A candy thermometer is fairly foolproof, but you can also use this old-fashioned, tried-and-true ice water test to gauge the temperature of your candy syrup.
- Have a glass of very cold ice water available for each test.
- Before you begin, remove the pan from the heat so the temperature doesn’t continue to rise while you are testing your syrup.
- Pour a small spoonful of syrup into the cold water. The consistency of the syrup in the cold water reveals the texture your finished candy would have at this stage.