Turkish Delight Recipe

Turkish delights are a vegan friendly and gluten free confection. It can also be called lokma or lokum. This confection can be flavored to whichever the maker decides and can contain nuts or dried fruit. The cut squares of Turkish delights are dusted with powdered sugar to prevent it from sticking to anything.

Candy thermometer

4 cups granulated sugar

4 1/2 cups water

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 1/4 cups cornstarch

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 1/2 tablespoon flavoring

2 drops food coloring

1 cup powdered sugar

Nuts or dried fruit (optional)

Prepare a 9x9k inch pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying with nonstick cooking spray. This will be used afterwards.

Place the 4 cups of granulated sugar, 1 1/2 cups water, and 2 teaspoons lemon juice in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir the mixture until it dissolves and bring to a boil.

When boil is reached, brush the sides with a pastry brush to prevent sugar crystallization along the sides. Insert a candy thermometer to observe temperature.

Allow the sugar mixture to continue boiling without stirring. Allow the mixture to reach 240 F on the candy thermometer. The process can take between 30-60 minutes. Check the temperature every 10-15 minutes.

When the sugar syrup is around 225 F, prepare a larger saucepan with 3 cups water, 1 teaspoon cream of tartar, and 1 1/4 cup cornstarch. Whisk until the starch dissolves and there are no lumps.

Place the cornstarch saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil with continuous stirring or whisking constantly. The mixture should become thick and pasty.

Once the sugar syrup is 240 F, remove from the heat and carefully pour into the cornstarch mixture. Whisk until it is fully incorporated. This should occur at medium heat.

Reduce the heat to low and simmer. Whisk the mixture every 8-10 minutes for about one hour or until the candy has turned light golden yellow in color and is thick in texture.

Remove the pan from heat and stir in flavoring and coloring into the mixture.

Pour the candy into the prepared pan allow it to set uncovered overnight or at least 8 hours.

After cooling, remove the candy from the pan using the aluminum foil to pull it out. Dust a clean work surface with powdered sugar and flip the candy onto it. Dust the top with more sugar. Cut the candy with a chef's knife into small squares. Dust all sides of the square. This prevents stickiness to unwanted surfaces.