Musk Sticks - Memories of my Childhood

I never thought I would be able to make these - I have made Choo Choo Bars and that was fun but whilst looking at my Facebook page the other day, one my friends said that she had found a recipe for home made musk sticks.

Oh glory be!!

I often wonder in my idle hours how certain sweets are made and these were one of my favourites when I was a child. What I didn't realise is this sweet seems to be well known only in Australia and New Zealand - and there I was thinking that everyone ate these growing up!

Into the pantry I go and see if I had the ingredients all but one and most critical was missing - musk oil!

Now musk evokes for me hippy and alternate and something worn behind your ears many many years ago but to eat it?

A quick search on the internet and I discovered a site that had edible musk oil plus some edible ribbons and stencils for cake decorating. So into my virtual trolley goes several items and 2 days later into my hot little hands.

Making these musk sticks couldn't be easier, the longest time is actually piping them.

So here is the recipe thanks to Sharron via Facebook - not sure exactly where she sourced it from but so glad she did!



Musk Sticks (It had to be written in pink!)
 
Ingredients - Makes 98 (yes that many - well it does depend how long you make them!)

1 teaspoon unflavoured gelatine
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon glucose syrup
500g icing sugar
1-2 teaspoons musk oil flavouring 
Few drops pink food colouring
Piping bag with 1 cm star nozzle 

Method

Line 4 trays with baking paper .

In a small saucepan add the gelatine, water and glucose syrup and on a low heat dissolve the gelatine.


Pour this into your mix master bowl and add 1/3 of the icing sugar (I used my wire whisk attachment).

Mix on low speed until combined.
Then add the next third and beat until it is smooth and finally add the remaining icing sugar plus the colour, flavouring and beat for about 2 minutes.




 Place this lovely mixture into a piping bag that has a 1cm star tip. If you use a different size then quantities and drying time will vary.


Pipe 10cm straight (or in my case straightish) lengths onto the baking paper or whatever design you would like - I got bored so I made other shapes.






No baking required - just allow to air dry for at least 12 hours - maybe more if you do thicker ones.


Then eat them and remember your childhood. I probably should have added more pink food colouring to get that real musk stick pink but for now very happy with them.


Store (if you have any left) in an airtight container.