Make sure that you use light corn syrup, or your candy won’t end up clear or take color well.
If you don’t have a candy thermometer, you can test whether or not the candy is ready by dropping some of it into a glass of ice water. If the candy turns hard, it’s ready.
Make sure that you use gel food coloring; liquid food coloring will not mix well into the candy.
Use the tip of a lollipop stick to push the flowers into the molds, if needed.
Consider sprinkling some sprinkles onto your lollipops before they harden. Gently press the sprinkles down into the melted candy to help them stick. [9] X Research source
To make infused water: boil some water, then add tea or herbs to it (such as lavender), and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the tea/herbs, then pour the water into the saucepan instead of the regular water. [10] X Research source
If you don’t have a candy thermometer, put a drop of the mixture into a glass of cold water. If the mixture turns hard, like candy, it has reached the hard crack stage.
If you have any lollipop molds that you’d like to use instead, be sure to grease them with cooking spray first.
For smaller/square lollipops, arrange the Jolly Ranchers in groups of 2. For larger lollipops/rectangle lollipops, arrange them in groups of 3.
Arrange some caramel hard candies on your baking sheet, leaving room for the Jolly Ranchers and lollipop sticks. Bake them for 1 to 2 minutes, or until they are almost melted. Set down some green sour apple Jolly Ranchers, pressing them against the melted caramel candies. Bake them for a few minutes more until the Jolly Ranchers melt.
