Acid pops that will not burn a hole through your tongue. 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, now 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 5 of these sweet and sour pops.
I have two ways of making acid pops: the easy 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 as I am.
What do you need?
For the acid coating:
- Granulated sugar, food-grade citric acid and baking powder. (Amazon affiliate link)
- 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 pops:
- Ready-bought lollipops, of any size, shape or color.
Homemade pops:
- Sugar, water, lemon juice, lemon flavor and yellow food coloring.
Tools:
- Candy thermometer (Amazon affiliate link)
- 18 lollipop molds with sticks OR 2 baking trays and lollipop sticks. (Amazon affiliate link)
How to make acid pops?
Coating:
- Mix together 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 kitchen paper. The lollipops should be sticky, but not wet.
- Dip into the acid mixture, turning to coat on both sides.
How to make lollies at home?
Safety measures: Caution when working with hot sugar, it can cause serious burns. Keep the children away.
- Spry or lightly brush the molds spray with oil.
- Place the wooden sticks in their place in the molds.
- If not using molds brush two baking trays with oil. Set aside.
- 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 148 degrees Celsius/ 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The mixture should be only lightly amber-colored at this point. This should take about 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and quickly but carefully stir in the flavor and the food coloring.
- Spoon the melted sugar in the lollipop molds or on the baking trays.
- If making the pops on the baking tray, spoon a small circle of hot candy on it, place a wooden stick on the hot sugar circle, press lightly and turn a bit around to make sure the stick has candy all over. If necessary, spoon a little extra candy on the stick to make sure it holds.
- 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.
- Let the lollipops harden before you remove them from the molds or from the tray.
- Once hard, dip shortly in water, coat with the acid coating and place in jars.
How to keep?
Keep in jars without touching each other.
To give away as gifts, wrap each pop in candy wrapping, preferably something transparent.
More Harry Potter recipes:
Slughorn’s Crystallized Pineapple
Hagrid’s Monster Book of Monsters
Acid Pops – Harry Potter Inspired
Ingredients
- Homemade lollies:
- 80 ml/ 2.7 fl.oz/ ⅓ cup water
- 200 g/ 7 oz/ 1 cup sugar
- 8 drops lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon lemon flavor
- yellow food coloring
- OR
- 15-20 ready-bought lollipops
- Acid coating:
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons citric acid
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- Tools for the homemade lollies:
- 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
Instructions
Homemade lollipops:
- Caution when working with hot sugar, it can cause serious burns. Keep the children away.
- 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.
- 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 148 degrees Celsius/ 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The mixture should be only lightly amber-colored. This should take about 5 minutes.
- Take off the heat and quickly but carefully stir in the lemon flavor and the food coloring.
- Spoon the melted sugar in 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.
- Should the candy harden 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:
- In a small bowl mix together the sugar, citric acid, and baking soda.
- Dip the lollipops (either homemade or bought) very shortly in a bowl of water. Remove the excess water with kitchen paper, they should be sticky, but not wet.
- Turn to coat in the acid coating.
- Place standing in jars and repeat with the remaining candy.
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