If you prefer to make free-form hard candy without molds, there are several simple techniques you can use.

Looking for more hard candy tips? Our Complete Guide to Making Hard Candy covers everything from reaching the hard-crack stage and choosing the right flavoring to troubleshooting common problems and properly storing finished candy.

Score and Break Method

• Pour the hot sugar syrup mixture onto a greased cookie sheet or other heat-resistant surface.
• Let it cool slightly, then use a sharp knife to score the surface into a checkerboard pattern.
• Once hard candy is fully cooled, break the candy along the lines into square pieces.

Cut with Oiled Scissors

• Allow hard candy to cool just enough to handle.
• Use well-oiled scissors to snip the candy into bite-sized pieces while it’s still pliable.

Use Powdered Sugar for Cushion-Cutting

• Pour the hot sugar syrup mixture onto a cookie sheet coated with a layer of powdered sugar.
• Once the candy begins to firm, cut it with oiled scissors into small pieces.

Bonus: Why Use Powdered Sugar?

• Powedered sugar helps keep the candy warm and pliable longer.
• It cushions the candy as you cut, creating pillow-like pieces instead of flat ones.

LorAnn offers several types of hard candy molds, including:

• Silicone molds
• Hard plastic molds
• Hard plastic two-piece molds
• Plastic sheet molds

Not recommended: Avoid using flexible rubber molds (typically used for cream cheese or butter mints) and clear plastic chocolate or soap molds. These are not heat-safe and may melt or warp when exposed to high temperatures.

Preparing Your Molds For Use

• Hand wash in warm, soapy water and dry thoroughly.
• Lightly spray mold cavities with cooking spray (we recommend PAM).
• If too much cooking spray accumulates, wipe out the cavities with a paper towel.

Using Sucker Molds

• Insert sucker sticks into the mold so they extend about halfway into the cavity.
• Carefully pour the hot candy mixture into the mold.
• Let the hard candy cool and harden completely at room temperature—do not refrigerate.
• Once fully hardened, the suckers should release easily from the mold.
  

Using Two-Piece Molds

• Prepare both pieces as above (wash, dry, and lightly spray).
• Attach the two halves using the clips provided.
• Pour the candy mixture into the assembled mold.
• Once filled, insert the sucker sticks.