Lollipop Cookies
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 2/3 cup vegetable shortening
- 1 egg
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons glucose
- 1/2 cup water
- Few drops food coloring
- Cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Butter a sheet pan.
- In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream the sugar, butter and shortening until fluffy.
- Add the egg, vanilla and baking powder and mix.
- Add the flour and mix.
- Shape the dough into a large flat disk, kneading briefly if necessary to bring the dough together.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and chill 1 to 2 hours.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough 1/4-inch thick.
- Using cookie cutters or empty tuna cans, cut out large round cookies about 3 inches in diameter.
- Transfer to the prepared pan.
- Cut a heart or circle out of the center of each cookie that will be filled later with lollipop syrup.
- Carefully slip the sucker sticks under the cookies and gently press dough down and around it to secure the stick.
- Bake until very light golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Let cool completely on the sheet pan.
- Lollipop Centers: Combine sugar, glucose and water in a clean, dry, small saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer and cook on high heat.
- While cooking the candy syrup, occasionally wash down the pan sides to prevent crystallization using a clean brush dipped in water.
- Without stirring, cook until mixture reaches 305 degrees F or hard crack on the candy thermometer.
- Remove the pot from the heat and dip it into an ice bath for 10 seconds to stop the cooking.
- Remove the pot from the ice bath and add food coloring, stirring well a wooden spoon so the color is evenly distributed.
- To avoid air bubbles, stir in both directions and be careful not to over mix.
- Pour the syrup into hole of the cookies.
- Cool at least 20 minutes to harden.
- Store in an airtight container.
sugar, unsalted butter, vegetable shortening, egg, vanilla, baking powder, flour, sugar, glucose, water, coloring
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/lollipop-cookies-recipe.html (may not work)