Peppermint Lollipops

1½ cups sugar

¾ cup water

⅔ cup light corn syrup

½ teaspoon cream of tartar

½ teaspoon peppermint oil

Green and red paste food coloring

10 lollipop sticks

Butter 10 assorted metal cookie cutters and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet; set aside.

In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water, corn syrup and cream of tartar. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 300 degrees (hard-crack stage).

Remove from the heat. Stir in oil, keeping face away from mixture as odor is very strong. Spoon ¼ cup sugar mixture into two ramekins or custard cups; tint one green and one red.

Immediately pour remaining sugar mixture into prepared cookie cutters. Drizzle with green and red mixtures; cut through with a toothpick to swirl. Remove cutters just before lollipops are set; firmly press a lollipop stick into each.

Serves 10.

Nutrition values per lollipop: 179 calories, 0 fat, 47 g carbohydrate, 0 fiber, 0 protein, 0 cholesterol, 27 mg sodium.

Taste of Home's Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook (2007) and tasteofhome.com