Homemade Lollipops

 

The main thing about this here is that its fun. If you want quality looking lollipops, you may want to go to the store, or perhaps you're a fancy superstar in the kitchen, unlike me.  But if you want fun and you want to entertain the kids or yourself, homemade lollipops kill at least 30 mins - 1hour and everyone walks away happy.  


What You Will  Need:
Jolly Ranchers or any hard candy - 1 bag.
Lollipop Sticks - I got mine at Michaels (don't get the plastic ones, they'll melt!)
Sprinkles - if you want...
Nonstick Spray
Parchment Paper
Aluminum Foil
Baking Sheet


What You Do:
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.


Line the baking sheet with aluminum foil and then the parchment paper. Spray lightly with some nonstick spray and set aside.


Separate your candy colors and then you can go a few ways with this. Smash them, or don't smash them.  Or both. If you plan on smashing them, place the color set in a ziplock baggie and smash on a hard surface like a cutting board.

Now you can start making your patterns. You'll want to do this directly on the parchment paper.  You can use cookie cutters as your pattern makers, but I found this useless. The shapes didn't really stay put once the candy melted. 

Here are some of our smashed and unsmashed.

(click for a closeup)

Place your creations a bit apart so they have room to spread while they melt. You don't want them melting into each other.  


Put in the oven for approximately 7 mins or so. Keep an eye on them, you don't want to let them go too long.

Remove and immediately put your lollipop stick in. You'll want to kind of roll it once to coat it. 


Let them sit for a few so that the candy hardens.
While this is happening, you can add sprinkles even other candies if you'd like. 

Here are some of our creations!
(clearly I can't take a picture worth jack, but you get the idea)