1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon extract, I prefer strawberry or raspberry
Food coloring, I prefer red
Wooden popsicle sticks
Spray nonstick cooking oil into the mini muffin pans being very careful to get an even coating. Combine the sugar, water, corn syrup in a 1-quart, heavy-weight saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is well dissolved. Bring to a heavy boil and insert a candy thermometer until it reaches the hard crack stage-295 degrees.
Remove from the heat and add your favorite extract and food coloring. Carefully pour into the mini muffin pans 3/4 of the way up the sides and insert the popsicle stick being sure to cover the stick with the hot sugar mixture. When cool remove the lollipops from the muffin tin by gently rapping the pan on a hard surface.
- Recipe courtesy of Brenda Athanus