Honeycomb Sponge Candy - Crazy for Crust

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Honeycomb Candy (or Sponge Candy) is one of my favorites – 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 and so much better than the packaged stuff at the store

broken up honeycomb with chocolate on the ends

This recipe has many names: Honeycomb Candy, Sponge Toffee, Sponge Candy, or Sea foam Candy. It’s a crunchy burnt sugar tasting candy that’s airy and sweet and nostalgic. It’s not quite toffee and not quite peanut brittle, but sort of a combination. The name honeycomb comes from the fact that little air bubbles form in the center creating pockets, like in a honeycomb (or in a sponge or sea foam, hence the other names).

Homemade Honeycomb Candy reminds me of my childhood best friend; we’d often go to the local candy shop and buy bags and bags of honeycomb candy all summer long.

ingredients in honeycomb laid out on a white counter

How to make Honeycomb Candy

White Sugar – Granulated sugar causes the caramelization needed to achieve the honeycomb flavor.
Corn syrup- Light, no substitutes
Baking soda – this helps the candy puff up – no substitutes. Baking Soda is an essential sponge toffee ingredient.
Chocolate chips- Milk or semi-sweet chocolate or even baking chocolate or candy melts. This is optional because you can leave it plain or you can dip it.
You need a candy thermometer to measure the temperature of the hot candy. Honeycomb needs to be cooked to 300°F in order to be spongey and honeycomb-like.

Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions. See below the recipe card for even more information: process shots, variations, FAQ and more.

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Dorothy’s Expert Tips

It’s VERY important to read the recipe and gather all your ingredients before you begin.
You MUST use a candy thermometer.
Be careful not to splash the sugar on the sides of the pan when stirring; this will cause crystallization and ruin your candy making.
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.

Honeycomb Candy Recipe

4 from 8 votes

A crunchy and sweet candy that tastes great, especially dipped in chocolate!

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 10

Cooling Time 30

Total Time 1 10

Yield 12 servings

Serving Size 1 serving

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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

If you want a thicker honeycomb, use a 9×9-inch pan lined with foil and sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Recipe Nutrition

Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Author Dorothy Kern

FAQs

Is sponge candy the same as seafoam candy?

Yes it is! They are the same candy, both getting their names from the bubbly spongy texture and appearance of the treat.

How do you store honeycomb?

Can you freeze seafoam candy

You totally can freeze seafoam candy. Make sure it’s completely cooled and store it in an airtight bag for up to 2 months.

How to Make Sponge Toffee Step by Step

Add sugar, water, and corn syrup to a saucepan; stir to combine, and place on the stove over medium heat.
Bring the mixture to a boil and heat without stirring. Let it heat until a candy thermometer reads 300°F.
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.
Immediately pour onto a prepared 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.

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.

Honeycomb Candy