Easy Ginger Candy
Easy Ginger Candy Recipe – Homemade Ginger Candy is wonderfully spicy and sweet – and has many health benefits! Try this Crystallized Ginger recipe for a fun treat that’s perfect for gifting during the holidays.
Easy Homemade Ginger Candy
There is nothing better, in my humble opinion, than giving gifts of food for the holidays.
Nothing.
Think about it… Yummy edible gifts check all of the boxes for what makes a perfect present. They are best when made from scratch, food gifts are budget-friendly yet super thoughtful, they create an experience and fond memories. Plus, there’s no household clutter.
See? Perfect!
This recipe for Easy Ginger Candy is a fun and memorable gift that your family and friends will certainly love. It is a tasty and extremely healthy treat. Even when cooked and covered in sugar, crystallized ginger still has many health benefits – including easing nausea and helping to reduce inflammation.
Homemade ginger candy, also commonly known as crystallized ginger, is surprisingly easy to make, and tastes so much better than store-bought candies. Make a batch for your loved ones to give as delicious Christmas gifts, but be sure to save some to keep for yourself!
What Ingredients You Need
Here are the handful of simple ingredients needed to make fresh and zesty crystalized ginger from scratch:
- Fresh ginger root
- Water
- Granulated sugar
- Salt
I also recommend adding either vanilla extract or orange extract to this recipe. Either is a lovely addition of flavor that really balances the spicy bite of the ginger root.
How to Make Crystalized Ginger Candy
This easy Ginger Candy recipe requires only a few simple steps to make from scratch, and creates the most flavorful and wonderfully bold treat.
- First, prepare the raw ginger root by peeling it completely and slicing it into thin rounds. The pieces should look like small potato chips.
- Place the ginger slices in a large 6 quart saucepot. Add the exact amount of water called for in the full recipe, and bring to a simmer. Cover and let the ginger simmer for about 30 minutes, until just softened but not mushy.
- Remove the lid and check the liquid levels. There should be approximately 1/4 – 1/3 cup of water in the bottom of the pot. If needed, scoop out some water with a ladle, or add water, to make sure you have about ¼ cup.
- Next, stir in the sugar and salt. Bring the sugar syrup to a simmer. Simmer, stirring regularly, for 15- 20 minutes, until the syrup starts to crystalize and become sticky. The color will range from pale cream to golden.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the vanilla or orange extract, if you are using it.
- Then set out a baking rack, and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Use tongs to move the ginger pieces to the rack, and spread them out evenly in a single layer.
- Allow the ginger to rest on the rack for 2-4 hours, or until all the pieces are completely dry.
Place in an airtight container. The ginger candy will last for at least 1 month if kept in a cool, dry place. There’s no need to refrigerate!
Get the Complete (Printable) Easy Ginger Candy Recipe + VIDEO Below. Enjoy!
Different Ways to Enjoy Homemade Crystalized Ginger
Eat pieces of crystallized ginger as a spicy and sweet treat.
They are also great to chop into small pieces and use as a fun topping for Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream, mix into Homemade Granola, or use them to make a batch of Double Chocolate Cookies with Ginger and Cherries.
And little boxes filled with ginger candy made from scratch are wonderful to give as holiday gifts!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do These Candies Last?
Place in an airtight container. These ginger candies will last for at least 1 month if kept in a cool, dry place. There’s no need to refrigerate!
What Does Spoiled Ginger Look Like?
You can tell by the color of the ginger root if it has gone bad. When you cut into the root, if the color is dull brown, has black rings, or looks gray, it is time to dispose of it and use a different piece.
Use only fresh ginger root to make this recipe.
Looking for More Easy Candy Recipes?
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- Bourbon Salted Caramel Candy
- Vanilla Orange Candied Cranberries
- The Tastiest Turkish Delight Recipe (Lokum)
- Mexican Burnt Milk Candy (Leche Quemada)
- Fluffy Divinity Candy Recipe
- The Easiest Candied Orange Peel Recipe
- Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe
- Brigadeiro Recipe (Brazilian Truffles)
Easy Ginger Candy Recipe + VIDEO
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ pound fresh ginger root
- 6 cups water
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
Instructions
- Peel the ginger root and slice into 1/8 inch rounds.
- Place the ginger slices in a large 6 quart sauce pot. Add the water. Bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes to soften the ginger.
- Remove the lid and check the liquid levels. There should be approximately 1/4 – 1/3 cup of water in the bottom of the pot. If needed, scoop out some water with a ladle, or add water, to make sure you have about ¼ cup in the pot.
- Stir in the sugar and salt. Bring the sugar syrup to a simmer. Simmer, stirring regularly, for 15-20 minutes, until the syrup starts to crystalize. The color will range from pale cream to golden. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Set out a baking rack. Spray with nonstick cooking spray. Use tongs to move the ginger pieces to the rack, spreading out in a single layer.
- Allow the ginger to rest for 2-4 hours, until all the pieces are dry.
- Place in an airtight container. The ginger candy will last for at least 1 month if kept in a cool dry place.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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I made these. They are good! My ginger had a darker tone than these in these pictures, so not quite as pretty. I’d make them again.
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This was so easy! Love having this on hand! I’ve got a recipe for Candied Ginger Cookies and now I don’t have to go buy candied ginger …. I can just use what I’ve already made! So perfect!
The perfect sweet treat! I LOVE this!
This recipe was so good for my father – he hated original ginger candies for his nausea, but these were just sweet enough for him to love it!
fun little snack, love the ginger flavor, thank you!
I’m a diabetic, and I love ginger. This sounds sooo delicious. Is there a keto version to this recipe? Will powdered stevia crystallize the same way?
Hi Sunshine,
I have not tried this recipe with alternative sweeteners… Maybe someone else can chime in?
I made these candies with brown stevia and it turned out amazing!! I left the pot on the heat until the syrup was almost like a caramel and then took it off the heat and poured it all out on parchment paper, because I didn’t want to waste any of the delicious topping. So good! I would totally recommend trying out this recipe if you like a bit of spice with your sweet.
This is the only ginger candy that I will eat!