If you’re looking for a fun, foolproof treat, Homemade Lollipops (aka Suckers) are where it’s at!
This Homemade Lollipops recipe is a breeze, perfect for beginners, and the best part is that they set quickly, so you can keep the sweet creations coming—all without a long wait between batches.
Fun Background: This recipe was the first candy I ever learned to make. When I was about 8 years old, my sister and I would make batches of lollipops (in Idaho, we called them suckers) and walk around our country neighborhood, selling them for $0.50 each. We never made much money because each house was about 8-10 acres apart, and sometimes we had to cross through fields with livestock roaming around or that were actively being irrigated.
I made these Lego Lollipops as a special prize for my son’s 7th birthday party (It was a Minecraft theme, but he also wanted to incorporate Legos, so I added in a Lego challenge as one of the activities).
View this page to view our full Minecraft Birthday Party, in all its glory.
View this link to snag the Lego Lollipop Molds I used.
What You Need:
- 2 Cups of granulated sugar
- ¾ Cups of water
- ⅔ Cups of light Karo syrup
- 1 dram of oil flavoring of your choosing (I like LorAnn’s flavors)
- A few drops of liquid or gel food coloring
- Lollipop sticks
- Heat-safe molds (if you are using them)
What You Do:
1. Combine & Boil:
- Combine sugar, water, and syrup in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.
- If sugar crystallizes on the pan’s edge, brush it down with water.
- Cook until the mixture reaches 305-310°F (hard crack stage). Use a candy thermometer or the water test to check readiness.
- To perform the water test, drop a small amount of the mixture into cold water. If it immediately cracks and hardens, it is ready.
- To perform the water test, drop a small amount of the mixture into cold water. If it immediately cracks and hardens, it is ready.
2. Remove From Heat & Pour:
- Remove from heat. Add coloring and flavoring. Stir until fully combined.
- Carefully pour the mixture into prepared molds with inserted lollipop sticks.
- If you don’t have molds, pour small rounds of candy onto a cookie sheet. Place a lollipop stick in the center of each round while still warm.
- For extra flair, quickly add sprinkles to hot lollipops before they set.
