DIY Wedding Favors: Make Your Own Sea Glass Candy

diy wedding favors

Looking for easy, inexpensive and fun wedding DIY wedding favors that will put a big, happy smile on your guests’ faces? Make your own sea glass candy! You can make any flavor you want. Place them inside a pretty tin, tie with a ribbon – and you have a wonderful thank-you treat for your wedding guests.

To be honest, this was my first attempt EVER at making candy – and it was a breeze!

These candies aren’t only easy – they’re super tasty too. My husband and kids gobbled down the rootbeer candies so fast I didn’t even have time place them inside a favor tin to snap a photo!

These would be perfect for a beach wedding – or any wedding near the water.

(Sidenote: I have a serious, ever-deepening obsession with sea glass … the kind you collect from the beach, not the kind you eat - although that could become a habit. Come on over and check out my sea glass collecting blog.)

DIY Wedding Favors: Sea Glass Candy Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup corn syrup
  • 1/4 – 1 tsp. flavoring oil (I used raspberry and rootbeer but you can use any flavor you want!)
  • Icing sugar (to coat cooled candy)
  • edible diy wedding favors

    Step One

    Grease a cookie sheet or cake pan with butter.

    Step Two

    Measure ingredients.

    Step Three

    Pour granulated sugar, corn syrup and water in a medium saucepan. Place over medium heat and stir until sugar dissolves.

    Step Four

    Without stirring, boil the mixture until a candy thermometer reads between 300 and 310 degrees. (This will take about 30 minutes.) Drop a small amount into ice water. If it separates into brittle strands its ready.

    sea glass candy

    Step Five

    Remove from heat and let boiling subside.

    Step Six

    Measure flavoring oil and pour into candy mixture. Also add food coloring if desired. Blend with a wooden spoon. (You’ll notice that it will get really steamy for a few seconds.)

    sea glass candy

    Step Seven

    Pour onto greased cookie sheet or cake pan. Let cool. (I put mine in the fridge)

    sea glass candy

    Step Eight

    Cover hardened candy with parchment paper and tap with a mallet to shatter candy into small pieces.

    sea glass candy

    Step Nine

    Use a basting brush and coat candy pieces with icing sugar.

    make your own candy

    Step Ten

    Place into favor tins. (I lined the inside with a cupcake liner.) Tie with ribbon and adhere labels.

    diy wedding favor

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    Comments

    1. Posted by Craftzilla on October 7th, 2009 at 12:24pm

      Great tutorial! I will be filing this one away for Christmas instead.
    2. Posted by courtney on October 7th, 2009 at 9:55pm

      ummm yum! I am trying it tomorrow!
    3. Posted by Angie on October 9th, 2009 at 10:07am

      My mom used to make this candy in many flavors at Christmas time. I never thought of it looking like sea glass but it certainly does. What a great idea for personal favors, especially for a beach wedding.
    4. Posted by Dina on October 11th, 2009 at 1:47am

      such a cute favor!
    5. Posted by Janice on October 11th, 2009 at 7:53am

      These look great!

      I'm a little confused on step 9. What is icing sugar, and how do you get it to stick?
    6. Posted by Christina on October 11th, 2009 at 1:14pm

      Icing sugar is confectioner's sugar (the powdery white stuff that looks like flour.)It will stick to the candy.
    7. Posted by Andi on October 13th, 2009 at 12:20pm

      Does this recipe make one batch? Or did you split it up to make the raspberry and the rootbeer?

