How to Make Tootsie Roll Pops

You don't have to be a kid to love Tootsie Pops, but this recipe is a great activity for kids to help with.

Ever wonder how your favorite childhood treats are made? Tootsie Roll Pops are one kid favorite that's easy to make yourself. All you need are some basic kitchen items, a few candy making tools, and two hands willing to work.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber spatula
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 cups confectioner's sugar
• 3/4 cup dry milk powder
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• butter knife
• nonstick cooking spray
• medium-sized pot
• 36 lollipop sticks
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon flavor extract, such as orange, raspberry, or strawberry
• Food coloring (optional)
• Metal teaspoon
• 2 lollipop molds (available at specialty kitchen stores)
• Candy thermometer

Instructions

Making the "Tootsie Rolls"

1. Combine powdered sugar, cocoa, and dry milk powder in a mixing bowl.

2. Stir in the corn syrup, vanilla extract, and melted butter.

3. 

   Kids will love helping to knead the Tootsie Roll dough.

   Knead the ingredients together as you would with bread dough. Knead until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.

4. Divide the dough into two or three hunks. Roll each dough hunk with your palm on a clean surface, forming long ropes, 1/2" wide. Then cut the ropes into 1/2" pieces with a butter knife. Roll each piece in your palms until it is round. Set aside candy balls to use later.

Making the Lollipops

1. Place the lollipop molds on up-side-down baking trays. Spray the inside of the molds with non-stick cooking spray. Stick a ball of the chocolate candy on the end of each lollipop stick. Arrange the sticks in the lollipop molds. Set aside.

2. 

   It's best if an adult does the actual candy cooking. Or, supervise an older child working with the hot candy.

   Combine the sugar, water, and cream of tartar in the pot over medium heat. Stir with the rubber spatula until the sugar is dissolved. Increase the heat to high. Cook for about 10 minutes until the sugar turns a light caramel color. Do not stir the candy during this phase of cooking.

3. After 10 minutes, check the candy's temperature with the candy thermometer. Place the thermometer in the candy, but not touching the bottom of the pot. The thermometer should read between 300 and 310 degrees F.

4. 

   You can give your lollipops any flavor you want that comes in extract form. You can even combine extracts to make your own flavors.

   When the candy is a light golden color and within the correct temperature range, remove pot from the heat. Stir in your chosen flavor extract. You can also add food coloring at this time.

5. Using a teaspoon, drop candy into each lollipop mold. Work quickly to avoid allowing the candy to cool. If candy begins to harden, heat the pot gently over low heat, just until the candy becomes pliable again.

6. 

   After they've cooled and hardened, your "Tootsie Roll Pops" are ready to enjoy!

   Let the lollipops cool for at least 15 minutes in the molds. After they have cooled, remove lollipops from the molds. Your lollipops are now ready to store - or eat!

Tips & Warnings

• To make your lollipops look more authentic, buy lollipop molds that make medium-sized, globe-shaped candies with a band around the middle.

• You can divide your candy ingredients into multiple pots to make more than one flavor per batch.

• The molds are placed on up-side-down baking trays because air can circulate under the trays and cool the candy more quickly.

• If you don't have a candy thermometer, you can determine whether the candy has cooked long enough with the "hard ball" method. First, remove the pot from the heat and dip the bottom of the pot in cool water for a few seconds, to stop the candy from cooking further. Then, spoon a drop of the candy into ice-cold water. After 5 seconds, remove the drop from the water. The drop should snap easily if bent and should be smooth to the touch, not sticky. It should also be a light yellow color.

• There is a difference between "dry milk" and "powdered milk." Make sure to use dry milk for the "Tootsie Roll" recipe.

• The candy will be very hot during cooking, so make sure children don't burn themselves on the liquid candy.

References

• Food Network: Lollipops Recipe
• Science of Candy: Lollipops Recipe
• All Recipes: Easy Tootsie Rolls Recipe

Resources

• Lollipop Molds: Make Your Own Lollipops
• Tootsie Roll Industries: Tootsie Pops: Original