Cooling racks are a good thing to have!
1/2 C. sugar
2 T. water
2 T. light corn syrup
1/2 t. fruit extract--- if you use oils, you only need a
few drops!
food coloring

Very lightly butter, or spray "Pam" on large jelly roll pan or very large sided cookie sheet!
Pre heat oven to about 140 degrees/you may have to adjust the oven temp once you get started!

In heavy, 1 quart saucepan bring sugar, water and corn syrup to boiling over medium heat. Cover saucepan and boil 5 min. so any sugar crystals on side of pan wash down. Uncover and attach candy thermometer to side of pan.
Continue to boil, uncovered until mixture reaches 280 degrees. Lower heat so candy mixture doesn't start to caramelize. When thermometer reaches 300 degrees remove pan from heat. Let stand until all bubbles have calmed down.
Gently stir in flavoring and enough food color so candy is a rich color. Stir as gently as you can!
Pour candy onto greased cookie sheet and working very quickly with the greased back of a spoon spread candy into a rectangle shape about 12"x8" and with a greased very sharp knife pull away about a 1/4" strip of candy, continue to make separations as the candy starts to cool.As the strips start to cool lift and twist by hand and lay on cooling racks. If the puddle of candy is cooling too fast put pan in oven to soften. Some times I work right in the oven! Lots of bending, and some burned fingers, but it's worth it!
Make several different flavors and colors. For pretty gift giving as your local florist for some corsage bags and put a dozen candy canes in each bag and tye with pretty ribbon or fancy twist ties!

You can also use this recipe to make suckers! Cook the same way and then
lightly coat large baking sheet or 18" length of aluminum foil with "pam" arrange sucker sticks evenly spaced on baking sheet or foil at least 6 " apart.Working quickly using a metal spoon carefull pour 1 T. candy over the end of a sucker stick, covering about 1" of stick. Let cool completely. carefully slide each sucker off baking sheet or foil.Blot side resting on pan or foil.Wrap each in plastic wrap or cello.
Have fun!

Marry