Sweet charcoal: the recipe for the essential candy at the bottom of Epiphany

He soft coal it is an inevitable treat on Epiphany day, in lower Befana, with sweets, chocolates and sweets of all kinds. A gourmet and amusing reminder for the naughtiest children who, according to tradition, will receive it as a gift from the nice old lady as a “welcome punishment” for their pranks. During the Christmas holidays, this delicacy with black or colored sugar abounds on the counters of pastry shops and supermarkets, but making it at home, without any difficulty and with a handful of ingredients, will have a completely different flavor.

To do this, we start with royal icing, made by climbing the album with the sugar and black food coloring. Once ready, it is incorporated into the homemade caramel then the mixture obtained is left to cool in a cake mold for at least two hours. The result will be an artisanal coal, crumbly and crispy at the same time, to nibble on January 6 with the whole family or to use, at the end of the holidays, to decorate spoon cakes and desserts in an original way.

For the preparation of the caramel, it would be advisable to obtain a kitchen thermometer and cook the sugar syrup until it reaches 140°C: however, if you don’t have any available, we suggest continuing to cook for 2-3 minutes from boiling.

For best results, it is important to pour the charcoal into the mold while it is still soft and hot, as it will tend to set very quickly. If you want, you can try a multicolored version and replace the black dye with a pink, yellow, or other of your choice, or you can flavor the mixture with a dash of vanilla or orange essence.

Find out how to prepare soft charcoal by following the step-by-step procedure and tips. If you liked this recipe, also try the puff pastry epiphany stocking.

How to prepare soft charcoal

Prepare the caramel: pour the caster sugar into a saucepan with high edges and a thick bottom, add the water 1 and let caramelize over medium heat without ever stirring.

In the meantime, devote yourself to the royal icing: whip the egg white with an electric whisk, adding the caster sugar 2little at a time.

Add a few drops of black food coloring 3 and whisk until stiff.

Add powdered sugar 4.

Keep whipping with the whisk 5 until you get a shiny and fluffy icing, then set aside.

When the caramel begins to bubble and has taken on a beautiful golden color, lower the heat. 6.

Fold in the dark caramel royal icing now ready 7.

Stir continuously with a spatula 8until the compound begins to swell.

At this point, remove from the heat, distribute the hot mixture in a loaf pan 9lined with parchment paper, and let cool for at least 2-3 hours.

When the charcoal is completely solidified, unmold it and cut it into pieces ten.

Place the soft charcoal inside the Befana stocking 11 and enjoy it with the little ones at home.

storage room

The soft charcoal is kept at room temperature, hermetically sealed in a tin can, to 1-2 weeks.