Hokey pokey is a Cornish term for honeycomb. It is wonderful eaten in golden shards or crumbled into the best vanilla ice cream. It is also the perfect present to take to a dinner party. Better than flowers, as they need to be put into a vase, better than chocolate, which people tend to smile politely at, but put away in a drawer: no one can resist a bit of hokey pokey I've found.
The quantities I've specified don't make an awful lot - enough to fill a little tin 12cm in diameter by 6cm deep - but any more and you'd be sued by your dentist.
Recipe posted by Nigella
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Hi there, i can't get golden syrup where i live currently. What would be the best substitute? Thanks Tammy
Posted by TammyM on 1st May 2011 at 17.43
This recipe is lovely. Quick and simple. Made as a quick snack.
Posted by Redchocomallow on 21st May 2011 at 17.31
wonderful recipe! Nigella has saved me again. was up all night going over and over different honeycomb recipes i had been given,wasting ingrediants,time and losing my sanity! Got on computer saw this,made it in about 5 mins...its perfect,and my husband is getting it dipped in chocolate and in a lovely little box as a birthday treat from our 16 month old daughter this morning!
Posted by kate77 on 17th Aug 2011 at 5.00
I just tried this recipe and i am awaiting the result, although I can say for certain that using the foil does NOT work!!! The honeycomb just sticks to the foil even though its been greased!! Also mine looks flat???
Posted by matt_w123 on 1st Sep 2011 at 14.31
I followed the recipe but can't get it to set, any suggestions?
Posted by nessa2112 on 18th Oct 2011 at 20.54
This recipe works great apart from the fact I got the bicarbonate of soda wrong because it says 11/2 not 1 1/2. Please sort this out because I only came to this realisation after attempting this recipe
Posted by mrenigma on 22nd Oct 2011 at 19.37
i have tried several time to make the honeycomb , but it does not go hard it stays soft , what am i doing wrong .I have done everything correct .
Posted by amanda148 on 28th Oct 2011 at 7.52
Made this tonight but it wasn't really like honeycomb? I used an electric whisk but the mixture didn't seem to create the 'cloud' described? Did I do something wrong? Happy cooking all.
Posted by Neno96 on 1st Nov 2011 at 21.22
Tried to make this and had the same problem as others - with it staying soft and not setting. Looked on other recipes and found that most cook their 'syrup' for longer, and warn that undercooking will result in chewy toffee rather than hard honeycomb. Will be trying again in the hope that it works!!
Posted by smiley1802 on 6th Nov 2011 at 17.17
I have used a version Nigella used in a programme about 4 years ago- it is always successful and now requested at all parties and events I attend. Very popular with kids in the village on Trick.Treat night! I use her version of 4 tablespoon sugar and 2 tablespoon golden syrup in pan for 5-6 mins, and add heaped teaspoon bicarb. The important thing after setting (helped along in the fridge if needed) is to put in air tight container or I use bags. To avoid sticking to surface I always use parchment paper, and if any batch is a a bit sticky I shake some icing sugar over.
Posted by Jammyorwhat on 8th Nov 2011 at 7.32
If it is not setting, pop it in the fridge :)
Posted by Lulubell97 on 10th Nov 2011 at 7.46
Made this today for the first time. Wow! You have to be quick to turn the mixture into your greased, lined dish once you've added the bicarbonate of soda. I did pop it in the fridge to 'set'. Light and crumbly......irresistible!
Posted by Squashy on 24th Jan 2012 at 18.06
I tried this recipe and it worked first time. It turned out light and crumbly....delicious....and my husband was most impressed. I put it in the fridge to cool then stored it there in a clip-seal container. Will be a firm favourite with the family I'm sure!
Posted by Squashy on 28th Jan 2012 at 14.13
hi i really wanna make this but i cant find golden syrup where i stay so could you please suggest any substitute?
Posted by appy23 on 16th Feb 2012 at 15.13
I just made this, it's so easy and it's delicious too! I def recommend making it. It's great mixed into ice cream or used as a topping for cupcakes/cakes. 10/10.
Posted by singforever3 on 8th Jun 2012 at 2.34
wow i love hokey poky but i could never get it right but after reading this i can
Posted by nuzzybear on 26th Jun 2012 at 1.44
Words can't do justice to the smell of the bubbly mixture! It's setting now can't wait to try it!
