Pixie Coins (from Ashes)

This recipe is one of the treats Ember tries at the Turning Ball... and was definitely one of the hardest recipes for me to figure out. I'll admit, it's still not entirely book accurate... but I don't think I'd like it as much if it was, so we'll take that as a win. Based on the recipe for Japanese kohakutou, these treats are sweet, tart, and have a uniquely satisfying texture.

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Ingredients
Lemon
​1/8 c lemon juice
1/8 c water
1/2 tsp agar agar powder
1/2 granulated sugar
Yellow food coloring & edible glitter (optional)

Grapefruit
1/4 c grapefruit juice (you can make this a 3:1 ratio of grapefruit & lemon juice for a more tart flavor)​
1/2 tsp agar agar powder
1/2 granulated sugar
Yellow food coloring & edible glitter (optional)

Process:
In a small saucepan, add the agar agar powder to your juice (lemon/water or grapefruit). Mix until the powder is dissolved. (I find that a whisk works nicely for this recipe.)
Place the mixture on medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Continue to cook the mixture over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until bubbling and frothy. Stir occasionally to make sure nothing is sticking.
Once the mixture has a whole lot of frothy bubbles on top, remove from heat. This is the time to quickly add your yellow food coloring if you want that golden pixie coin look.
Pour the mixture into a container for it to set. If you're fancy and have some sort of small circular mold, you can pour it right in there. If you're not fancy (like me) you can pour it into any container (depending on the container, you might want to add a tiny bit of nonstick spray to make things easier). You can dust the top with some edible glitter if you want sparkles.
Let the mixture cool, then place in the refrigerator for at least a few hours, but ideally overnight. Once the mixture is set, cut out small circles and set on a tray (you can use parchment/wax paper for minimal sticking). Place the tray out of direct sunlight for 3-7 days, or until a thin, crisp layer forms on the outside. (I know this sounds weird, but it is literally how Japanese kohakutou is made so just go with me on this one.)
Once your candies have their crystalized sugar layer, you can store them in an airtight container to enjoy whenever you want!

The Inspiration
“This next one is called a pixie coin!”
Ember selected one of the bright yellow circles. Crystals of sugar glinted on top, and it was slightly transparent. Following Keller’s lead, she popped the entire thing in her mouth. It crumbled into pieces, flooding her mouth with an overwhelming tart, citrus flavor. The touch of sweetness from the sugar did nothing to balance it out. Ember’s eyes watered, and she swallowed quickly to get it out of her mouth.
Keller tossed his head back and let out a hearty laugh. “I’ll admit that those are somewhat of an acquired taste."