Chicken lollipops are one of those things that look like a culinary feat of fanciful decadence....but they are truly very easy to do at home. And you can impress your friends and family, and maybe your children (if they are still in that "Wow! Mom/Dad is so cool!" phase) with minimal effort!
To make the lollipops you slice around the bone, right under the large meaty section, making sure to get through all of the tendons and extra skin. Then push towards the meaty end to expose the bone. You can also use a paper towel to grip and pull off the skin/cartilage cap on the end of the drum, this is optional. I like to leave it on so the crispy bits of skin can be nibbled off at the end. If you are more of a visual learner feel free to check out this short video that shows the steps.
The lollipops can now be seasoned with anything your heart desires. I like to use the Slap Ya Mama Original Cajun seasoning -OR- Brave Little Spice Co's Sugar Shack BBQ(available in our on-farm market and made in VT💜). Once seasoned they can be grilled, pan fried or baked in the oven until the internal temperature reaches 165°. I think the grill pairs nicely with this specific honey butter recipe as it adds some smokey complexity, but any way you cook it will be delicious.
Combine in a pan on the stove at low/medium, just until combined:
- 1 stick of butter
- 8 ounces of honey (Born To Swarm Apiaries has some delicious honey, also available in our market...read more about my friend Kate here)
- 4 smashed then chopped garlic cloves
- chopped cilantro to taste
- half cup of brown sugar
Toss your lollipops in your sweet savory sticky honey butter and its time to eat!
