You might be wondering why would I even want to make homemade lollipops.  They are a fun activity to do with older kids and you can share the science of sugar boiling to different stages.   Plus why not, you can control the flavor and the colors that go into making these adorable suckers. 

Since Halloween is this weekend, we decided to make some fun Orange colored and flavored homemade lollipops.  You only need a few ingredients,  most likely you already have them at home. 

No matter what the reason, you can create fun and festive lollipops in under 30 minutes.

What you need to make homemade lollipops

• Gel food coloring works much better than regular food coloring because it’s nice and thick and easier to work
• Stick lollipops
• Sugar
• Corn Syrup
• Any Flavoring
• Candy Thermometer
• Silicon Brush
• Heat Proof measuring cup

How to Make Homemade Lollipops

Add sugar, corn syrup and water to a pan and stir to dissolve the sugar.   Stop stirring when it is completely dissolved and add the candy thermometer.

To prevent any crystals forming, have a silicon brush in a water bath, and frequently wipe down the sides of the pan.

The very moment the candy thermometer displays 305 F, remove the pan from heat. Immediately move the mixture into the measuring cup and add in the flavoring and coloring.

HOW TO MAKE FREE-FORM LOLLIPOPS 

These are free-form lollipops so you don’t need molds. To form the lollipops, pour the scalding hot liquid directly onto your silicone mats or parchment paper. I suggest pouring only two at a time because they harden up fast!

Immediately add the lollipop sticks and I like to twirl them so all sides are coated in the sugar mixture. 

Press any desired candies into the lollipop but work quickly as these set up super fast. 

What if my sugar syrup hardens before I can pour it into a lollipop? 

If the syrup starts to harden before you can finish pouring the lollipops and decorating them, no worries!

Simply stick the glass measuring cup with the syrup into the microwave for a few seconds to heat it up and you’re ready to go again.

Allow the lollipops to cool and harden before lifting and wrapping in cellophane. This should not take too long. 

The hardest part of the activity, cleaning the leftover hardened syrup

TIPS FOR CLEAN UP AFTER MAKING HOMEMADE  LOLLIPOPS

Don’t panic when you see a layer of syrup hardened on the bottom of your pot and glass measuring cup. Fill your pot 1/5 of the way up with water and boil it to loosen the syrup.

Scrap, Drain and Repeat.   

To lift syrup off your heat-safe glass measuring cup, fill it halfway with water and stick it in the microwave. Heat the water to melt the hardened sugar.

Let the hot water sit in the cup for a few minutes to loosen things up, then drain the water or let it simply sit there several minutes and repeat .

Be sure to clean off any residue on your thermometer as well. 

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How to make homemade Lollipops

Yield: 10

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 17 seconds

Total Time: 5 minutes 17 seconds

These gorgeous free-form lollipops with added candies are quick and easy to make! They look gorgeous and are super festive. They’re perfect for Halloween birthday parties, baby showers, wedding showers classroom favors

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Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup water
• 10 drops orange food coloring
• 8 drops pure orange oil
• 10 lollipop sticks
• Assorted candies, for decorating

Instructions

Line three baking sheets with Silpats (nonstick baking mats), or grease them generously with vegetable oil. Prepare an ice-water bath. Combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan, and place over medium-high heat. Stir continuously to dissolve sugar.
When the syrup comes to a boil, stop stirring and clip on a candy thermometer. Continue to cook, without stirring, until the mixture turns golden and reaches 300 degrees to 310 degrees. (hard-crack stage) on the thermometer, 5 to 7 minutes. Occasionally wash the sides of the pan using a clean brush dipped in cold water to prevent crystals from forming.

Remove the pot from the heat. Transfer the syrup to a 2-cup heatproof measuring cup. Using a heatproof rubber spatula, stir in the food coloring and orange oil until completely combined.

Working quickly, pour ten 3-inch circles of syrup onto prepared baking sheets. Press in lollipop sticks. With your fingertips or a toothpick, lightly press candies into the syrup. Set aside until completely cooled and hardened.

Notes

You can easily halve this recipe and make 5 large lollipops

Nutrition Information

Yield 10 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 381Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 0mgSodium 20mgCarbohydrates 96gFiber 6gSugar 83gProtein 2g

All information and tools presented and written within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on stayingclosetohome.com should only be used as a general guideline.