Spun Sugar

Using spun sugar as a topper for desserts is a great way to turn something ordinary into extraordinary. For a cleaner look, create a simple template to catch the strands of pulled sugar, or simply gather the sugar strands together into a free-form ball. Use for topping cupcakes, cakes, individual custards, or even ice cream sundaes.

Homemade Conversation Hearts

Sprite gives the candies a faint acidity that helps them taste like the real thing, and to that same end, I've made suggestions for how to flavor each color to match the classic flavor line up. But don't hesitate to experiment! No doubt you'll think of all sorts of fun, alternative flavor pairings limited only by the extracts or freeze dried fruits you can get your hands on.

DIY Fudgsicles

Made with Dutched cocoa powder, these homemade Fudgsicles have an even deeper chocolate flavor than the original. Balanced by the butterscotch-y sweetness of brown sugar, they're especially refreshing and intense on a hot summer's day.

Toasted Sugar

Toasting sugar in a low oven allows it to slowly caramelize. The result is a sort of "granulated caramel" that can be used in any recipe as a one-to-one substitution for plain sugar.

Sugar Cone Ice Cream

For die hard lovers of the ice cream cone, here's an ice cream that tastes just like one.

Boozy Caramel Bonbons

These bonbons are made with 58% couverture chocolate and filled with a boozy, vanilla caramel that runs when you bite into it. A tiny pinch of sea salt makes all of the flavors sing.

Homemade Brown Sugar

With a jar of molasses on the shelf, you can always whip up a batch of DIY brown sugar in a pinch. It's not necessarily tastier or more convenient than the real deal, but without question, it's better than having to give up on a batch of your favorite cookies.

DIY Gomme Syrup

A little extra effort to make gomme instead of simple syrup will give your cocktails a silky texture you can't get from plain simple syrup.

Sugar Cane Soft Serve Ice Cream

Skip the cone for serving and top it with some toasted coconut and cacao nibs.

Classic Marshmallows, and Some Variations

Many marshmallow recipes will instruct you to whip hot sugar syrup into beaten egg whites. I've made many batches of marshmallows this way and they turn out fine, but my favorite method is to beat the syrup and egg...