Do you know the cartoon chicken legs? Clean, chubby and crispy, which are typically devoured in one bite? This recipe is exactly about that, stay close to see how to cook the outstanding chicken lollipops.
One of the best and most sought-after parts of the chicken are definitely the legs and thighs. When the chicken legs are roasted in the oven in a classic manner, they are a guarantee of a result that is always tasty and appreciated by young and old. The crunchy skin, although they say is not very healthy, is way too good to skip.
Let’s say that one day you decide that you want to impress your friends or family with a recipe they could only dream of. Well, this is the exact recipe you need to make when that day comes. Besides the fancy name, the chicken lollipops are such an amazing and appetizing presentation.
The preparation process is a bit laborious but far from difficult. The first time I prepared chicken lollipops, I quickly became frustrated, as it was something I was not used to. But then I found how much my kids loved the meaty lollipops, so I got back to this recipe every time I wanted to spoil my dear ones. In other words, as soon as you taste the chicken lollipops the “effort” is rewarded. Moreover, it is a preparation that is almost impossible to fail at. It combines cheap ingredients that you can find in any grocery store, at any given time of the year.
How Do You Cut Chicken Lollipops?
Chicken lollipops are nothing more than chicken drumettes or drumsticks trimmed to resemble a lollipop shape. Although this recipe requires some extra work, the experience of eating chicken lollipops will pay back all the effort. All you need is to arm yourself with patience, kitchen shears, and a very sharp knife. The meat of the lollipops is so much softer and more delicate when compared to regular chicken legs.
The preparation of the chicken lollipops involves three main operations. The aim is to “optimize” the meat both in terms of texture and aesthetics.
As the main thing, surely wash and clean the chicken drumsticks. Pat dry them to handle easier when trimming. The first operation is to “clean” the bone. Place the knife at the point where there is no more meat and slide all around the bone, until completely separating the skin, meat, and tendons. Once this is done, with the fingers, or always with the help of the knife, clean the bone up to the joint, tearing it away so as to leave the thigh bone uncovered and clean.
The second step is to cut off the upper cartilage from the main leg bone (upper side). If the cut is made at the right height, the small bone will be completely separated from the main one and can be pulled away, with the hands.
The last operation consists of completing the cleaning of the leg, pulling away any tendons and cartilage that emerge from it. The goal is to have a chicken leg that can be eaten in one bite without having to spit anything out.
For nice-looking lollipops, fix the skin down to cover as much of the meat as possible.
How Do You Season the Chicken Lollipops?
This chicken lollipops recipe is about flavor and texture. Spicy&crispy skin and tender&tasty meat. This recipe excels at taste – it will definitely surprise you! The lollipop shape helps easily to grab and hold the drumsticks. Also, a good tip that helps you enjoy the chicken lollipops without being afraid to get your hands dirty is to wrap the bony ends with small pieces of foil. This tip is especially comfortable if you are preparing an appetizer for a picnic or garden party.
So, prepare chicken lollipops as it is described below. In a mixing bowl, combine condiments: ½ cup of brown sugar, 1 tsp salt, ⅙ tsp black pepper, 1 tsp of each: garlic powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and ground coriander. Mix until it looks nice and perfect powder.
Note: In the photo, you can see just one bowl with spices. I have a ready-made mixture of all those spices that I always use for marinating the meat. I found this combo best-loved by anyone. However, you can add any spices you like or skip anything you dislike.
Grab one chicken lollipop and brush it with a bit of olive oil. This will help the spice mixture stick well to the drumstick. Then coat lollipops generously with condiments. Wrap the bony ends with foil. Arrange drumsticks with bony ends up in a previously greased with oil baking tray.
Should I marinate the chicken lollipops marinate in the spices?
Yes, it will definitely have its word on the final taste. If you have an extra 15-20 minutes to wait for the chicken legs to better soak in the flavors of the spices – then wait. You can use this marinating interval to reheat the oven to 375°. If time is not on your side, it’s ok to cook them as soon as they’re covered in spices.
Ho long to bake the chicken lollipops?
Bake the chicken lollipops in a preheated oven at 375°F for about 30-35 minutes. During cooking, the sugar will melt and will better adhere the rest of the spices to the meat. As a result, the chicken lollipop will come out nicely, with lovely and crispy brown sugar caramelized skin. The meat inside will surprise you with its tender and juicy texture. I can’t tell you how delicious that is.
How to serve the chicken lollipops?
These meaty lollipops are so delicious that they don’t need anything else to be devoured. However, if you like your dinner or lunch diversified, pair them with a refreshing salad such as the Spinach & Avocado salad, Cabbage salad with Carrot & Cucumber, or with a more acidic salad such as the Country Style Tomato Salad.
Whether served as an appetizer or main dish, this awesome crispy chicken lollipops recipe will be a perfect dish to enjoy with your family and friends.
Crispy Chicken Drumsticks Lollipops
Ingredients
- 6 chicken drumsticks
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Wash and clean the chicken drumsticks. Pat dry them to handle easier when trimming. Insert the kitchen shears underneath the skin about one inch from the top of the drumstick knuckle. Cut all the way around the bone. Pull off the skin over the knuckle. Holding the bony, push the meat down the drumstick to the bottom. Using a sharp knife, scrape the exposed bone to remove any flesh. For nice-looking lollipops, fix the skin down to cover as much of the meat as possible
- In a mixing bowl, combine condiments: ½ cup of brown sugar, ½ tbsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, 1 tsp of each: garlic powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and ground coriander. Mix until it looks nice and perfect powder.
- Grab one chicken lollipop and brush it with a bit of olive oil. Then coat lollipops generously with condiments. Wrap the bony ends with foil. Arrange drumsticks with bony ends up in a previously greased with oil baking tray.
- Bake at 375°F for about 30-35 minutes.
- Serve with pleasure!
