DIY: Fresh herb lollipops

Make your own lollies with a tangy herbal kick

Move over cake-pops, there’s a new lollipop in town – and this one is packed with healthy herbs.

A novel way to enjoy fresh herbs

Okay, we should probably own up that while they might sound like the kind of thing you’d expect to pick up in a health-food store, these tasty treats are not as virtuous as they sound. But they are certainly as delicious as they look.

And while the negligible amount of herbs contained in each sweet wouldn’t exactly constitute one of your five-a-day, it is enough to pack quite a punch when it comes to adding flavour.

Flavour combinations

The contrast of sweet and savoury has become quite the foodie favourite over recent years. First, it was sweet-and-salt popcorn then salted caramel chocolate – and now all hail the fresh herb lollipop!

We found this fab recipe from The Gourmand & The Peasant and have converted the American ingredients into English measurements below, so you can make your own!

What you’ll need: 

  • 225g sugar
  • 120ml honey
  • 60ml water
  • Fruit extract
  • Small tops of herbs (such as, rosemary, lavender or basil)
  • Food colouring
  • Saucepan
  • Wooden spoon
  • A clear glass with cold water
  • Wax paper sheets
  • Lollipop sticks

 

Method:

  1. Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan and stir continuously until the sugar dissolves and then leave to heat
  2. You can test to see if your sugar is ready by dropping a dollop of the sugar mix into a glass of cold water. If it is ready it will instantly harden when it touches the water and you should be able to crack the candy strings which form easily
  3. Add in your flavour and colour ingredients of choice and to your taste, including your prepped herbs
  4. Carefully pour small dollops of the sugar mixture onto your wax paper and place your lollipop sticks into the dollops
  5. Allow the lollies to cool completely before serving or enjoying them all to yourself!
Add bright colours to your lollipops!
Take care when heating sugar
Use a mould to get perfect circles