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There are so many names for this recipe: Honeycomb, Sponge Candy, Sea Foam Candy – it’s a delightfully crunchy burnt sugar candy that’s great plain or dipped in chocolate. And it’s fun and easy to make at home!
Honeycomb Candy or Sponge Candy?
Ifyou are wondering how to make honeycomb candy and have heard of sponge candy, then you already know. They are the same candy with different names. Some call honeycomb candy seafoam candy as well. The candy looks like all these things so there really is no correct name, just whichever you like best! I grew up calling it honeycomb candy and I think that’s the most fun, so that’s what I like to call it. Here’s how to make it!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fun to make with anyone who is impressed rather easily (aka kids). Watching the honey comb candy bubble up and change colors after adding the baking soda is really fun! Even the most stoic will get some enjoyment out of this.
What Is Honeycomb Candy Made of?
- Sugar – Granulated sugar
- Water
- Corn syrup- Light, no substitutes
- Baking soda – this helps the candy puff up – no substitutes
- Chocolate chips- Milk or semi-sweet chocolate or even baking chocolate or candy melts.
How to Make Honeycomb
- Generously oil a large cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with vegetable oil and set aside.
- Add sugar, water, and corn syrup to a saucepan; stir to combine, and place over medium-high heat.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and heat without stirring. Let it heat until a candy thermometer reads 300°F. This should take about 10-12 minutes.
- This is where the magic happens! Stir in baking soda making sure there are no lumps at all. Do this by sprinkling it over the mixture. Don’t just pour it in! You will see the candy bubble up and turn into an amber color.
- Then, immediately pour onto the oiled baking sheet. Let it harden completely, then break into pieces.
- Melt the chocolate chips. Add a teaspoon or two of vegetable oil if you need help making them liquify. Dip the hardened honeycomb candy in the chocolate and place on wax paper to set. Enjoy frivolously.
Expert Tip
Take the honeycomb candy out of the pan as soon as you see it bubble up and change color. You don’t want to leave it in long after you add the baking soda or it will burn up and the ruin the consistency.
FAQs
Yes it is! They are the same candy, both getting their names from the bubbly spongy texture and appearance of the treat.
Store honeycomb candy right on the counter in an air-tight container.
You totally can freeze seafoam candy. Make sure it’s completely cooled and store it in an airtight bag for up to 2 months.
Have You Made This Recipe?
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Honeycomb Candy Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (59ml) water
- ¼ cup (59ml) light corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 cup (170g) milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Generously oil a large cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with vegetable oil. Set aside.
- Add sugar, water, and corn syrup to a saucepan, stir to combine, and place over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and heat without stirring, until a candy thermometer reaches 300°, about 10-12 minutes.
- Stir in baking soda (make sure there are no clumps in your tablespoon, and sprinkle it over the candy mixture, don’t just dump it in; you don’t want lumps in your finished product) and pour quickly onto the oiled baking sheet. (The candy will bubble up and become amber in color when you add the soda.) Let harden completely, then break into pieces.
- Melt chocolate chips, adding a teaspoon or two of vegetable oil (or shortening) if needed. Dip the hardened honeycomb candy in the chocolate and place on waxed paper to set. Enjoy frivolously.
Recipe Notes
Recipe Nutrition
How to make Honeycomb Candy – this easy sponge candy or seafoam candy recipe is a crunchy sweet treat with or without chocolate. It’s an old fashioned candy recipe we love.
Last Updated on December 6, 2022
I’m positive that you are an American, so I am very surprised that you do not refer to nor include the most common North American name for this confection — SPONGE TOFFEE. Honeycomb Toffee is its name in Britain, Australia and South Africa. You can also get a better rise to the mixture is you add a bit of vinegar to react with the baking soda. Makes it lighter, less like hard candy.
Thanks for the tip Beth! Before I’d posted this a few years ago, I’d never heard of it being called sponge candy. It was always referred to as Honeycomb where it was sold in my town in CA, and I never knew there was another name, even though, yes, I am an American. I guess different locales call things by different names.
We call it Sea Foam in Michigan!
Yep… sponge toffee it is! I was puzzled at first myself. 😉
I am buying myself a candy thermometer JUST to make this recipe, btw. An early Christmas gift to me from me! The results of owning it will be the gift for everyone else! LOL!
Enjoy!
Add peanuts and you have peanut brittle.
It would be a crumbly peanut brittle – this candy melts in your mouth when it touches your tongue!
Yummm! Honeycomb looks amazing! Do you think it would freeze alright?
Honestly…I don’t know. I’ve frozen fudge but never a sugar-based candy. If it’s totally coated in chocolate I can see that it might work…but I can’t promise anything! Let me know if you do it, and how it turns out!
Could we maybe add a flavor oil just before mixing in the soda? and then it could be different flavors.
hmmm, could this possibly be the candy part of peanut brittle? I remember my mom making brittle and she would spread it out thin on a cookie sheet. I would eat around the nuts bcuz I loved the candy part. Thanks for sharing… gonna give it a try =)
I’m not sure, but it does look the same! Not peanutty at all though, and a little more airy! 🙂
It sounds a lot like sponge candy. I am originally from the north east and this was a common treat sold at candy stores. I can’t find it here in my current home in Texas so I am thrilled to try this recipe! Thank you for posting!
It is! I think different parts of the country have different names for it!
Just making my second batch, because I ate all of the first one without the chocolate. Making batch two for my sister and my dad. We used to go to Sears, when they had a candy counter to get Seafoam. This is a great recipe. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I love that recipe, brings back so many memories!
I can’t wait to try this tomorrow. Honeycomb reminds me of growing up as well, I never realized it was so easy to make. My candy thermometer is my new best friend.
I just wanted to let you know I tried the recipe today and it came out great! I did have a snafu with the milk chocolate so I ended up using bittersweet. It ended up being a good combo with the sweet honeycomb. Thanks for the awesome instructions!
I LOVE Honecomb! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
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