Ingredients
- 3 cups granulated white sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/8 teaspoon pink gel food coloring or 3 drops liquid food coloring
- 1 small clean glass jar, 16 fluid ounces, with a wide mouth
- 1 wooden bamboo skewer, 12 inches long
- 1 piece cotton string, 10 inches long
- 1 small wooden clothespin, 1 1/2 inches long
- 1 medium saucepan, 2-quart capacity
- 1 heat-safe measuring cup, 2-cup capacity
- 1 wooden spoon or silicone spatula, 10 inches long
- 1 small plate, 6 to 8 inches wide
- 1 sheet parchment paper, about 12 by 16 inches
- 1 clean kitchen towel, about 16 by 24 inches
- 1 pair heat-resistant kitchen gloves
- 1 roll painter's tape, 3/4 inch wide, optional for labeling
- 1 fine-mesh strainer, about 5 inches wide, optional for a cleaner solution
Instructions
- Cover your work surface with parchment paper or a towel to prevent sticky residue.
- Cut the cotton string to 10 inches and tie one end around the middle of the bamboo skewer. Tie the other end to the clothespin, leaving the clothespin hanging about 2 inches below the skewer.
- Moisten the string with a little water, then roll it lightly in 1 tablespoon of the measured sugar. Set it on the parchment paper to dry for 20 minutes.
- Place 1 cup of water in the 2-quart saucepan and warm it over medium heat. When the water begins to steam but does not boil hard, add the remaining 2 cups and 2 tablespoons of sugar gradually, stirring after each addition.
- Keep stirring until the sugar dissolves and the liquid looks clear, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the 1/8 teaspoon of pink gel food coloring.
- Let the solution cool for 10 to 15 minutes, until it feels warm rather than steaming.
- Pour the warm solution into the clean 16-fluid-ounce jar, leaving about 1 inch of space at the top.
- Lower the sugar-coated string into the center and rest the bamboo skewer across the rim so the string hangs freely without touching the jar.
- Cover the top of the jar loosely with the clean kitchen towel and place the jar somewhere still, away from direct sunlight and disturbances.
- Leave the jar undisturbed for 24 hours before checking it.
- Check the jar once a day for 5 to 7 days, turning it gently only if one side grows much faster than the other.
- When the cluster reaches about 2 to 3 inches, lift the skewer slowly to let extra liquid drip back into the jar, then place the crystal cluster on parchment paper.
- Allow the finished cluster to air-dry for 12 to 24 hours.
Notes
The sugar solution can cause burns while hot, so handle with care and supervise children when involved.
