Introduction: DIY Suckers
When my kids were young, I learned how to make homemade suckers. My Mom made hardtack when we were kids, and that is just a sucker without a stick. The kids loved them and I enjoyed making them and I gathered quite a collection of sucker molds. It has been a while since I made any, until this last Valentines when I made suckers for the grandkids. My wonderful daughter-in-law was fascinated by the process and I told her that when the time comes, I would give her my sucker mold collection. The recipe is one that came with some of the molds. Lots of fun! Let’s go.
Step 1:
Ingredients and Supplies:
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup corn syrup
¾ cup water
Favoring oil
Candy coloring (Wilton paste works)
2 qt. heavy sauce pan with lid
Candy thermometer
Rubber scraper
Nonstick cooking spray
Sucker molds
Sucker sticks
Parchment paper
Plastic wrap or little sucker bags
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup corn syrup
¾ cup water
Favoring oil
Candy coloring (Wilton paste works)
2 qt. heavy sauce pan with lid
Candy thermometer
Rubber scraper
Nonstick cooking spray
Sucker molds
Sucker sticks
Parchment paper
Plastic wrap or little sucker bags
Step 2:
Lay out the parchment paper and put the sucker molds, with the sticks on the parchment paper. Spray the molds with the nonstick cooking spray.
Step 3:
Into the sauce pan, pour the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir lightly.
Step 4:
Turn the heat on medium high and put the lid on the sauce pan, and bring to a boil, letting it boil for 2 minutes.
Step 5:
Remove the lid and insert the candy thermometer in to the boiling candy, don’t let it touch the bottom of the pan.
Step 6:
When the thermometer reaches 285°F, remove from the heat. The temperature will rise to 300°F and then it will start to cool.
Step 7:
Once it has dropped to 260°F,
Step 8:
you can add the flavoring and coloring,
Step 9:
stir just a enough to get them mixed. If you add the flavoring to temperatures above 260°F, the heat will cook out the flavoring.
Step 10:
Pour the candy into the molds. Let set until completely cool (room temperature).
Step 11:
Remove from the mold
Step 12:
and wrap in plastic wrap. I used some ribbon to hold the plastic wrap cover closed. Done! These were so good they disappeared very quickly. Enjoy!
Step 13:
FYI: Hard Candy molds can be found here: http://www.cybrtrayd.com/products.php?cat=HARD+CANDY+MOLDS&gclid=CJ-W4fTBjrYCFSRxQgodvgkAuA
And here: http://www.kitchen-things.com/hard-candy--sucker-molds.html. Look for Hard Candy molds, chocolate molds will melt when you pour the hot candy into them.

Finalist in the
Candy Contest
3 Comments
10 years ago on Introduction
1 tsp oil flavoring, or 1 dram if you use the Loran oils.
Get a tooth pick and just put a blob of color in the candy. Add more if you want it darker. Thanks for asking.
10 years ago on Introduction
How much flavor and color do you add to this size batch?
10 years ago on Introduction
Yummy! I really want to make my own suckers :D