Peppermint Lollipops

1 cup sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring (optional)
1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 pack wooden sticks

Cook sugar, corn syrup and water in the top of a double boiler over high heat. Do not stir mixture but cook to just past the crack stage (see note). Remove from heat. Stir in food coloring and extract. Pour into lollipop molds or onto a greased sheet of wax paper to form disks. Press a lollipop stick or string loop into each disk and allow to cool.

NOTE: 'Crack' describes the point at which a drop of boiling syrup immersed in cold water separates into hard threads that are not brittle. On a candy thermometer, the crack stage is between 270�F and 290�F. Check your local craft store or kitchenware shop for lollipop sticks and string loops.