Description
This Homemade Gumdrops recipe yields soft, colorful, and fruity gelatin candies coated in granulated sugar. Made with simple ingredients like unsweetened applesauce, gelatin, and flavored Jello, these gumdrops are a delightful treat perfect for holidays, decorating, or snacking. The process involves boiling the mixture, setting it in a dish, and cutting into fun shapes before coating in sugar for a sweet, chewy finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Gumdrop Mixture
- 2 ½ cups granulated sugar, divided
- 1 ⅓ cups unsweetened applesauce
- 6 ounces flavored Jello (such as lime or cherry)
- 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin (such as Knox)
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Dish: Spray an 11×7 or 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside to prevent sticking.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large saucepan, stir together 2 cups of granulated sugar, unsweetened applesauce, flavored Jello, and unflavored gelatin. Let the mixture stand for 1 minute to hydrate the gelatin.
- Cook Mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly to avoid burning. Allow it to boil for 1 full minute.
- Pour and Set: Immediately pour the hot gelatin mixture into the prepared baking dish. Let it cool at room temperature for 15 minutes, then refrigerate for 3 hours or until firm.
- Prepare for Shaping: Line a large cutting board with parchment paper and generously sprinkle it with the remaining granulated sugar.
- Transfer Gelatin: Use a metal spatula to carefully loosen the gumdrop mixture from the edges and bottom of the baking dish. Transfer the entire gelatin sheet or cut into 6-8 large pieces and transfer onto the sugar-dusted parchment paper.
- Cut Shapes: Use mini cookie cutters to cut the gelatin into desired shapes and place the shaped gumdrops back onto the lined baking sheet.
- Dry Gumdrops: Allow the shaped gumdrops to sit at room temperature overnight or for at least 8 hours to firm up and dry slightly.
- Coat with Sugar: Place the remaining granulated sugar in a shallow bowl and roll each gumdrop in the sugar until fully coated for a sweet, sparkly finish.
Notes
- Use mini cookie cutters for fun, uniform gumdrop shapes.
- Ensure constant stirring during boiling to prevent burning the gelatin mixture.
- Allow the gumdrops to dry at room temperature overnight for best texture before coating with sugar.
- Store gumdrops in an airtight container to keep them fresh and chewy.
- You can experiment with different Jello flavors for various taste and color options.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 gumdrop (approx. 6 grams)
- Calories: 25
- Sugar: 6 grams
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
