How To Make Lollipops

Lollipops are essentially hard candy on a stick. You can customize flavors and colors when you make your own lollipops, so you're not dependent on what you can find at the store. If you'd like to learn how to make lollipops, read on!

Whether its that you can't find your favorite flavor, or you're concerned about the ingredients used in commercial lollipops, you may want to learn how to make your own lollipops at home. Kids love lollipops so why not make them for a birthday party. While you do need to pay attention to exact temperatures, the process of making lollipops is fairly simple even a novice could do it.

To make 8-10 lollipops, you'll need:

1. Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in large saucepan.
2. Clip a candy thermometer on the side of the saucepan, making sure the bulb is totally submerged in the sugar solution and that the thermometer is positioned such that you can read it easily without moving the pan.
3. Cook the sugar solution over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has totally dissolved. This should take about 5 minutes.
4. Stop stirring and let the mixture come to a boil, keeping the heat at medium. This should take about another 5 minutes.
5. When it boils, begin watching the candy thermometer.
6. When the temperature reaches exactly 300 degrees, take the pan off the heat.
7. Wait until the mixture stops boiling and add the flavoring oil and a few drops of food coloring.
8. Mix it well.
9. Pour the mixture into lollipop molds which you have sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
10. Place a lollipop stick in each lollipop, twisting it around to make sure the stick is well coated with candy.
11. Allow the candy to cool until hard. This will take about an hour.
12. Enjoy the lollipops immediately, or wrap them in cellophane and seal with ribbon or twist ties.

1. Adding 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar to the sugar solution with the sugar, corn syrup, and water, will help the sugar stay dissolved and reduce the possibility that you'll have grainy crystals in your lollipops.
2. Don't make lollipops if its raining or humid, as the lollipops can absorb moisture from the air while it's cooling, resulting in soft, sticky lollipops.
3. If you don't have lollipop molds, grease a cookie sheet and pour dollops of candy mix directly on the cookie sheet. Insert the lollipop sticks into the dollops of candy mix.