      These look like such a fun treat to try! I can't wait!
    8. Posted by Christina on October 14th, 2009 at 2:07pm

      Hi Andi,
      I made one batch and split it. I don't recommend doing it this way though. It sets quite fast, so it's difficult to divide. I suggest making individual batches for each flavor.
    9. Posted by MyLittleBirdie on October 18th, 2009 at 9:29pm

      Thanks for the idea and recipe! I LOVE IT!!! I've made a couple of batches but the only thing that I'm having problems with is the colors. I wanted to make blue and red but when I added the food coloring, the blue come out green and the red orange... Any suggestions on how to get the color right? What type of food coloring did you use?
    10. Posted by Christina on October 20th, 2009 at 7:07pm

      Hmmm.... I haven't tried blue, but I could see how that could happen given the fact that the base is an amber colour. Maybe try ClubHouse food colouring.. that's what I used for the red and it came out really nice. I plan on trying to make blue in the near future.. Blueberry... I hope I can get it a nice cobalt blue.
    11. Posted by Kristen M. on December 18th, 2009 at 2:52pm

      Where do you get the root beer flavoring/extract? I've looked several places and have not been able to locate any.
    12. Posted by Christina on December 18th, 2009 at 5:02pm

      Kristen,
      I got the flavouring at Bulk Barn. I'm in Canada. The brand is Lorann Gourmet... www.lorannoils.com
    13. Posted by laura on December 18th, 2009 at 10:10pm

      I love this stuff! We made it for Christmas gifts, and I blogged about it here:
      http://aspiringartistry.typepad.com/aspiring_artistry/2009/12/sea-glass-candy.html
    14. Posted by Christina on December 29th, 2009 at 11:06pm

      Very cool Laura. Glad you like it!
    15. Posted by Lisa on August 12th, 2010 at 9:40pm

      I made this for my wedding favors in different shades of blue, white and green. It looked great and tasted good too - everyone LOVED it!
    16. Posted by Christina on August 15th, 2010 at 12:08pm

      I'd love to see photos Lisa!
    17. Posted by Amanda on August 27th, 2010 at 2:31pm

      Where did you find those cute little tins?
    18. Posted by Dawn on September 9th, 2010 at 11:53pm

      I tried making a batch tonight and had the same issue as "MyLittleBirdie" with the colors. I was trying to make blue candy for my daughter's birthday party next week (but it ended up green). I noticed in the comment from Lisa that she made some blue candy. Someone Please tell me how this is done!!! Party in a week!
    19. Posted by Christina on September 11th, 2010 at 2:25pm

      I can image it would be difficult to make blue because the mixture itself (before you add colour) is golden. Add blue to yellow and you get green. Perhaps there are some more intense food colourings on the market that will overtake the golden hue?
    20. Posted by Katie on September 13th, 2010 at 10:45am

      I used white/clear corn syrup so the Blue dye took well, didn't turn green :-)

      I just gave a question about storage, I am using favour boxes and did a 'test' box and after just one day the candies became sticky and absorbed all of the powered sugar.

      I am thinking of using to cellophane to wrap the candies in then, placing them in the box.

      Thoughts???
      The candy I have in a sealed container (for 2 weeks now) is perfectly fine, I just dont want to have to buy new boxes/tins.
    21. Posted by Christina on September 13th, 2010 at 11:51am

      Hi Katie,

      Thanks for the tip on the clear corn syrup.

      Re: storage, I would try putting the candies in a cellophane or sealable plastic bag, then placing them in the box.
    22. Posted by Sandy on February 3rd, 2011 at 10:03am

      Hi!
      I just stumbled across this and I definitely want to try this. The thing is that I am pretty sure that you can't get corn syrup here in Austria. I have neither heard of it nor seen it anywhere. Do you have a tip of what to use instead?
      Sandy
    23. Posted by ruth on March 22nd, 2011 at 12:21pm

      This is a great idea, perfect for a beach themed wedding. I collect sea glass, never realised you could make your own! Thanks for the info.
    24. Posted by Amanda on April 10th, 2011 at 2:07pm

      I made the candy and it looks just like sea glass!! I am making it to give as wedding favors for my "sea glass" colored wedding. However, I find the candy to be very sharp. Any suggestions on making it so it isn't as sharp around the edges?
    25. Posted by Christina on April 11th, 2011 at 11:02am

