Homemade Lollipops
This simple recipe is great for holidays or any time of the year. Most ICers seem to be able to handle corn syrup, but do note that it might aggravate you (or your child) if you also have IBS.
You can add any colourings or flavourings that you want to create a wide assortment of different lollipops. Green and mint work well together, if you don’t want to add food colouring a few drops (just a few though) of coloured juice or even kool-aid crystals dissolved in a couple drops of water can be added.
The candy sticks are available at most specialty food stores, during the holidays at grocery stores and at cake specialty stores.
Little ones love watching candy being made at home (be careful to not let very young kids near the stove and do not let them touch the candy until it is completely cooled, as the hot sugar mixture can severely burn) and will enjoy eating them even more.
Homemade Lollipops
Aprox. 32 candy sticks
2 cups granulated sugar
½ cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
2-3 drops of food colouring of your choice (optional)
2-4 drops of extract (essence) flavouring of your choice
Butter (grease) 4 baking sheets or sheets of heavy-duty aluminium foil (such as the bbq variety). Lay out the candy sticks, at least 2 inches apart from one another-allowing room for the head of the lollipop.
In a heavy bottom saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved. It’s a good idea to use a candy thermometer, as you want to cook the syrup to the “hard-crack” stage (300ºF/150ºC).
As soon as you have reached that point take the pan off of the heat and gently stirring in your flavouring and colouring, being very careful not to touch the mixture, it’s like lava! But you will want to work quickly as the candy will begin to harden quickly at this temperature.
Carefully poor circles (about 2 inches each) over one end of each stick. Set aside and allow to completely cool before eating (over night is a good idea).
Once they are cooled and hardened you can cover them in cellophane wrap, and provided they stay dry they will last for months, although kids and candy usually have a sort lived relationship.
Yields about 32 lollipops