Ever wonder how to make homemade suckers that you see in almost every shape and color under the rainbow? Today I’m going to show you how to make lollipops at home!! 
As a child, I loved when my grandma would visit us in California from Iowa. She always brought us homemade suckers in multiple colors and flavors.
What child could resist homemade hard candy?! I was enchanted.
My grandma passed ALL of her sucker molds, bags, sticks, oil flavors, etc. on to me. I was thrilled!!
These suckers are STILL a favorite for me to make. I use the same recipe sheet my grandma used… yes, it’s a little stained, but I just can’t bear to throw it away!
Would you like to learn how to make hard candy for birthday parties, holidays, fundraisers, or just for fun? Most of the ingredients you already have at home.
This post containts affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I earn a small percentage at no extra cost to you.
Suckers Candy Supplies
Sucker Molds
Sucker molds (or lollipop molds) can be ordered online or found at some craft stores. The molds I used in this post are made by Sweet Creations, but I’ve also bought molds from Baker’s Party Shop that are very inexpensive and work great!
Oil Flavoring
I buy LorAnn Oil Flavor
from Amazon, because the taste is more “realistic” than other brands. They also have a huge variety of flavors!
Some craft stores sell LorAnn Oil Flavors, as do many bakery supply stores.
Other Sucker Supplies You’ll Need
- Sucker sticks
- Sucker bags
- Candy Thermometer
- Pourable glass container (optional)
Homemade Lollipops Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- LorAnn Oil Flavor (you’ll use one whole small bottle- 1 dram)
- Food coloring (regular food coloring or gel food coloring both work well)
How to Make Lollipops
STEP 1. If you are using metal molds, seal up your molds with the clamps that came with the molds and add your stick. Arrange the lollipop molds on a lightly greased cutting board, cookie sheet, or marble slab (just spray with a little cooking spray).
If using plastic hard candy lollipops molds, then spray a light coat of cooking spray in the mold.
STEP 2. Combine sugar, water, and corn syrup over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
Cook to hard crack (300 degrees F). When my thermometer is almost to 300 degrees I go on to the next step because the mixture will keep heating.
STEP 3. Remove mixture from heat, then add flavoring and food coloring.
When you add the flavor, it’s a good idea to turn your head. These oils are very strong, and sometimes there is a little smoke that puffs up and and is very strong. Try not to sniff it!
Stir for a minute or two to make sure that the flavoring and coloring are evenly mixed in.
STEP 4. Pour the candy into the lollipop molds. Let cool for a little while, remove the metal molds, and package the suckers inside sucker bags. You can use ribbon, twist ties, washi tape, etc. to seal these up.
If you used a plastic sucker mold made for hard candy, then just pull the lollipops out of their molds.
Wasn’t that easy? From start to finish it will take about an hour to make these homemade lollipops.
I hope you try making your own homemade suckers now that you now how to make lollipops! Once you buy the molds, you can make as many batches as you want out of them.
I love that you can personalize the colors and flavors and shapes based on your party theme, a specific holiday, and more!
I used this same concept to make edible sea glass for my daughter’s under the sea and mermaid parties. Guests LOVED this homemade hard candy!
Did you know that you can add real flowers to your lollipops? Learn how in my edible flower lollipops tutorial!
Happy sucker making!
Deborah J. says
such lovely lollipops. May I ask where you found these unusual lollipop molds? I’ve never seen this type before.
Laura @ Make Life Lovely says
Sure, Deborah. About half of the molds I have I inherited from my grandma, who made these for years and years, and then gave me all of ther supplies. The other half I bought on a trip to Utah at a craft/hobby store called Macs. You can also buy them online- the company that makes them is called Sweet Creations. Good luck!!
Johnna says
I have made suckes before an,d you are actually let the ,ixture sit till all the bubbles go and then add the flavoring so then it does not smoke
Johnna says
Sorry I hate my auto correct
Heather says
Thank you! Long live Grandma’s suckers!
Laura says
Haha, love it Heather! Yes, may her delicious suckers live forever!! I’ve still got her original stained recipe card that I treasure and will keep forever too! 🙂
Autumn O says
Do you have any suggestions for cleanup/ getting the hardened candy out of the pot?
Laura says
Yes! I always fill my pot up with hot water right after making the suckers and then I let it sit for a while. When I come back, most of the hard candy has dissolved and it’s very easy to clean with a little dish soap. Hope that helps!
Amber says
Hey Laura, I too make suckers using the metal molds from sweet creations with this recipe. It has been a while since I last made some but I am wanting to start up again. I was wondering if you have any ideas on how to clean the molds because the use of cooking spray on them has left this awful yellow sticky residue that I just cant seem to get off of the molds?
Laura says
Great question Amber! I know exactly what you mean, since some of my sucker molds had that too. I just used some Dawn and a scrub brush and scrubbed as much of it out as I could. You could also try running them through the dishwasher. Good luck!
Theresa says
Can I use your recipe in silicone molds and if so do I use the pan spray?
Laura says
Yes, silicone molds should work just fine. I make them in plastic hard candy lollipop molds and don’t need to use any spray- they just pop right out when they are cool. I’m pretty sure it would be the same for silicone molds as well.
Michelle says
If the mixture starts to harden too much before you’re done can you just remelt it?