Lollipops are a popular treat for young and old. They make excellent sweet gifts too. The best part of all is that you can make your very own with just a few basic ingredients. Here is an easy recipe that you and your family will love.

Ingredients

  • Lollipop moulds
  • Lollipop sticks
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 ½ tsp extract (vanilla, coconut, mint, cinnamon, etc)
  • Food colouring (optional)

Method:

  • Spray the moulds lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Wipe out the inside of the moulds with a paper towel so that only a thin layer or cooking spray remains.
  • Insert the lollipop sticks into your moulds.
  • In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, water and corn syrup.
  • Cook the mixture over a medium-high heat and stir until the sugar dissolves.
  • Use a wet pastry brush to brush down the sides of the pan.
  • Once the mixture starts boiling, insert a candy thermometer.
  • Do not stir and simply allow the mixture to boil until the temperature on your candy thermometer reaches 149 degrees C.
  • Remove the saucepan form heat and allow it to sit until the mixture stops bubbling.
  • Stir in the extract of your choice.
  • If desired, add food colouring. This will help you tell different flavours apart. For example, you can use green for mint lollipops.
  • Spoon the mixture into the moulds and make sure that the stick is covered.
  • Allow to cool completely before you remove your lollipops from the moulds.

You can make several pots in various colours and you can even make multi-coloured lollipops if you like. There are plenty of fantastic combinations and you can use this method to make festive candies or lollies for special occasions.