Step 1: Gather the ingredients
You will need the following ingredients:
– 1 cup sugar
– 1/2 cup water
– 1 tablespoon lemon juice
– 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
– 1/4 cup honey
– 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– Candy thermometer
Step 2: Boil the sugar and water
Add the sugar and water to a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and cook it until the temperature reaches 300°F. This should take about 10 minutes.
Step 3: Add the lemon juice and spices
Remove the pan from the heat and add the lemon juice, ginger, cayenne pepper, and salt. Stir until everything is well combined.
Step 4: Add the honey
Add the honey to the pan and stir until everything is well combined. The mixture will be thick and sticky.
Step 5: Pour the mixture into molds
Using a spoon, pour the mixture into candy molds. If you don’t have any candy molds, you can use a greased baking sheet instead. Allow the mixture to cool and harden for at least an hour.
Step 6: Store the cough drops
Once the cough drops have hardened, remove them from the molds and store them in an airtight container. They will last for several weeks.
Tips for making cough drops:
– Be careful when handling hot sugar syrup. It can cause serious burns.
– If the mixture isn’t thick enough, add more sugar.
– If the mixture is too thick, add a tablespoon of water at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
– You can add different flavors to the cough drops, such as peppermint or eucalyptus oil.
– If you don’t have a candy thermometer, you can test the sugar syrup by dropping a small amount into a bowl of cold water. If it forms a hard ball, it’s ready.
Making your cough drops at home is easy and affordable. By using natural ingredients, you can avoid the chemical additives found in commercial cough drops. Plus, you can customize the flavor to your liking. Give it a try and see how you like it!