Pulled Sugar Lollipops
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
- 5 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon vinegar
- Flavored oil, assorted flavors
- Food coloring paste, assorted colors
- Lollipop sticks
- Place the sugar, vinegar and water in a saucepan over high heat.
- Insert a candy thermometer and cook until the sugar reaches 320 degrees F. Use a pastry brush to keep the inside of the saucepan clean as the sugar cooks or the sugar may recrystallize.
- To do this, dip a clean brush in cold water and brush the inside of the pan clean.
- Pour the cooked sugar onto 3 or 4 silicone baking mats.
- If you want to color and/or flavor the sugar with food colors and/or flavored oils, this is the time to do so.
- Add a few drops of flavor and color to the sugar.
- Mix with a wooden skewer.
- To get started, push the sugar from the sides toward the center.
- This process takes a little while.
- Try to keep the sugar divided by color.
- Use the mat to push the firm sugar around the edges toward the center, using a folding motion.
- When it has just cooled enough to handle, pick up the sugar with your hands.
- Place each color under the heat of a sugar lamp.
- Pull the sugar until it becomes glossy and the color is evenly distributed.
- You will need to pull the colors simultaneously.
- Keep them under the sugar lamp but keep an eye on them.
- The lamp can melt the sugar so it is important keep rotating it and folding it onto itself.
- Pull a walnut-sized piece from the sugar and form it into a small ball.
- Use your palm to press the ball flat.
- Shape it into a circle or oval.
- Insert the lollipop stick.
- Set the lollipop on the silicone baking mat (it will stick if you place it directly on your work surface.)
- Pull and cut small pieces of sugar and form them into the eyes, mouth, nose, eyebrows or whatever feature you desire.
- Stick the pieces directly onto the lollipop.
- The sugar will be hot enough to adhere.
- Enjoy!
water, sugar, vinegar, oil, coloring paste
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/pulled-sugar-lollipops-recipe.html (may not work)