Okay, I couldn't stop at making just felt suckers...I had to make the real thing!
(Or should I call them lollipops?! I can't decide!) :)
I've been wanting to make suckers for years, so this was an extra fun project for me. I also have fond memories of my own mother making them for me and my siblings when we were younger...I hope to create the same memories for my own children!
Before sharing the recipe take a look at some of the pictures I took during the sucker-making process:
Avery enjoyed being my little helper.
I loved watching the syrup boil!
There was not enough time to take pictures of the steps between adding flavoring/coloring and pouring the syrup in the molds...sorry!
~Hard Candy Recipe~
1 Cup Sugar
1/3 Cup White Corn Syrup
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 Tsp Flavoring
Food Coloring
Grease inside of molds with butter/shortening. Place molds on greased flat surface (flat cookie sheet works nicely). Place clip over tabs of molds and insert sucker stick between tabs. Combine sugar, water, and corn syrup in small saucepan. Cook on medium high to 300 degrees F (hard crack stage).
Remove from heat and let cool to 275 degrees F then add flavoring and food coloring. Stir until blended. Pour into molds. Allow to cool until candy is set. Remove clip from mold then remove mold from sucker/lollipop. Set lollipop on second flat surface to complete cooling.
* * *
This was my first time making suckers, and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy and simple they were to make! Though it is a fun project to do with children please do not allow them near the hot syrup--it could burn them very badly if an accident were to occur. Instead, let them hand you the sticks to place in the tabs, help package the suckers in bags, etc.
If you happen to live in the lovely area Portland, OR, do visit the wonderful shop where I purchased my Valentine sucker molds, Decorette. If not, you can purchase them online at Get Suckered.
Enjoy!!
xoxo,
Pamela
They turned out great!
Posted by: Summer | February 12, 2009 at 05:35 PM
I wish I had the molds to make these. What a lovely gift it would be.
Posted by: Dionne C | February 15, 2009 at 05:00 PM
Always love a fun recipe! I wanted to do suckers this year too, but time got away and we only got to the cookies. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Alisha | February 18, 2009 at 08:31 AM
You two should totally make some! Next time I'm in Portland I'm going back to Decorette to purchase more molds. Wouldn't these be fun for birthday parties? :)
Posted by: Pamela Susan | February 18, 2009 at 09:06 AM
This will be fun to make, I'm supposed to make a treat for a school project.
Posted by: Shannon smith | March 24, 2010 at 05:45 PM
Great! Let me know how it turns out! :)
Posted by: Pamela Susan | March 24, 2010 at 08:08 PM
We made these and they were very tasty, but when we tried to package them, they were sticking to the bags. Any ideas on ways to prevent this? Thanks for the great photos!
Posted by: Rosa | July 05, 2010 at 05:46 PM
Hi Rosa!
So glad you made the suckers. :) I haven't had issues with them sticking to bags before--did they feel sticky when you touched them? I'm wondering if they were cooked to the proper temperature?
Posted by: Pamela Susan | July 05, 2010 at 10:07 PM
I just made these and they came out great, thanks for a great recipe. I used mint flavoring and teal color. I didn't have any molds so I poured them free-form over the sticks, they look a little odd but taste great.
Posted by: Pottersprincess | July 16, 2010 at 01:23 PM
Yay! I am so happy you made them!! I'm sure the mint flavor was delicious. :)
Posted by: Pamela | July 18, 2010 at 10:14 PM
Yay! I am so happy you made them!! I'm sure the mint flavor was delicious. :)
Posted by: Pamela Susan | July 18, 2010 at 10:16 PM
Hi,
Approximately how many suckers does this recipe make?
Posted by: Erica | July 19, 2010 at 03:49 PM
Hi Erica,
This recipe filled the ten sucker molds on the cookie sheet with a little extra left over--probably enough to fill one more if I had an extra mold. I hope that is helpful! :)
Posted by: Pamela Susan | July 19, 2010 at 03:54 PM
It is perfect... Thank you!
Posted by: Erica | July 20, 2010 at 01:50 PM
Im going to try this out tomarrow ^_____^ were going to make them for X-mas ive got some cute little cristmas molds... and for the extras were going to use a small ice cube tray for little jolly ranchers... so with me luck <3 thanks for the recipie!
Posted by: Tiffie | November 08, 2011 at 07:36 PM
Judy
Love your blog! : ) Just wanted to mention that I make them with sassafras root tea that is steeped with maple syrup, molasses & hot water. Bring it to a rolling boil, turn off, keep covered, steep overnight. The sugars raise the osmotic pressure helping remove the tree sap. Strain and combine with equal parts maple syrup & corn syrup, boil to 310 degrees and drop on buttered pan or in buttered molds. Try adding birch bark or twigs cut small, juniper berries, cloves, anise, cinnamon and ginger. Use the left over to make root beer by diluting to taste and bottling. Let it ferment for 3 days then refrigerate. Open carefully, enjoy, Delicious! Also not completely bad for you because of the mineral rich sugars used & the healthy stuff in the barks. Kids are happy, Mom is happy, everyone is happy! = )
Posted by: Judy | September 17, 2012 at 11:42 AM
Hi Judy! How wonderful... Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! :)
Posted by: Pamela Susan | September 17, 2012 at 12:04 PM
where can i find the molds?
Posted by: stephanie | December 26, 2012 at 06:53 PM