Last week I decided to break away from stingy Claire and fork out the extra $2 a week so I could finally have the food channel on Foxtel. In one week it's changed my life. Ok not totally earth shattering change but I have learned so much in the few hours of cooking shows that I've seen. Nigella is by far my favourite but I have also formed a soft spot for Giada on Everyday Italian and Sophie Dahl from The Delicious Miss Dahl.
The other night I was watching Nigella whip up super fast scrumptious delights on Nigella Express when I came across her honeycomb or as her mother called it, Hokey Pokey. She whipped up a batch to take to her friend's dinner party but in true Nigella style, only half the batch made it to her friend. She had a little pre-dinner snack in the cab on the way there. As it does, seeing Nigella enjoy something so much made me want to have a go so the next morning I did just that (and another batch this-morning).
There are only three ingredients in this golden honeycomb; sugar, golden syrup and bicarbonate of soda.
In a saucepan, combine the sugar and golden syrup.
Before you put it on the heat, mix the two together until they form a sticky mess. Nigella says you are not allowed to stir them once they're on the heat, it's a big no no so now is the time to stir.
Place the saucepan on the heat and heat it all on low-medium. You are allowed to swirl the pot to mix them up but no stirring! To me, when it's bubbling like this I fear it's burning but don't worry this is what it's meant to look like. You need to let it bubble away until it reaches a deep golden colour, but not too long or it will taste burnt. I found I could smell when it was ready sort of the way you know a cake is nearly done by the aroma wafting from the kitchen.
When it reaches that stage, take it off the heat and quickly whisk in the bi-carb soda. Whisk it just until it starts to froth up then quickly spread it out onto a sheet of baking paper (on a tray) or a silicone baking mat.
Leave it to set until it's hard. If the weather is very humid you might need to set it in the fridge.
When it's nice and hard (it takes about 20 minutes), break it up. Nigella used a hammer to bread hers but I just folded over the baking sheet and used my brute force.
Package it up nicely and deliver it. Enjoy!
Have you ever made or purchased something but decided it's too good to give away? I know I've been tempted!
Recipe

Ingredients
- 100 g 3.5oz caster (superfine) sugar
- 4 tablespoon golden syrup
- 1 ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
Instructions
- In a small saucepan (not over heat) combine the sugar and golden syrup.
- Place the pot on low-medium heat and heat the mixture until golden. Do no stir it but you can swirl the pan so it all heats evenly.
- When the mixture is golden, remove the saucepan from the heat and quickly whisk in the bi-carb soda. Whisk just until it starts to froth then quickly pour the mixture out onto a baking paper lined tray or a silicone baking mat.
- Leave it to set (pop it in the fridge if you're in a hurry or it's humid) then smash it up.
philip says
first time i made this - watched nigella video Did everything according to 'book' but the honeycomb turned out sticky rather than brittle! Either I did not cook it long enough - everything had melted, frothing and had a lovely burnt smell 4 minutes or i did not stir in the bi carb soda long enough. When I poured it out onto baking paper it was 'doughy' but a little soft.
Can you help?
Philip
Claire says
Oh Philip I wish I could help because this has happened to me a couple of times since I posted this and I have no idea why. I do think the weather makes a difference as my failures have been on really humid days. I think the key also is to whisk the bi carb in really quickly and pour it out before it has a chance to stop bubbling. I hope you have a success with it.
celia says
Claire, I'm grateful you spent the extra $2, because Pete won't let me have Foxtel, and I've been wanting to make honeycomb ever since I saw that Nigella episode ages ago! Thanks for the recipe. Maybe I can make some and dip it in chocolate for homemade Violet Crumbles..hmmm... :)
Claire says
Yes that will be my next batch. Yum!