What Is Sponge Candy?
I remember going to my grandma’s house over Christmas and raiding her enormous selection of homemade Christmas candy, cookies, and treats. Both my mother and grandmother are people who love to bake anything and everything Christmas-related. They take their Christmas sweets very seriously! If you’ve never had this classic Christmas candy recipe, the way I would describe sponge candy is that underneath the milk chocolate exterior, there’s a light, airy, delicate interior. It almost disintegrates with you bite into it. The magic that happens when you heat sugar to 300 degrees F is definitely at work in this easy holiday candy recipe. Apart from being a very nostalgic recipe, as a bonus, this Christmas recipe is no-bake and gluten-free! Another favorite recipe for the holidays is this Caramel Candy recipe. Great for gifting and everyone enjoys it.
Other Names for Sponge Candy
Growing up, my mom and grandma called this candy chocolate sponge candy. However, it goes by a variety of names including: sponge toffee, honeycomb candy, honey candy, angel food candy, Buffalo candy, chocolate sponge Christmas candy. I’m sure there are even more plays on the name, but they are all one-in-the-same holiday candy. That is, the light and airy dipped candy that almost just disintegrates when you bite into it.
Ingredients in Chocolate Sponge Candy
For everyone’s favorite chocolate Christmas candy, you’ll need the following basic pantry ingredients:
Granulated sugar Dark corn syrup Honey Water Baking soda Milk chocolate candy melting wafers
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Sponge Candy
To make this easy holiday favorite candy, you’ll follow these straightforward steps: Step 1: Line a pan with parchment paper and spray well with cooking spray. Step 2: Combine the sugar, corn syrup, honey, and water in a stockpot and cook until the sugar dissolves Step 3: Do not stir after it dissolves, and cook until the mixture reaches 300F. Step 4: Add the baking soda and pour into the prepared pan to cool. Step 5: Break it into pieces. Step 6: Dip into melted chocolate and allow it to set up.
Recipe Variations to Try
I have seen this recipe made with vinegar in place of the 1 tablespoon of water. Both vinegar and water work. However, with the vinegar a hint of tang is left behind and that’s not something I like in candy. Love vinegar, but not in this sweet holiday recipe. Another festive way to jazz up your honey sponge candy is to decorate them with some sprinkles over the chocolate after you’ve dipped them, but before they set up. Anything red, green, or white would look so sharp!
How to Store Sponge Candy
Simply keep your Christmas sponge candy in an airtight container or ziptop storage bag at room temperature. It doesn’t get any easier. Like that, it will easily keep for 2 weeks, but actually more like a month is fair game. Sugar like this doesn’t tend to go bad but of course use common sense.
Can Sponge Candy Be Frozen?
No, I don’t recommend refrigerating or freezing honeycomb sponge candy because the delicate and light airy texture of the candy will change so room temp is best.
Gifting Instructions
Being that you can store your homemade Christmas candy airtight for at least 2 weeks, it makes great gifts for teachers, coaches, friends, coworkers, or as hostess gifts. Pack the candy up in cute reusable jars or a festive looking cellophane bags, and as you find yourself needing little gifts throughout the holiday season, you’ll have some already ready to go. Your chocolate dipped sponge toffee candy is also great in cookie exchanges, because again, it stays fresh for a long time so you can make it in advance.
Tips for Making Homemade Christmas Sponge Candy
When you’re making this honey sponge candy recipe, make sure to heed the following suggestions: Use a candy thermometer: When boiling the sugar mixture, you cannot undercook nor overcook it if you want the recipe to work. Again, this is why a candy thermometer with a pot clip is imperative. Don’t stir the mixture: Just leave it alone as it makes its way up to 300F. Stirring can cause crystallization (bad) in candy making, and you’ll end up with a crystal-ey and weird textured result. Just don’t stir and let it be! Use a sufficiently tall, high-sided stock pot: The mixture will expand and bubble up pretty dramatically as it boils so use a pot with ample room; bigger or taller than you probably think you need. Do NOT use chocolate chips: Use Ghirardelli Chocolate Melting Wafers rather than chocolate chips for your dipping chocolate. It’s less prone to seizing, can be reheated, and stays dip-able longer than chocolate chips will.
More Homemade Christmas Candy Recipes:
12 Easy No-Bake Holiday Desserts – No time to bake? Here are 12 FAST and EASY no-bake recipes! Whether you want chocolate, peanut butter, cheesecake, bark, or truffles, these recipes have you covered! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Christmas Crack — A highly addictive, salty-sweet, crunchy, EASY Christmas treat that’s IRRESISTIBLE!! Great for gifts and cookie exchanges because it stays fresh and everyone LOVES IT!! Melt in Your Mouth Homemade Toffee — Irresistible, buttery, ADDICTIVE, and just melts in your mouth!! EASY and perfect for holiday parties, gift-giving, or cookie exchanges!! Loaded Christmas Bark – This easy, no-bake chocolate bark is loaded with goodies! Oreos, M&M’s, peanuts, pretzels, and sprinkles! Great for holiday parties and cookie exchanges! Salty, sweet, and addictively good! The Easiest Foolproof Fudge Recipe — Look no further than this recipe for the EASIEST and most FOOLPROOF fudge that takes less than 3 minutes to make!! Customize it with your favorite add-ins like cranberries and walnuts! Great for gifts and cookie exchanges!! Graham Cracker Toffee (aka Graham Cracker CRACK) – Sweet, buttery, caramely, perfectly chocolaty, topped with toffee bits for extra crunch! Lives up to its name and extremely addictive! An easy holiday and party fave! White Chocolate Holiday Fudge — This EASY foolproof fudge recipe is perfect for Christmas and holiday parties!! A double dose of white chocolate with an Oreo Cookie crust for the WIN!! Rum Balls — A traditional rum balls recipe made with crushed ginger snaps cookies, toasted pecans, melted butter, and spiced rum! White Chocolate Truffles — Made with real butter, heavy cream, and a double dose of white chocolate in both the filling and the coating, these EASY truffles are CREAMY, decadent, and perfect for the holidays!
