

      Reply
  9. Arlette says

    February 14, 2013 at 9:46 pm

    sounds very interesting combination, i like to tray my hand on it..
    can you pour in a try then when it cools down you can use a cutter

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 14, 2013 at 10:24 pm

      Arlette, no, that won't work here. You'll need a silicone tray for this to work properly. Good luck!

      Reply
  10. Christina says

    February 14, 2013 at 6:20 pm

    Made some for my husband for Valentine's.
    Here's a picture: http://www.prettylittlenest.com/2013/02/random-thoughts-valentines-edition.html

    Thanks for the recipe. I'm going to play around with other flavors : )

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 14, 2013 at 10:21 pm

      Christina — looks beautiful! Thanks for trying it out!

      Reply
  11. thevegankitchenofdrcaligari says

    February 11, 2013 at 7:08 pm

    This recipe is brilliant! I'm addicted to Siracha and I'll reproduce it as soon as possible

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 12, 2013 at 12:21 am

      Thank you! I hope you enjoy.

      Reply
  12. Melissa says

    February 9, 2013 at 2:47 pm

    Mine turned out very glass like! I don't know how to add a picture on here but if I can figure it out, I'll show you all 🙂

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 10, 2013 at 4:42 pm

      I'm so excited you made them! If you have a moment, I would love to see a photo: email erinwyso (at) olivesfordinner (dot) com — thanks!

      Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    February 9, 2013 at 12:36 am

    I would suspect that the whiskey is what caused the candies to not become glass like. Homemade ice cream recipes often call for a splash of spirits to prevent the sugar from crystalizing, for example. Either way, can't wait to make these! Well done.

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 9, 2013 at 12:39 am

      Interesting theory! I hope you enjoy the candies — the texture is still still nice here.

      Reply
  14. Sara @ The Cozy Herbivore says

    February 9, 2013 at 12:13 am

    hey there– the easiest way to get candy remnants out of your measuring cup/saucepan is to fill them with water and boil them for 5 minutes or so. That's what we do at work to get the sugar out of our pots.

    Gorgeous candies, what a great flavor combination! I would guess that they didn't harden because of some component in the sriracha… that's why we usually use extracts or concentrated flavors. I could ask around at work though, if you're really interested in making a "glass" hard candy with the same flavor profile…

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 9, 2013 at 12:26 am

      Sara, that would be great, thank you! I did like the texture of these — kind of after-dinner mint like, but a glassier version would be interesting!

      Reply
  15. Melissa says

    February 8, 2013 at 11:00 pm

    Any tips on getting the hardened candy out of my glass measuring cup? I ran hot water in it immediately after I finished pouring the candies out, but it seems to have taken a liking to the sides of the measuring cup and now won't come out!!

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 8, 2013 at 11:20 pm

      The same thing happened to me. I just ran hot water into the glass and let it sit for a while. Then, after a little scrub, it came right out. Same thing with the pan and utensils.

      Reply
  16. Jackie @ Vegan Yack Attack! says

    February 8, 2013 at 6:29 pm

    This is AWESOME! Imagine if you would have used Fireball Whiskey? Then it would be that hot cinnamon you were looking for AND booze! Tremendous!

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 8, 2013 at 9:48 pm

      Thanks Jackie! I have never heard of fireball whiskey, but now I'm intrigued!

      Reply
  17. vegan miam says

    February 7, 2013 at 6:25 pm

    That sounds like an awesome, unique recipe!!!!

    Reply
  18. muffin says

    February 7, 2013 at 5:37 pm

    How long did it take the candies to harden?

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 8, 2013 at 11:18 pm

      They are ready to come out of the mold once they are completely cooled … I didn't time it, but would assume 30 minutes or so?

      Reply
  19. Spicie Foodie says

    February 7, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    Wow!! I'm no stranger to spicy candy. Growing up in Mexico my favorite candies were the sweet and spicy ones. This is a must try for me. Thanks so much for sharing it. Your photos are lovely!

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 7, 2013 at 4:23 pm

      Thank you! I hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  20. Anonymous says

    February 7, 2013 at 4:14 pm

    Yes! But, is there any ingredient that could sub out the corn syrup? If so, I am in love <3

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 7, 2013 at 4:21 pm

      Yes, there are some subs/methods for making corn-syrupless candy available. I've never tried it, but it seems like it could work:

      http://www.ehow.com/how_7712706_make-hard-candy-corn-syrup.html

      http://www.ochef.com/256.htm

      good luck!

      Reply
  21. Elisa Rocket says

    February 7, 2013 at 9:17 am

    Hi, I’m wondering if we might be able to run this recipe and a photo on honeycolony.com in the next week in our Valentine’s Week series. We’ll of course back link back to you and this post, give photo credit and all. Looks so good, would love to share with our readership too!

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 7, 2013 at 11:22 am

      Hi Elisa,

      Sure that would be great, thank you!

      Reply
  22. Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking says

    February 6, 2013 at 8:28 pm

    Wow these sound awesome and look so cute!

    Reply
  23. christine says

    February 6, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    cute for a Valentine's day treat:)

    Reply
  24. Richa says

    February 6, 2013 at 2:38 am

    this is insane erin.. if i make this.. i might have to keep making this for hubs. for hubb's work team and probably his entire office!!

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 6, 2013 at 11:30 am

      Ha! That would be awesome Richa!

      Reply
  25. Lauren (PB&G) says

    February 5, 2013 at 9:55 pm

    Wow! This sounds like one of the best things ever! I'm going to have to get my hands on some corn syrup and make these. Sriracha plus whiskey.. I'm in love!

    Reply
  26. Alayna @ Thyme Bombe says

    February 5, 2013 at 7:31 pm

    Incredible. Never would have put these two together but it just seems so right. And they're adorable!

    Reply
  27. erinwyso says

    February 5, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    Thank you vicky for your kind words!

    Reply
  28. vicky says

    February 5, 2013 at 3:33 pm

    This is just a genius recipe! I have really been enjoying your creativity in the kitchen.

    Reply
  29. Ania K says

    February 5, 2013 at 12:24 am

    I think you just combined two of my favorite things into one!

    Reply
  30. LittleMonsterx14 says

    February 5, 2013 at 1:16 am

    wow this looks amazing! so cute with the hearts and i bet it tastes unique and amazing!

    Reply
  31. Kristina @ spabettie says

    February 5, 2013 at 12:25 am

    is it awkward and weird, my professing love to you? 🙂 probably less so than if my Jason were to do so – he will proclaim you a genius when I make these for him, though – he is a whiskey AND sriracha aficionado (we have had those sriracha pops…)

    thanks for this – I cannot wait to try!

    Reply
    • erinwyso says

      February 5, 2013 at 12:37 am

      Oh my goodness, no — thank you so much! As a long-time spabettie fan, this has totally made my day … I hope you and Jason enjoy!! : )

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Erin!

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