
A historical confectionery from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). Test for doneness by dropping in cold water - it should appear brittle.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Upon a coffeecupful of finely powdered sugar pour just enough lemon juice to dissolve it
Boil it to the consistency of thick syrup, and so that it appears brittle when dropped in cold water
Drop this on buttered plates in drops
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Set away to cool and harden
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
This recipe creates hard candy through sugar crystallization control. The lemon juice inverts some sucrose into glucose and fructose, preventing large crystal formation and creating a smooth, glass-like texture. Boiling to the hard crack stage (300-310°F) removes enough water that the sugar solidifies into a brittle candy upon cooling. The acid in lemon juice also lowers the pH, which helps prevent recrystallization and ensures a clear, shelf-stable confection.
These lemon drops can be made up to 2 weeks in advance. Once fully hardened and cooled, store immediately in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Place parchment or wax paper between layers to prevent the candies from sticking together. Do not refrigerate, as moisture will make them sticky. If candies become tacky due to humidity, they cannot be restored to their original texture.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
These lemon drops can be made up to 2 weeks in advance. Once fully hardened and cooled, store immediately in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Place parchment or wax paper between layers to prevent the candies from sticking together. Do not refrigerate, as moisture will make them sticky. If candies become tacky due to humidity, they cannot be restored to their original texture.