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Sometimes technicolor, but always delicious, these fun candies are hands-down one of my favorite summer treats. If I'm being honest, licking the candy out of the shell is maybe not the most user-friendly experience, but the aesthetics of roudoudous can't be beat.
Plus, for reasons I can't explain, licking candy out of a shell just makes the candy taste better, maybe because it brings to mind so many great memories of beaches.
While you can buy them, complete with plastic seashells, why not take the shells from your latest summer beach trip and make your own?
For me, that sentimental component is a big driver in my love of roudoudous, in addition to the fact that they're just beautiful to look at. I have a huge collection of seashells, gathered over the years by myself and my family, but in particular from my grandma. Using the seashells I gather to make these candies brings to mind her travels, her love of the ocean, and her stewardship of marine ecosystems and wildlife.
What are roudoudous?
Roudoudous (pronounced Roo-doo-doo) are a French summertime treat, reaching their height of popularity from about the 1950s-70s with seaside vacationers. It's basically a lollipop, licked out of a seashell rather than on a stick.
Roudoudous are very simple to make, and traditionally used food coloring to make a Technicolor lollipop, or lightly caramelized syrup sans coloring for caramel lollipops.
When I want to make fancy versions of these, I add in fresh violets or different flavorings like citrus zest. Roudoudous in real seashells are much less common today, although sometimes lollipops in plastic seashells are packaged and sold in shops.
An obvious but important safety note: shells can be brittle and are, in themselves, not great to crunch on. Please lick, rather than bite, these candies!