Lollipop

Lollipops are a confectionery preparation that can also be made at home, although it requires a certain attention, especially in managing sugars at high temperature. Here is a basic recipe for making lollipops:

Ingredients

• 200 g of granulated sugar
• 60 ml of water
• 60 ml of glucose syrup
• Food coloring (optional)
• Flavor of choice (e.g., vanilla extract, lemon, mint) (optional)

Preparation

1. Prepare in advance a surface where you’ll place the lollipops by lining a tray with parchment paper and lightly greasing it with neutral oil. Also place lollipop sticks on it.
2. In a thick-bottomed saucepan, mix sugar, water, and glucose syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, without stirring, until it reaches 150 °C (hard crack stage). It’s advisable to use a sugar thermometer to monitor the temperature.
3. Once the mixture has reached the temperature, remove the saucepan from the heat. If you wish to add colors and flavors, do so at this moment.
4. Carefully pour the hot mixture into small round shapes on the prepared parchment paper, or into special molds if you have any. Make sure to leave space to insert the stick into the lollipop.
5. Immediately insert the stick into each lollipop, rotating gently to ensure it is well coated by the caramel.
6. Allow the lollipops to cool completely at room temperature until they solidify.
7. Once solid, you can remove the lollipops from the parchment paper and store them individually wrapped in cellophane or in an airtight container to prevent moisture absorption.

Remember that working with high-temperature sugar can be dangerous, so it is important to pay close attention to avoid burns.

Fun Fact

The lollipop is not a recent invention but has a history that dates back to ancient civilizations, such as the Chinese, Arabs, and Egyptians, who enjoyed crystallized honey on sticks as sweets. However, the modern lollipop, as we know it today, developed during the 19th and 20th centuries with the introduction of refined sugar and food colorings.