Posted by Zeinamak on 26th Aug 2012 at 19.07
OMG just made this it is so quick and easy and taste soooo lovely Thanks Nigella
Posted by Blondie51 on 14th Oct 2012 at 15.35
Brilliant recipe! It didn't work the first time but second time it did, I think if you let the mixture cool before you add the bicarb it works amazingly!
Posted by foodperson6 on 30th Oct 2012 at 14.23
Mine turned out like stringy goo what did I do wrong?????????
Posted by Adorn on 4th Nov 2012 at 18.10
Best honeycomb recipe ever! So simple, but so good. We added it to the Nigellissima No-Churn ice cream recipe - substitued the coffee for Jack Daniels and Honey and the result was sensational - with the Hokey Pokey on the side for that added crunch ... hmmmm. Not for the faint-hearted! Thank you Nigella :)
Posted by CallyA on 5th Nov 2012 at 10.45
Just made this - was so quick and easy, I even tried moulding a bit of the honeycomb into a twist! After looking at the recipe afterwards I realised I had only put in 2 tablespoons of syrup instead of 4, the recipe still worked, resulting in more chewy honeycomb, hard on outside, slight aftertaste of the bicarb but assume that's due to me adding the wrong amount of syrup - still yummy though- would def recommend! Thanks Nige x
Posted by Lau82 on 12th Nov 2012 at 13.45
Hi, an alternative to Golden Syrup is Corn Syrup. Golden Syrup is similar in texture to honey or thick maple syrup. You could also use both of those as an alternative.
Posted by Bednortan on 7th Dec 2012 at 16.33
Wonderful! One breath of the incredible aroma and I was 11yo again with my face pressed to the sweet store window watching the man make honeycomb and then suffering nightmarish toothache for 3 days.
Posted by Krankywitch on 23rd Dec 2012 at 8.50
Can anyone tell me about what temperature on a candy thermometer I need for a 'maple syrup color'?
Posted by JeweledOne on 24th Dec 2012 at 10.27
Just made this following the recipe fairly closely (substituted a bit of the golden syrup for honey and maple syrup) and it came out perfect!! It set nice and brittle....
Posted by Saucymonk on 18th Jan 2013 at 15.01
Hi there. I just made Hokey Pokey but replaced the golden syrup with maple syrup: the result was very good, it's just 1.5 tea spoonfuls of bicarb was way too much, so that its flavour was too present. I made it again, and this time I used honey instead of any syrup and also reduced the bicarb to 1 tea spoonful. Happy end.
Posted by riayala on 7th Feb 2013 at 21.35
Honey also works for this recipe. The trick to not getting soft hokey pokey is to let it get to "hard ball" stage before adding the bi-carb. The best way to do this is drop a little of the mixture into a glass of cold water. If the little ball of sugar is hard it's ready, if it's a little soft leave it for a little longer.
Posted by rekrelle on 10th Feb 2013 at 3.54
I love this hokey pokey. I made this when we had friends round and it went down a treat :D.
Posted by Disco_Dee on 23rd Feb 2013 at 20.16
Made this on Tuesday, turned out ok, no problems (easy). Made it on Wednesday with double mix. Brill worked again. Look forward to make more recipes.
Posted by john1946 on 13th Mar 2013 at 20.42
I have made this a few times never getting it just right always too soft.. after reading these post I finally got it to set but sadly I burnt the sugar and surup lol so just don't over do the heat .. so I know now the next one will be perfect..putting it in the fridge after you pour it out really does set it.
Posted by ghirl27 on 23rd Mar 2013 at 12.31
I really do have to stop making this! It's so easy, quick and disappears just as quick. Perfect every time. I have run out of Golden Syrup. Another trip back to the UK for me. Norway needs to import it!
Posted by madmaxly on 10th May 2013 at 19.53
I would love to try this, but I can't get bicarbonate of sode where I live (I live in the Netherlands). Is there an alternative?
Posted by LEB on 11th May 2013 at 18.48
Thanks for all the info I will try adding one teaspoon this time because 1.5 T was way too much. Also of those of you looking for golden syrup I got mine on Amazon.com.
Posted by alimoons77@yahoo.com on 12th May 2013 at 1.25