Make these acid pops that will not burn a hole through your tongue. This is a Harry Potter-inspired recipe for the popular candy sold by Honeydukes.
You might have noticed my slight Harry Potter obsession... I love everything about that world; I would move there in a second if I could.
After the boozy butterbeer recipe or the Harry Potter cupcakes, it's time for a Honeydukes candy recipe—the acid pops that would normally burn a hole through your tongue. Well, not these ones. They are prickling, but everything will still be in place even after eating five of these sweet and sour pops.
I have two ways of making acid pops: the easy way and the elaborate way. They both taste pretty much the same; it is actually more about the acid coating, but you can choose what you want to make. The elaborate way is more fun, I suppose, at least for a Harry Potter and food nerd like me.
Recipe ingredients
For the acid coating: Granulated sugar, food-grade citric acid, and baking powder (the Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab).
- The combination of citric acid and baking powder will make the lollies prickly on the tongue; the granulated sugar will balance the lemony taste and add some texture.
Easy version: Ready-bought lollipops of any size, shape, or color.
Homemade pops: Sugar, water, lemon juice, lemon flavor, and yellow food coloring.
Tools: Candy thermometer and 18 lollipop molds with sticks OR 2 baking trays and lollipop sticks (the Amazon affiliate links open in new tabs).
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make acid pops?
Coating: Mix all the ingredients in a small shallow bowl.
Easy way: Dip the ready-bought lollipops in a bowl of water for just an instant. Remove the excess water with paper towels. The lollipops should be sticky but not wet. Dip into the acid mixture, turning to coat on both sides.
How to make your own pops?
Safety measures: Use caution when working with hot sugar; it can cause serious burns. Keep the children away.
- Step #1: Spry or lightly brush the mold with oil. Place the wooden sticks in their place in the molds. If not using molds, brush two baking trays with oil. Set aside.
- Step #2: Place the water, sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Heat the mixture on medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. It will not take long.
- Step #3: When the sugar is dissolved, stop stirring, increase the heat, and let the mixture cook without stirring until the sugar reaches 300°F/ 148°C. At this point, the mixture should be only lightly amber-colored. This should take about 5 minutes.
- Step #4: Remove from the heat and quickly but carefully stir the flavor and the food coloring.
- Step #5: Spoon the melted sugar into the lollipop molds or baking trays.
- If making the pops on the baking tray, spoon a small circle of hot candy, place a wooden stick on the hot sugar circle, press lightly, and turn a bit around to ensure the stick has candy all over. If necessary, spoon a little extra candy on the stick to make sure it holds.
- Step #6: Let the lollipops harden before removing them from the molds or the tray.
- Step #7: Once hard, dip short in water, coat with the acid coating, and place in jars.
If the candy hardens before you are finished, place it back on the stove on low heat and heat it until it is liquid again.
How to store them?
Keep them in jars without touching each other.
To give away as gifts, wrap each pop in candy wrapping, preferably something transparent. Make Slughorn’s Crystallized Pineapple or Hagrid’s Rock Cakes, too; they are also great gifts for a Harry Potter fan.
Acid Pops – Harry Potter Inspired
Equipment
- Sugar thermometer
- Wooden sticks for the lollipops for instance wooden skewers cut to a suitable size
- 18 Molds for lollipops optional
- 2 Baking trays if not using molds
Ingredients
Homemade lollies:
- ⅓ cup water 80 ml
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200 g
- 8 drops lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon lemon flavor
- yellow food coloring
OR
- 15-20 ready-bought lollipops Note 1
Acid coating:
- 4 tablespoons granulated sugar Note 2
- 2 tablespoons citric acid
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
Instructions
Homemade lollipops:
- Caution when working with hot sugar, it can cause serious burns. Keep the children away.
- Prepare the molds: If using molds, spray or brush them lightly with oil. Place the wooden sticks in their place. If you don't have molds, brush two baking trays with oil. Set aside.
- Prepare the candy base: Place the water, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan. Heat the mixture on medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves - it will not take long. When the sugar is dissolved, stop stirring, increase the heat and let the mixture cook without stirring until the temperature of the sugar reaches 300°F/ 148°C. The mixture should be only lightly amber-colored. This should take about 5 minutes.⅓ cup water/ 80 ml + 1 cup granulated sugar/ 200 g + 8 drops lemon juice
- Add flavor and color: Take off the heat and quickly but carefully stir in the lemon flavor and the food coloring.¼ teaspoon lemon flavor + yellow food coloring
- Shape the lollipops: Spoon the melted sugar into the lollipop molds or on the baking trays. If using trays, place a small circle of hot candy on it, place a wooden stick on the hot sugar circle, press, and turn it lightly to make sure the stick has candy all over. If necessary, place a drop of extra candy on the stick to make sure it holds.
- Tip: If the candy hardens before you are finished, reheat it on the stove, on low heat, until it is liquid again.
- Let the pops harden, then remove them from the molds or from the tray.
Acid coating:
- Acid coating: In a small bowl, mix the sugar, citric acid, and baking soda.4 tablespoons granulated sugar + 2 tablespoons citric acid + 1 tablespoon baking soda
- Dip the lollipops (either homemade or 15-20 ready-bought lollipops) very briefly in a bowl of water. Remove the excess water with paper towels; they should be sticky but not wet.
- Coat in acid: Turn to coat in the acid coating.
- Stand them upright in jars (they should not touch each other) and repeat with the remaining acid pops (Note 3).
Notes
- The quick and easy version uses store-bought lollipops. All you have to do then, is coat them in the acid coating.
- The citric acid and baking powder give the lollies a prickly sensation on the tongue, while the granulated sugar balances the lemony flavor and adds a bit of texture.
- For gifting, wrap each pop in transparent candy wrapping.
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