Cherry Lime Lollipops
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These easy homemade lollipops taste amazing! Made with 5 simple ingredients, and endless flavor options, this is about to be your new go-to candy recipe!
Homemade Sucker Ingredients
Kids, and adults, of all ages will go crazy for this easy sucker recipe!
This candy is made with just 5 ingredients:
- Fruit juice
- Lime zest
- Sugar
- Water
- Corn syrup
The secret? Invest in a quality candy thermometer ( affiliate link to my fave). Cooking to the right temperature is key.
We love that you can really play around with the flavor combination. I decided to make a cherry lime flavor. The citrus paired with the sweet cherry gives these a sophisticated taste with a stunning appearance.
But you can easily change the fruit juice to fit your families tastes! I did not have a candy mold (affiliate link to my fave) when I made this recipe. Turns out you really do not need one.
How to make suckers without a mold:
- Add a hefty amount of powdered sugar to a jelly roll pan.
- Use a round cap, shot glass, or other object to make circles into the sugar creating your mold. Make sure the bottom of the pan does not show.
- Place a stick in the center of each circle gently pressing into the sugar.
- Pour your candy into the mold and let set 10-15 minutes.
How long to homemade lollipops last?
If stored properly, homemade suckers can last up to two to three weeks. I suggest wrapping each individually with plastic wrap. Store in an air tight container.
TIP: If you add any type of caramel or chocolate to the container your suckers will soak up the moisture and become sticky. Try to keep them in their own container or a container with other hard candies.
Like this recipe? You will love my:
Cherry Lime Suckers
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cherry juice
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup corn syrup
Instructions
- Cover a jelly roll pan with powdered sugar. Use a round cap, shot glass, or other object to make circles into the sugar creating your mold. Make sure the bottom of the pan does not show. Place a stick in the center of each circle gently pressing into the sugar.
- Place the cherry juice into a pan. Boil until reduced to 2 tablespoons.
- Combine the sugar, water, and corn syrup in a separate pan. Heat to a boil and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 300 degrees F.
- Working quickly, pour the sugar mixture into a large measuring cup. Stir in the reduced juice and lime zest with a silicone spatula. Pour into the molds and allow to set for 15-20 minutes
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Great recipe! My candy thermometer says hard crack is around 320F so I brought my candy up to 315/318 and it set perfectly
I had a problem with them setting up they are always too soft. I use a candy thermometer up to 300 what should I do.
Hi Allyson, That’s so strange it didn’t set when it reached that perfect temp. Can I ask a few questions to see if we can figure this out? Don’t toss them. We might be able to fix the situation. Is it humid where you are? How long have they been sitting?
These look amazing! I have a child allergic to 9 of the top 14 allergens and including him in “normal kid stuff” is a challenge, especially candy, but I gladly take on trying new things when I find recipes like this! If I were to make a very large batch, how long would these stay good for? i would likely freeze to be safe, but curious if you have any idea of shelf life? I don’t know anything about suckers 😉
I lacey, I’m so sorry to hear about your allergies and am glad this might work out for you. These actually have a super long shelf life and should stay good for 6 to 8 months at room temperature.
When this hot water is added, would this powder be dissolved in it?
What is the name of the powder in which the shapes are to be arranged?
Powdered sugar, also known as confectioners sugar.
They look amazing! Could you tell me how many lollipops cames out from this recipe??
Hi Cleopatra, It’s been a while since I have made this recipe. I believe we got 8-10 but I could be wrong.
@Jesseca, I just made 15 with your recipe.
Would Arrowroot flour work as the molding substrate?
Will this method still work if I use a mold because I want the lollipops in a particular shape?
@Jennifer, I made it in silicone mold. Letting it dry but it hasn’t. 20 mins so far.
Taste was dead on, but I had to cook mine to a higher temperature to set. Have you made it with different flavors?
Hello!
I tried making your lollipops, and though the taste was delicious and the recipe easy to follow, my lollipops never truly hardened. After an hour of cooling, they were “chewy” and would sag and bend when I picked them up out of the molds. Any idea what I could have done wrong? I very carefully checked that the thermometer was at 300 before removing the sugar from the heat. The reduced juice had cooled down considerably by the time the sugar hit 300 – could that have had an impact?
Hi Emily. I’m not sure why your candies didn’t harden up. I’ll try to make them again today to see if the cooled juice will make a difference. (we can never have too many suckers in our house!)
OK, so after some research I’ve come to the conclusion that it might have something to do with our different altitudes. You can continue to boil your candy and test it by dripping a small drop into a cup of water. If the drop hardens your candy is ready to be poured into the mold.
Seriously?! I want to just come live by you and stop by for treats. 😉
LOL! My first thought was wow, they look like those gourmet pops that you pay $5 for, not gross at all! I can’t wait to try them either!
This is such a good idea! They look very yummy!
I love these! I really love the look of the grated lime inside the sucker.
I’m SO glad someone likes the look of it besides me! My sister said it looks kind of gross, and it got me worried!
Wow, that is a fancy trick!!! How fun!
Those look delicious! Like I would hide them from my kids.
These look delicious! I definitely never would have thought it was so easy to make my own suckers, now I can’t wait to try! The powdered sugar doesn’t stick to the suckers?
It kind of does. I just brushed it off with a paper towel.
@Aimee @like mother like daughter, Is it safe to say I can recycle the powdered sugar to continuously make more suckers?
We do.