Simple Homemade Fruit Flavored Gumdrop Candy

Unforgettable Fruit Flavored Gumdrops – A simple recipe for a soft and chewy, brightly colored, sugar coated, fruit flavored candy. Experiment with different flavors and shapes to create fun treats for any occasion.

This time of year, if you’re looking for me, it’s a good bet that I’ll be in the kitchen, mixing up a sweet batter of something or standing over a hot oven. This has been a tradition for as many years as I can remember. Taking my time, making something that me and my family enjoys and then giving it to people who have made an impact in our lives is not just a gift for them but for ourselves as well. 

Every year I try to add something new to the tray of goodies that we give. Traditionally the trays were full of a variety of cookies and cakes, but a few years ago I decided that I would try my hand at candy making. That first year I made sea foam candy from a recipe I got from my mom and it was such a hit that I change up the type of candy we give out every year. This year we are making these delicious fruit flavored gumdrops. They’re really not new for our family, I’ve been making them since the kids were little, but they will be new to our friends and family. I can’t wait to see if they enjoy them as much as our family has.

What special treats do you make for the holidays?

Gum Drops

Jell-O: This recipe calls for the small, 3-ounce box of Jell-O, if you plan on making a lot, this recipe is really easy to double. The great thing about this recipe is that it is so simple that you can customize it for different holidays. For Christmas I like to use red and green Jell-O, for Halloween, orange and green, Easter, yellow, pink and blue and for Valentines, red. I’ll also use different shapes of cookie cutters for each holiday.

Applesauce: I’ve tried homemade gumdrops both with and without applesauce and I much prefer the recipe that calls for applesauce. The applesauce gives the gumdrops a much better texture and in my opinion they tend to hold up a lot better.

Instructions

Step 1: Spray an 8×8 glass baking dish with cooking spray, place in refrigerator until it’s time to use it.

Step 2: In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, add the sugar, unsweetened applesauce, Jell-O, unflavored gelatin and the lemon juice. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 1 minute, stirring constantanly.

Step 3: Remove from heat and pour the hot mixture into the cooled baking dish. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until firm.

Step 4: Sprinkle a baking sheet with sugar and turn the firmed mixture out onto the baking sheet. Cut the mixture into shapes using small cookie cutters or use a knife to cut into small squares.

Step 5: Lay them out on a lined baking sheet and allow to air dry overnight. The next morning roll the gumdrops in sugar making sure that they are heavily coated.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Gum Drop Candy

A simple recipe for a soft and chewy, brightly colored, sugar coated, fruit flavored candy.

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Candy

Author: Robin | Fluster Buster

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup apple sauce unsweetened
• 1 package 3 ounces Jell-O
• 1 envelope .25 ounces unflavored gelatin
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 cup granulated sugar for coating

Instructions

• Spray an 8x8 glass baking dish with cooking spray, place in refrigerator until it's time to use it.
• In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, add the sugar, unsweetened applesauce, Jell-O, unflavored gelatin and the lemon juice. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and pour the hot mixtures into the cooled baking dish. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until firm.
• Sprinkle a baking sheet with sugar and turn the firmed mixture out onto the baking sheet. Cut the mixture into shapes using small cookie cutters or use a knife to cut into small squares.
• Lay them out on a lined baking sheet and allow to air dry overnight. The next morning roll the gumdrops in sugar making sure that they are heavily coated.

Tips

✔  Use a glass baking dish, the Jell-O will release from the glass better than it does metal, or better yet line the pan with some parchment paper.
✔  Be sure to generously spray the baking dish with cooking spray before adding the Jell-O, it will make it easier for the Jell-O to release.
✔ Allow the gumdrops to air dry for at least 8 hours before rolling them in sugar. Air drying makes the Jell-O sticky so that the sugar will stick better.
✔ To remove excess sugar toss the gumdrops in a colander. 
✔ Store gumdrops in an air tight container. 

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