EASY HALLOWEEN LOLLIPOPS

Ingredients:

6 or 8 inch wooden Popsicle sticks
Gummy worms, as needed
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup corn syrup
2/3 cup water
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp orange, lemon or cherry extract
A few drops orange food coloring

Directions:

1. Lay a silicone sheet on a baking pan.
Place the sticks on the pan and 3 pieces of gummy worms above the tip of each stick to form a gummy worm triangle.

2. Combine sugar, corn syrup and water in a clean, dry small saucepan It is best to use a heavy gauge pan and preferably with a pour spout.) Bring to a boil over high heat and cook without stirring until the mixture reaches 305 degrees F or "hard crack" stage on a candy thermometer. Occasionally wash down the sides of the pan with a clean pastry brush dipped in water to remove any sugar crystals that are clinging to the sides of the pan.

3. When mixture reaches 305 degrees F. remove pan from heat and dip bottom of pan into an ice bath for a few seconds to stop the candy from cooking.
Add the extract and food coloring and stir gently with wooden spoon so color is evenly distributed.

4. Pour syrup over gummy worms and just over the stick.
Cool candy at least 20 minutes.

5. Lift the lollipops off the silicone and either serve immediately or wrap in an airtight container.

YIELD: 12 to 16 individual pops