McCord's Candy Cane Tour

McCord's is one of five places left in the US that still make candy canes by hand.  They also give "tours" of the process at the store.  Aunt Carole and Gramma Pat meet us on Saturday to see it.  These are very popular so we didn't make it into the noon tour.  We headed down the street to a few shops and to the Christmas market that was happening.  We ran into Santa.

Dickens of a Christmas was also happening downtown with Carolers and readers at various locations.  We stopped to hear a bit of a reading.

Then back to McCord's for a 1pm tour.  It is on the third floor of the building.  You enter into the "red door" and then have to go up a winding staircase to the kitchen.

The candy stove and equipment are close to 100 years old...lots of candy has been made on them.  McCord's used to make most of their candy in house, but now just their toffee, caramels, and candy canes.

First stage is bringing the liquid to a boil and cooking it to the right temperature.

Then it's poured onto a granite slab that is coated in Crisco.

The candy maker works the liquid until it cools, changing to a more solid consistency.

She then works it by hand, adding more air bubbles by stretching it.

At this point it is ready for the pull, where it is stretched and worked until it becomes white.

Meanwhile, a portion of the goop had red coloring added to it and was stretched by hand to incorporate it and get it to the correct consistency.

Every step takes 2 candy makers (they like it when there is a third!).  The white is shaped into a large block while the red (kept warm by a heater) is made into 1 large and 3 small ropes.

The white block is put on the large red one, then the three small ropes added on top.

The candy makers then stretch it out, rolling it to get it to the right size.  It is pulled down the counter where it is cut into 9" lengths.  No tape measure is needed...there are groves in the wood counter at the 9" marks from years of making these candy canes.

These small ropes are still slightly warm and can be shaped into canes (or whatever you would like).  Camden used her and my rope to make a heart.

There is nothing like these canes.  A store bought one doesn't even compare - and having a slightly warm bite was even better!

All three generations can now say they grew up enjoying McCord's candy.

Camden can't wait to come back and enjoy a milkshake from the soda fountain.  She doesn't remember that we have been here before (in 2010 and 2011).  But 7 years is a long time!