Kentucky Favorites KENTUCKY
Granny Ball’s Cream Candy
FAVORITES
Beth Mekus Lexington, Kentucky Annabelle Ball grew up during The Great Depression, and lived to the ripe old age of 102. She made this recipe every year, watching for nights that dipped below freezing to put the marble slab outside. In our family, it is customary for every member to receive a marble slab as a gift, so they can carry on the tradition of cream candy in the winter. Prep/Cook Time: 15 minutes cook time, 30-45 minutes prep Ingredients: 3 cups sugar 1 cup light brown sugar 1 cup water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 stick Blue Bonnet margarine (I’ve always used butter) plus more for hands and greasing marble slab Optional food coloring Directions: Butter a frozen marble slab. Combine sugars and water in a pot. Stir while bringing to a boil. Once boiling, DO NOT STIR. Cover pot, and continue boiling 2-3 minutes. Uncover, and using a candy thermometer, bring to a soft boil (235 degrees). Add butter. Remove pot from heat. Add vanilla. Pour onto a buttered marble slab and turn with a spatula or scraper until cool enough to pull with hands. Butter hands and pull candy until hard. Food coloring can be added during the pulling process if wanted. Twist the candy into stripes, and cut into bitesize pieces with scissors. Store in an airtight container. Cooking Tips: Food always tastes better when it is made while having fun! Great Granny Ball would make her cream candy recipe during the holidays, taking orders and selling it across the tri-state area to help support her family. This was especially important during the Depression. Though no one else in our family continued making and selling candy for a profit, spending time together in the kitchen became an important part of our holiday tradition. She taught her children and her grandchildren. Then the grandchildren taught my generation. Now we are passing it on to our children. It is my pleasure to share Granny Ball’s recipe and tradition with our UK Family!
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