      Hi Amanda. Were they about the same size as the ones I show in the photo? I think the key is to keep them fairly small. They still won't be as rounded as well worn sea glass though.
    26. Posted by Beth on May 25th, 2011 at 12:20pm

      I too tried to make blue and had some troubles. But, my bigger issue is that it is extremely sticky. I have made two batches now and both came out that way. No matter how much icing sugar I use it is still sticky! Anyone else have this issue/how how to fix my problem? Thanks!
    27. Posted by Christina on May 25th, 2011 at 12:45pm

      I have no idea why it would be sticky. Maybe the type of corn syrup? Maybe a candy making forum might help solve this riddle.
    28. Posted by laurie on June 25th, 2011 at 4:47pm

      I see that some of you girls are having trouble getting the colors you want. I used an extract I got at Micheal's craft store that tones down the base color and helps the food coloring show. I made Pink, Orange and Lime green colored candy! Turned out great!
    29. Posted by Christina on June 26th, 2011 at 9:52pm

      Thanks so much for the great tip!! Glad it turned out for you!
    30. Posted by laurie on June 29th, 2011 at 5:37pm

      What did you use to make the labels? These are awesome! I am going to attempt to do them and use them as my tropical themed wedding favors =)
    31. Posted by Leah on September 14th, 2011 at 10:57pm

      I realise most of the comments I'm replying to are quite old, but in case anyone else has these same troubles: if you live in a humid place, this toffee will be sticky, it's a fact of life and nothing you do will prevent it! Keeping it in an air-tight container in the fridge will help prevent stickiness in humid places. But also, if you do not cook it for long enough, it will remain soft and pliable once it 'sets' which may also contribute to stickiness. Re: the colour problem - if you take the mixture off the heat before it turns amber your colour will be truer to the original colouring. However the less you cook it the more likely it will not set rock-hard and may remain soft and pliable as I mentioned above. I don't see that clear corn syrup would necessarily help because this mixture will turn amber regardless (I make it without any syrup).
    32. Posted by Leah on September 14th, 2011 at 11:01pm

      Also, for people who live in countries that do not have corn syrup: I have heard others suggest golden syrup as an appropriate replacement for corn syrup.
    33. Posted by Erin on June 14th, 2012 at 3:59pm

      I tried this. I wanted to make it in advance to use as wedding favors. It got REALLY sticky really fast, is there any way to keep that from happening? If anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them. I'd really like to do this for the wedding but I don't want it to be sticky and yucky!! :) Thanks!!
    34. Posted by Christina on June 14th, 2012 at 4:29pm

      Erin, did you brush them with icing sugar?
    35. Posted by Bianca on July 31st, 2012 at 12:16pm

      This is a fabulous idea! How long ahead (e.g., days, weeks) can I make this so the candy is still in good condition for the event? Thanks
    36. Posted by Christina on August 1st, 2012 at 9:13pm

      Not sure Bianca. Our candy got gobbled up soon after it was made.
    37. Posted by Rachel on August 26th, 2012 at 5:21pm

      What size tins did you use? I am shopping for tins to do this for my wedding. They have the choices of 2 oz. and 4oz.
    38. Posted by sharon on September 3rd, 2012 at 12:53am

      When making candy don't try when it's humid. When removing the pan from the fridge condensation happens , therefor sticky product. Be sure to bag the candy in cello,looks better than plastic.
    39. Posted by cynthia on March 28th, 2013 at 1:47pm

      Love this!!!
    40. Posted by Karen on April 27th, 2013 at 12:04pm

      What is icing sugar
    41. Posted by Lyssycooks on May 11th, 2013 at 4:37pm

      This recipe was so easy and so good! It is a keeper for sure! Thank you!
    42. Posted by Christina on May 13th, 2013 at 12:59pm

      Thanks for the feedback Lyssy.... Glad it worked out for you!
    43. Posted by debbie on May 24th, 2013 at 1:44pm

      Hi Christina...do not know if you will get this message, but I had to ask.... How far in advance can you make the sea glass candy?
      Thanks,
      Debbie
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