Are You a Licorice Lover?
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Stale Licorice
All licorice lovers know that indeed, the amazing candy originally made from licorice root and still made with the extract today does go stale. In fact, it presents a mild problem for regular licorice eaters. This goes for black licorice and red licorice alike.
However, if properly stored, licorice candy has a shelf life of 6-12 months and will remain safe to consume well past its expiration date. So yes, it is safe to eat expired Twizzlers!
The only time you need to worry is if there's an off smell or mold appears on your licorice. In this case, throw it out and take no chances.
To Keep Licorice Fresh
To keep your licorice fresh after opening and preserve the best quality, an air-tight container is the key. Store licorice safely in a tightly sealed airtight container at normal room temperature. Make sure you have a tight-fitting lid on your container, as it is the air that dries out the licorice.
First Method
To soften stale black licorice (or any color), simply put the licorice in the microwave for 5 seconds or so, until it reaches the desired consistency. If you place each rope in a paper towel and fold it around all the edges, you'll get the best results.
Anywhere from 2 to 7 seconds is recommended, it's quite a personal matter of preferred taste. Start small and add a second at a time, as it's easy to get too hot. When the consistency is right, enjoy!
Second Method
A secondary method of getting your stale licorice to be soft candy again will require a sealed plastic bag. Put the licorice into a ziplock bag and pour hot water over it for approximately 15 seconds. You can use hot or warm water.
If the consistency is not soft enough, try warmer water. If it becomes too soft, try a second or two of cold water. Be sure you use a sealable plastic bag or heavy-duty plastic bag that cannot get water inside.
Black Licorice Candy
Many soft candies are considered part of the licorice family, but black licorice is a type of flavor you either love or hate. Black licorice candy was originally made from licorice root, and today is still made with licorice root extract.
Other countries like the Netherlands and Australia consume much more black licorice than the United States and make delicious recipes and varieties with licorice. Consuming too much black licorice has been linked to high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms, but generally is considered safe.
Baking with Licorice Candy
Something most people don't think about is the fact that there are some great recipes that have delicious candy as an ingredient. Two come to mind in particular. One amazing recipe is made with Licorice Allsorts, a mix of a variety of black licorice candies. It's called Allsorts Slice.
The other is made with Gummy Bears, a licorice-like candy. Nearly everyone loves Gummy Bears, but most people don't realize you can bake with the yummy gummies. So the next time you have some leftover stale allsorts or gummies, try one of these creative and delicious recipes!
Allsorts Slice
- 125 g butter
- ⅔ cup (160 g) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tbsp syrup
- 250 g plain sweet biscuits, crushed
- ½ cup coconut
- 370 g Allsorts Licorice pieces, roughly chopped
- 200 g milk chocolate pieces, roughly chopped
- 10 g coconut oil (can use vegetable)
This is a 'NO-BAKE' recipe, folks! You need a 9 X 13-inch pan, lined with wax paper and greased. Melt butter, sweetened condensed milk, and syrup in a small saucepan and stir for 2-4 minutes. Add to a bowl with crushed biscuits and mix well. Add coconut and Licorice Allsorts and combine well, then press mixture into prepared pan.
Set aside for 30 minutes and allow to set. Then melt chocolate and oil together and stir for 2-4 minutes, then pour over the top of the mixture in the pan. Put the entire pan in the refrigerator to set. Slice and enjoy!
Gummy Bear Heart Cookies
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 - ¼ cups flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 24 Gummy Bears, cut in half
Heat your oven to 375° and line 2 cookie sheets with wax paper. Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, then add egg yolk and vanilla until thoroughly mixed. Add in flour and salt until well combined to form a dough. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and put onto your prepared cookie sheets.
Press your finger into each cookie twice to make a heart shape, then put a Gummy Bear half on each side. Bake 9 to 11 minutes and enjoy! Tip: if gummies aren't melted completely, you can use a toothpick to spread them into the heart shape better.
So Many Uses! Licorice.com
If you love licorice candy of all kinds, come see all the different flavors and varieties from the best licorice makers worldwide we have, at Licorice.com! We ship all over the world, with 3 day FedEx Air delivery right to your door.
There are so many ways to use licorice candy, these are just two of the amazing recipes you can find online these days! And if you're a true licorice lover, come to Licorice.com - where licorice lovers unite!
