Homemade Lollipops

Did you know you could make your own homemade lollipops in under 15 minutes with just 4 ingredients? These sticky sweet suckers are fun to make for parties and come together in a snap.

Why this recipe works

All you need to make homemade lollipops is light corn syrup, sugar, flavored extracts, optional food coloring, and a candy thermometer. Hard candy like rock candy or lollipops are always a sweet treat to add to party favors or gift bags and the fun part is that you can customize them to whatever flavor and color combination you want.

Though this might seem like a great recipe to do with your kids, the sugar mixture is extremely hot and the speed you have to move during assembly does not allow for slow-moving hands. However, I’m sure they’ll have no problem helping to consume them once they’re finished!

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

FLAVOR AND COLOR – Play around with different flavored extracts. Strawberry, vanilla, orange, cherry, apple, and cinnamon are all great options. Pair each flavor with food coloring as you see fit. If you plan on using food coloring, try and use clear extracts.

How to Make Homemade Lollipops

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Combine the corn syrup and sugar in a small stainless steel pot over medium-low heat. Stir with a rubber spatula occasionally until the sugar mixture is clear signifying all the sugar has been dissolved.
2. Add the candy thermometer and bring to a boil over medium heat, not stirring, until it has reached 300F or hard crack stage based on the candy thermometer.
3. While candy is coming to a boil, prepare bowls based on colors and flavors desired. Place drops of extract and food coloring in bowls.
4. Pour the hot sugar mixture into the bowls and stir quickly.
5. Again, acting quickly, pour 1-2 Tablespoons onto a silicon mat or into lollipop molds and quickly set in a lollipop stick and/or sprinkles.
6. The lollipops will setup in a matter of minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Serving Suggestions

For gift giving, place the homemade lollipops into little treat bags and tie with a bow or twist tie. Have fun with this recipe and try different add-ins like sprinkles, edible dry flowers, edible glitter, or sugar crystals.

Did you dip your lollipops in water when you were younger? For some reason, it adds something magical to the equation. Give it a try!

More Candy Recipes

• Cake Balls
• Potato Candy
• Saltine Toffee
• Candied Pecans
• Microwave Caramels
• Orange Creamsicle Gummies

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Homemade Lollipops

All you need to make homemade lollipops is light corn syrup, sugar, flavored extracts, optional food coloring, and a candy thermometer.

4.98 from 88 votes

IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12 lollipops

12 minutes mins

Calories: 123

Author: Amanda Davis

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup light corn syrup
• ▢ ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ flavored extracts in various flavors
• ▢ liquid food coloring optional, in various colors

Things You’ll Need

• ▢
  Candy thermometer
• ▢
  Saucepan
• ▢
  Lollipop sticks

Before You Begin

• If the sugar mixture hardens up too quickly to pour and make more lollipops, place in the microwave for 30 second increments to loosen again. This method also helps in getting the bowls clean after. It is best to use microwave safe bowls and utensils for this reason.
• If the candy hardens too quickly on the silicon mat, you can move the baking sheet to a low heated oven to get the candy to loosen up again, allowing for a little more time to add sprinkles or adjust the lollipop stick.
• To make life easier when cleaning up, you can boil water in the sticky saucepan until the candy residue softens and you are able to wipe it clean.
• Make lollipops on a dry day. Humidity can affect the hard crack stages of suckers by absorbing moisture in the air causing them to not fully harden. 

Instructions

• Combine the corn syrup and sugar in a small stainless steel pot over medium-low heat. Stir with a rubber spatula occasionally until the sugar mixture is clear signifying all the sugar has been dissolved.
• Add the candy thermometer and bring to a boil over medium heat, not stirring, until it has reached 300F or hard crack stage based on the candy thermometer.
• While candy is coming to a boil, prepare bowls based on colors and flavors desired. Place drops of extract and food coloring in bowls.
• Pour the hot sugar mixture into the bowls and stir quickly.
• Again, acting quickly, pour 1-2 Tablespoons onto a silicon mat or into lollipop molds and quickly set in a lollipop stick and/or sprinkles.
• The lollipops will setup in a matter of minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1lollipop | Calories: 123cal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 33g | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

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