Sriracha Lollipops

A few weeks ago I was browsing my Facebook feed when something caught my eye. Yuri, who writes Chef Pandita posted a link to a gourmet lollipop shop that sells many unusual flavors – including a Sriracha pop!

Like! I clicked. “I would totally try this!” I commented, to which she replied “You should come up with a recipe and blog about it, why not?!”  I declared her a genius and got out my recipe journal.

For those unfamiliar, Sriracha is a delicious sweet-hot chili sauce that is (in my opinion) highly addictive. I’ve always thought it could improve the flavor of just about anything, but I wasn’t sure how it would translate into candy.

I gave it a try in spite of my doubts. The first batch failed because I used too much sauce. The candy didn’t harden properly and when I tasted it my eyes watered. Definitely too much!

I was more conservative the second time around and struck a nice balance between sweet and hot.  It’s just hot enough to make your tongue tingle and has the recognizable flavor of the beloved rooster sauce.

One thing I’d like to address about making hard candy – you must have good candy thermometer. The last time I posted lollipops, so many people had burned candy it made me question my recipe. I even took the recipe down from the site until I had made it three more times successfully. For this reason I’m including a few important tips.

Check the accuracy of your thermometer – You can check your candy thermometer accuracy by placing it in water and bringing the water to a boil. The thermometer should read 212° F, if the reading is higher or lower, take the difference into account when testing the temperature of your sugar syrup.

Don’t have a thermometer?  I use a Taylor TruTemp digital thermometer with an alarm, almost identical to thismodel. I no longer use a thermometer that clips to the side of the pan because of inconsistent results. If the right clip model comes around and changes my mind, you’ll be the first to know.

Plan ahead – have candy molds, spoons, pot holders, and other tools ready to hand.  You must work quickly and efficiently when working with hard candy. Being organized will also help decrease the risk of burning your candy -and yourself!


Burned candy
Your candy can take on a burned flavor if it is heated beyond the hard crack stage 310°F.  You can remove the liquid candy from the heat once your thermometer registers 300 degrees F., allow the temperature to rise on its own for the last 10 degrees.

I really love how these turned out – right down to the faceted lollipop mold I used (you can buy it here if you love it too).  I can definitely say these lollipops won’t be for everyone, but if you’re feeling adventurous or know a fellow rooster sauce enthusiast -give them a try!

Edit: A commenter has pointed out that Sriracha pops are the brainchild of Jason at Lollyphile.  I don’t know Jason, but I’m happy to give the guy credit.  This particular recipe is my own.

 

Sriracha Lollipops

Yield: 12-17 Lollipops                                                                      [click for printable recipe]

Special equipment:

Candy thermometer

Lollipop Sticks

Lollipop molds

Candy:

2 cups sugar

2/3 cup corn syrup

2/3 cup water

2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce, divided

1/4- 1/2  tsp. orange gel food coloring

  1. Lightly grease candy mold with cooking spray. 
  2. Stir together the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a small saucepan and insert a candy thermometer into the mixture.
  3. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat.  Continue to heat without stirring until the bubbling mixture reaches 244°F.  Drop one level tbsp. Sriracha sauce into the bubbling mixture– do not stir! When the mixture reaches the hard crack stage (302-310°F). Remove pan from heat.
  4. Stir in the remaining 1 tbsp. Sriracha sauce and food coloring. Be extra careful because the mixture will bubble and sputter with these additions.
  5. When the mixture has stopped bubbling, pour it into molds and let harden. 
  6. Wrap the cooled lollipops in cellophane or wax paper and store in an airtight container.
Follow:
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
67 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Heather
Heather
11 years ago

I am so glad I turned the computer on just now…my hubby would LOVE this!!!!! BRILLIANT! (in my best Scottish voice.)

Cookbook Queen
Cookbook Queen
11 years ago

Gah.

I just love you.

And every single thing you make.

You never disappoint!!

That is all.

Emma
Emma
11 years ago

Sounds more like delicious town than crazy town to me:)

j. wilson
j. wilson
11 years ago

These sound amazing! I need a thermometer and some molds…stat!

anniebakes
anniebakes
11 years ago

amazeballs!!

Cassie | Bake Your Day
Cassie | Bake Your Day
11 years ago

Oh. My. Goodness. This is genius. Pure amazing brilliance.

Kemimor
Kemimor
11 years ago

Fun! I really like your lollipop moulds!!

Yuri - Chef Pandita
Yuri - Chef Pandita
11 years ago

I can't believe you made these! You are my hero. Love love love this post <3

Christina Marie
Christina Marie
11 years ago

Hah, do you need a glass a milk to go with these?

Christina
http://www.becauseofmadalene.com

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
11 years ago

What a great idea! Those lollipops look so pretty. I love this sauce.

Cheers,

Rosa

keri @ shaken together
keri @ shaken together
11 years ago

I recently made hotsauce-icles (hot sauce popsicles) for my hubby for Father's Day … these might be next on my list 🙂

Lora
Lora
11 years ago

This is brilliant. I love the beautiful star shape.

Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
11 years ago

These are so unique..well, everything you do it…but these REALLY rock my world!

Jessie
Jessie
11 years ago

I really love the professionalism of this site. Thank you for taking the quality of your recipes so seriously, and for providing helpful tips!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

These are absolutely genius!

