How to Make Kohakutou Candy (Japanese Crystal Gummies)
Make your own Japanese Kohakutou at home with this easy recipe! This popular Japanese gummy candy takes just 5 ingredients to make, and is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. The secret ingredient? Agar-agar!
Ingredients
- 6 tsp agar-agar powder
- 1 ¾ cups water
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp (total) flavoring (I used cherry, orange, peach, and green apple)
- liquid food coloring
Instructions
Prepare The Mixture
- In a saucepan, mix water with agar-agar powder for 4-5 minutes.
- Bring the agar-agar mixture to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes, or until the agar-agar powder has fully dissolved. Make sure to stir constantly to prevent burning.
Add Sugar & Flavoring
- Stir in the granulated sugar and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until sugar has fully dissolved and mixture has thickened.
- Remove from heat and mix in your chosen flavoring extract.
Color & Set
- Pour the mixture into a rectangular heatproof dishes or silicone molds.
- Add your candy flavoring and a few drops of liquid food coloring. You can choose to swirl different colors to make a pattern, or just blend one color thoroughly.
- Let it cool at room temperature or fridge until set (about 2.5 hours).
Cut & Dry
- Once firm, cut the jelly into small crystal-like pieces using a sharp knife. You may need to rinse the knife every now and then as the candy will be very sticky.
- Place the pieces on a tray lined with parchment paper and let them dry for 3-5 days until the outer layer hardens into a crunchy texture while the inside remains chewy.
Enjoy
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition
Calories: 31kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!