Homemade Lollipops Food

OLD-FASHIONED LOLLIPOPS

Steps:

• Place lollipop sticks in hard candy molds or arrange sticks 3 in. apart on greased foil-lined baking sheets; set aside., In a heavy saucepan, combine corn syrup and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cover and cook for 3 minutes to dissolve sugar crystals. Uncover and cook over medium-high heat, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage). , Remove from the heat; stir in flavoring and food coloring, keeping face away from mixture as odor is very strong. Immediately pour into prepared molds or pour free-form over ends of lollipop sticks on baking sheets. Let cool before removing.

LOLLIPOPS

Steps:

• Arrange the lollipop sticks in the lollipop molds and place on a baking sheet. Set aside.
• Combine the sugar, water, and cream of tartar in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Increase the heat to high and, without stirring, cook until the sugar is amber or until a candy thermometer reads between 300 to 310 degrees F (hard-ball stage), about 10 minutes (see Cook's Note*). Promptly remove the saucepan from the heat. Carefully stir in the flavored extract.
• Work quickly, drop 1 teaspoon of the hot mixture into each lollipop mold. Reheat the mixture briefly over low heat if it starts to thicken. Let the lollipops cool for at least 15 minutes. Remove from molds and store in airtight containers or wrap individually.

HOMEMADE LOLLIPOPS

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil, and arrange lollipop sticks 4 inches apart. In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, 1/2 cup water, and corn syrup, and heat until sugar dissolves. Cover and boil mixture 1 minute. Remove the cover and boil the syrup until it registers 310°F (or 98°F above the boiling point of your water) on a candy thermometer.
• Immediately remove the saucepan from the heat and set on a rack. Let syrup cool 5 minutes, then stir in food coloring and flavoring.
• Pour syrup in 2- to 3-inch puddles over one end of each lollipop stick. Allow candy to cool completely. Wrap each lollipop in plastic wrap.
• *Oil flavorings, available at health-food stores, work better than alcohol-based extracts, which can evaporate during the candy-making process.