These homemade gumdrops and so easy to make and you can easily change up the flavor. Your children will have fun making them with you!
If there is one candy that I really like, it is gumddrops (as long as they aren't mint-flavored or even worse, "peppery"). I know that they are nothing but sugar and really bad for your teeth, but I do try to make sure to brush my teeth pretty quickly after eating them (and make sure that my children do as well) and we don't have them very often!
I think, next to the Cupid Floats and the Strawberry French Toast Roll-Ups, this is quickly becoming one of my children's favorite treats for holidays. They are always asking me when we can make them next!
These homemade gumdrops are pretty easy to make and the kids have fun making them with me. We made them this year for Valentine's Day using Strawberry Jell-O, but you can really make them all year long just by changing the flavor of the Jell-O and your seasonal cookie cutters!
To make these homemade gumdrops, you will need:
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce
- 2 ¼ cups of sugar
- 2 boxes (3 oz) Strawberry Jello (or flavor of your choice)
- 2 envelopes Unflavored Gelatin {like Knox}
- additional sugar for dusting
Making them is easy!
Combine all your ingredients (except the sugar for dusting) in a pan and bring to a boil. Â Boil for about a minute.
Pour the mixture in to a 9" x 13" pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Â Place pan in the refrigerator and allow to set (a few hours)
Dust a cutting board with sugar and turn the firmed mixture out on top of the sugar. Â Dust the top of your homemade gumdrop mixture with sugar, grab your cookie cutters and start cutting!
Scroll down for the complete directions!
How To Make Homemade Gumdrops | Fun Valentine's Day Treat!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce
- 2 ¼ cups sugar
- 2 3 oz boxes Strawberry Gelatin (or flavor of your choice)
- 2 envelopes Unflavored Gelatin {like Knox}
- additional sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Spray 13 x 9 pan with non-stick spray.
- Combine all ingredients (except the sugar for dusting) in a pan.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Boil for 1 minute
- Pour the mixture in to a prepared pan and refrigerate until set.
- Dust a cutting board with sugar.
- Use a spatula to loosen the sides and turn out onto cutting board.
- Dust the top of Jello with sugar.
- Use cookie cutters to cut out gum drops.
- Roll edges in extra sugar and set onto wax paper for 1 hour to dry out slightly.
- Store in an airtight container for a few days (no more than a week).
Barb @ A Life in Balance
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CJ Huang
I never knew how to make gumdrops. Maybe I'll have to give it a try! I hope you can stop on by and share this or any other recipe with us on Five Friday Finds!
Jennifer
Ohhh! This is so dangerous, I'll be making these soon for sure!
Kayla
This is just so cool! I love seeing ways to make favorite candies at home :3 plus, this way you can just make a flavor you like!
Vicki Tims
So, the 2 1/4 cups of sugar does not go in the jello, it is only for dusting also??
Mindi Cherry
Hey Vicki!
Sorry if that wasn't more clear (and I updated the post to make it clearer), but the 2 1/4 cups sugar DOES go in to the mixture!
Mary Ann
I only used 2 cups of sugar and they turned out really gooey. Is that because I didn't use all the sugar? I didn't use the 2 1/4 cups? I was so disappointed. I was making them with my 3 year old grandson.
How long should you boil for ? More then a minute?
Mindi Cherry
Hey Mary Ann!
Sorry that they didn't turn out for you - it could have been the missing 1/4 cup of sugar. They have always turned out perfectly for me when I make them with the 2 1/4 cups.
I usually let it boil for 60 seconds before I turn off the heat.
Is it possible that you didn't let them chill for long enough? I will usually make them at night and place them in the refrigerator overnight and they are nice and firm in the morning.