Microwaved Hard Candy Lollipops

My first attempt at making hard candy was a HUGE flop!

I thought I would be all crafty and use a fun mold and then make my own Blow Pops and Tootsie Pops.

Lesson #1 in making Hard Candy - Don't use your 1,000 pound Cast Iron Le Creuset Pot!

I think I about broke my wrist trying to control the pour rate of the candy into the mold.

Lesson #2 - It's very hot working with molten sugar. The stuff is like Napalm. The candy seriously reaches LAVA temperatures and then sticks to everything.

Lesson #3 - Don't think that you'll be able to keep your work area clean. If you know HOW to keep the area clean with this stuff, please tell me!

Lesson #4 - Don't put the LAVA over candy that will melt. My Tootsie Rolls and Bubble Gum completely melted in the little molds when I poured the candy into it.

So... On my second attempt at making hard candy lollipops, I decided to skip the stove top and went for the microwave method instead. 

These were not a complete success, the amber color is a result of the sugar getting too hot, but they turned out a lot better.

To decorate the lollipops, I used some Wilton Sugar Sheets and some Cake Mate Dessert Decals. Both of these are edible paper, but the Cake Mate decals are a bit thinner. 

I simply placed the edible paper designs on a Silicon mat with a lollipop stick and used a spoon to pour the candy over the paper. 

I tried to sandwich the paper between candy, but in the end, it didn't make a difference if the paper was in the middle or not. Leaving it on the mat was easier and I didn't get as many air bubbles in the lollipop.

Just an FYI - I have been playing with my Cannon in Manual mode a lot recently and I didn't change my settings from the dark background to the sunlit background, and this was the resulting photograph.  

My husband LOVED this shot. I was a bit embarrassed. I wasn't going to include it in this post, but every time I saw it, it grew on me. It's NOT what I wanted to capture, but now I like the flower outline and the slight ghost-like appearance of the lollipop. 

What do YOU think? Art or Oops?

If you don't want to get the edible paper, you can always just use some fun sprinkles to suit your holiday. 

Microwave Hard Candy

by Pint Sized Baker (recipe from LorAnn Gourmet Oil Flavoring)

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes

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Ingredients

• 1 C Sugar
• 1/2 C Light Corn Syrup
• 1/2 dram LorAnn Flavoring
• Food Coloring (if desired)
• Lollipop Sticks
• Wilton Sugar Sheets - cut out design
• Cake Mate Dessert Decals
• Silicon Mat
• Sprinkles

Instructions

Prepare Silicon Mat with sugar sheets and edible paper designs.

Mix Sugar and Corn Syrup in a 4 cup glass container. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 3 minutes and 10 seconds.

Carefully remove the plastic and stir. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap again and microwave for another 3 minutes.

Carefully remove plastic wrap, stir, add in flavoring and color if desired.

Working quickly, pour or spoon over edible paper and turn lollipop stick to coat. If desired, sprinkle with decorations while still liquid and sticky.

Allow the candy to harden completely before handling the lollipops.

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