homemade honeycomb

Between Instagram and here, a few of you asked about making honeycomb following the party wrap. Admittedly, these little bags of golden nuggets and sandy goodness, do look deliciously impressive. Smoke and mirrors, peeps. It's damn easy and once you try it you'll be making a batch for every party or event you're throwing, because it really is that easy. And my favourite part - cheap. Say it with me friends, CHEAP. I split this batch into about 15 little gift bags to give to the adults as everybody left Ruby's party. They needed rewarding for being awake and alert by 10.30am on a Sunday morning..

Di Thomas' Homemade Honeycomb
(Hopscotch and Honey Joys, Lisa McCune with Di Thomas)

4 tbsp golden syrup
1 cup caster sugar
3 tsp bicarb

Mix together golden syrup and sugar in a large saucepan and simmer over low heat for approximately 7 minutes. Remove from heat and add bicarb, stirring quickly through (the mixture will froth and begin to set very quickly, so you must work fast!). Pour into a lined slice tin to set. If you like a little extra sweetness, drizzle a little melted chocolate over the set honeycomb. When chocolate has hardened, remove honeycomb from the tin and smash up into rough chunks. Any leftover shards make a delicious ice-cream topping. (Fill your saucepan with water straight away and let your spatula sit in it, allow to sit for a bit and the toffee will come off easily.)

Personally, I have never drizzled the chocolate over, I find the honeycomb sweet enough on its own. I have lost count how many times I have made this, and it has never tasted the same twice! Sometimes it's crunchy, sometimes it's chewy, I think it's all determined in the simmering. There is probably a precise temperature you should get it to, to achieve perfect results every time. But who can be bothered with that? Even when the candy thermometer is within arm's reach. My only advice, don't let it get too dark or all you'll taste is burnt honeycomb. Speaking from experience..

Those three ingredients up there, plus a 50 pack of self seal gift bags for $1.50 (or similar, with twine), and you got yourself a deliciously fancy, homemade gift for any occasion. The cheap part just makes it even better.