Monday, November 28, 2011

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

Logan's Candy is a small candy shop that has been in Ontario for over 70 years. It's currently owned by Jerry Rowley, who with a little help, skillfully pulls, twists, cuts and hooks more than 75,000 candy canes by hand every holiday season. In fact, between November and December, there are even candy cane making demonstrations to the public or by group appointment.

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Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

I was actually able to attend one of these demonstrations, so take a look below to see Jerry and his staff hard at work. First, a sugar and corn syrup mixture is heated to a temperature of 340 degrees in a copper kettle. One batch will make about 400 standard-sized canes that are 10-12 inches long.

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

Once properly heated, the contents from the kettle is poured onto a marble board. Initially, Jerry uses a spatula to "knead" the sugar mixture together.

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

After a period of time, the sugar mixture was halved into two sections and individually kneaded further by hand.

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

A few drops of blue food coloring was added to one of the sections since for our demonstration, blue and white candy canes were being made for a special order

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

More kneading occurred until the blue sugar mixture was set aside next to a gas heating element to keep it warm and soft.

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

To the remaining sugar mixture, peppermint oil is added. Still more kneading until the sugar mixture is stretched and hung on a hook.

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

Once on the hook, a lot of pulling, tugging, twisting happened similar to the pulling of taffy. It's the manipulation that helps the color turn to the recognizable white.

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

The ensuing all white, peppermint flavored candy block is covered with a wide strip of blue candy on one side and a blue and white stripe patterned candy section on the other.

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

Then it's all twisted and pulled out to make all sorts of goodies via an assembly line.

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

Traditionally shaped candy canes,

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

candy cane hearts,

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

and even broken into pieces via candy machine breaker

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

Earlier, Jerry and his crew were also making red and white candy canes.

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

Don't think that candy canes are the only thing you'll find at Logan's. You can also find vintage candies, gummy candies, licorice and more.

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

Also keep a lookout for taffy, gumballs, hand-dipped chocolates and other hand-dipped items like chocolate covered oreos and potato chips as well as caramel-dipped apples.

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy
Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

They also make their own of ribbon candy in assorted flavors like Sweet Abby Pie (a personal favorite), Pink Lemonade, Root Beer, Sugar Plum, Green Apple with 13 other assorted flavors.

Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

In an age where everything is manufactured by machines, I think it's cool that Logan's Candy still takes the time to make their candy canes by hand. Given how intensive the whole process is, it truly must be a labor of love and for that, I hope Logan's Candy will be around for another 70+ years and beyond.


Handmade Candy Cane Making at Logan's Candy

Logan's Candy
125 W. "B" Street
Ontario CA 91762
(909) 984-5410

Click here to see all the photos of Logan's Candy!

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2 comments:

weezermonkey said...

I love your demo pics! Too cool!

pleasurepalate said...

Thanks! I love sharing demo photos because I think it's fun to see food made from start to finish. :)