Averie @ Averie Cooks
Averie @ Averie Cooks
11 years ago

now THIS is creativity at it's finest! you never cease to amaze!

and thank you for the lovely (and unnecessary!!) little items you sent me 🙂

xo

Sunshine - www.cancersurvivor26.blogger.com
Sunshine - www.cancersurvivor26.blogger.com
11 years ago

Wow! That is interesting and totally creative.

http://www.cancerinthecity.com

Heather
Heather
11 years ago

what a fun flavor! and the color is perfectly sriracha 🙂

Brenda
Brenda
11 years ago

I think I love you. I would never have thought of this! Sriracha is my favorite.

Alysha @Shesontherun
Alysha @Shesontherun
11 years ago

How cool – I've made lollipops a few times (and a honey one for my blog). I don't care how old I get, I'll always love lollipops.

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

Wow! you always seem to come up with the most amazing recipes, and photos never dissapoint 🙂 This is a must try for me!!!!

Jessie

jamie @ green beans & grapefruit
jamie @ green beans & grapefruit
11 years ago

You rock!

rooth
rooth
11 years ago

This is totally and utterly amazing!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

These look beautiful and I'm sure they taste amazing, makes me thing of those large "Red Hots," think they are called "Atomic Fire Balls"

http://fashionablyhealthy.wordpress.com/

Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
11 years ago

Most creative lollipop ever! You're the greatest, Heather!

Karyn
Karyn
11 years ago

My husband wants to marry you! He puts that stuff on EVERYTHING! We had veal piccata tonight and he added that stuff… I'll pass on these lollipops and stick to the red wine ones!
They do look beautiful!

Mary @ Sifting Focus
Mary @ Sifting Focus
11 years ago

How innovative of you! My daughter worships Sriracha. I know she will want to make these as soon as I show them to her. Brilliant!

Catherine
Catherine
11 years ago

Sriracha is one of my favorite accompaniments to most of my meals. This is an interesting and wonderful idea! Blessings to you, Catherine

Jessica @ How Sweet
Jessica @ How Sweet
11 years ago

i love your outrageousness. you are my favorite.

sally @ sallys baking addiction
sally @ sallys baking addiction
11 years ago

THESE are so crazy! Crazy and amazing and insanely creative and delicious all in one. Like, I want one on the side of every single one of my meals. Love it!

Christie {Pepper Lynn}
Christie {Pepper Lynn}
11 years ago

I'm not sure I would eat these, but I love the craziness of this concept! Perhaps I will make them for the hubs. 🙂

marla
marla
11 years ago

You are amazing!! I LOVE the idea of a spicy lolly ~ posting a review of your book today ~ stay tuned 🙂

Sil BsAs
Sil BsAs
11 years ago

This is really a SO clever idea… the problem for me is that there's no corn syrup in my country…glucose maybe?
Cheers from Argentina!

Ashley
Ashley
11 years ago

I feel like I say the same thing every time I comment here – but I have to make these!!! My boyfriend and I fly through bottles of rooster sauce, but I never even thought of adding it to candy – brilliant!

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
11 years ago

Thanks – credit and link has been added.

Tesei
Tesei
11 years ago

I love this recipe! Being Mexican, I'm used to hot spicy candy treats and my 4 year old has picked on that habit so I'm glad I can now give him the homemade version 🙂 Thank you!!!

Cathy
Cathy
11 years ago

These sound delicious and they're beautiful – could I ask where you got your molds?

Sue
Sue
11 years ago

I'm pretty wimpy when it comes to hot and spicy, but maybe I cold handle it in candy form:) I'm certain my "the hotter, the better" husband would love these!

Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies
11 years ago

That animated gif is hypnotizing. And it seems to be telling me to make sriracha lollipops now. Love this idea!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

Very interesting. I don't think my 6yr old would like these, but I am sure I would. I bet they would go great with a beer on a hot summers day!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

wow. this is bizarre. not in a good way. have to admit, they look pretty though

Andrew
Andrew
11 years ago

I made these Tuesday! They turned out perfectly, but I think the garlic in sriracha makes these not work for me. I love the sauce, but I can't dig it in sweet applications. Might try again with a regular hot sauce. Had some friends who liked them, though!

http://instagram.com/p/MYWmhPDCt0/
http://statigr.am/p/223029065748851582_19790777

Lili
Lili
11 years ago

Oh wow they would be perfect firecracker lollipops for the 4th! xo ~Lili

Kat
Kat
11 years ago

Plus bacon salt?

Jenny
Jenny
11 years ago

I made these for the Fourth of July. They are gorgeous and tasty. For those who have not made lollipops before, be sure to place the sticks before pouring the candy. These set up fast–as I learned the hard way.

I can't wait to bring these to the party to see how my friends and family like 'em–we are sriracha loving fiends!

Jamie Webb
Jamie Webb
11 years ago

Omg! I love this stuff, I cannot believe you made suckers with it! Very genius! 🙂

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

Though it's a nice gesture of good faith to credit and link another candy maker who used Sriracha to make lollipops, you should know that you don't have to – legally, morally, ethically, whatever. The idea that one guy singlehandedly came up with the idea to add hot sauce to lollipops is silly; my *grandmother* used to make hot red pepper candies from what she referred to as an old family recipe, using our homemade hot pepper sauce.

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

This comment has been removed by the author.

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

hey thanks for the link! it means a lot- when i came up with maple bacon lollipops (no really- it was me, & i have the wayback stats to prove it!) a number of larger (read: better financed, etc) companies ran off with the idea and started selling them in grocery stores or wherever.

in the world of food, there's nothing, really, protecting small business people- recipies can't be copywrited, only brands- so credit where credit is due means a lot.

thanks again.

xox.

//jason
http://www.lollyphile.com

SweetSugarBelle
SweetSugarBelle
11 years ago

I wAnna try these so bad! This is kinda my thing!