Fondant Bee Candy Recipe

                                                 

This recipe is our choice for making a good fondant candy for the bees. We have chosen not to use corn syrup because it could be GMO. High fructose corn syrup becomes toxic to the bees when heated. Cream of tartar is excluded for the same reasons. Use pure cane sugar ONLY.

1. Use 1 cup water to 4 cups of cane sugar. This will make a cake about 3/8" thick and about the size of a 9" dinner plate.

2. Add 1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar to the above mixture. The vinegar helps to break down the sugar as it cooks and will be evaporated. Add 1/4 tsp. Real Salt per batch. (sea salt with 60 naturally occurring minerals) 

3. Bring to a boil stirring constantly until mixture begins to boil. Making the candy without stirring will yield a transparent gel that will be extremely sticky and not good for the bees.

4. Boil covered 3 minutes without stirring.

5. Boil until mixture reached 234 degrees F. Going over this temperature will cause the mixture to caramelize and can be harmful to the bees.

6. Remove mixture from heat and cool to 200 degrees. This will cause the candy to have an increased thickness.

7. Quickly whip with a whisk until whiteness occurs. If preferred, 1/2 cup of Ultra Bee Pollen Substitute may be added at this time in early to mid spring ONLY for building brood.

8. Quickly pour onto wax paper having a towel beneath. Be sure that the towel is not fluffy since this will lessen the cake's thickness. This method will make a nice cake.

9. Allow to cool undisturbed.

10. Store each cake in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. The cakes can be handled as plates, but may be a little fudgy. They will be completely white with whiter areas inside. Tiny crystals will shine from a broken edge. Remove waxed paper. Place fondant directly over the brood chamber so that the bees can have access.