Homemade Christmas Gumdrops
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Homemade Christmas Gumdrops are one of my new favorite treats. These are a spiced gumdrop made with unflavored gelatin, peppermint extract, cinnamon oil, and more. This is an easy gumdrop recipe that’s bursting with spice flavor in a chewy sugary treat.
You might be shocked to learn how easy it is to make homemade gumdrops. The hardest part is waiting for the gumdrops to set up so you can eat them. You might also like to try my rock candy on a stick for another sweet treat.
I’ve always loved making candies for the holidays. It all started with making Rock Candy with my mom. Now, I’ve got quite the list of candies like this Divinity Candy and Crockpot Candy that have been added to my holiday candy making list.
Ingredients
Gelatin – This is the base of the gumdrops as it is the right texture needed for that chewy candy you know and love.
Sugar – The granulated sugar is the key to the recipe. It is going to sweeten the gelatin but also you will use it to coat the gumdrops to prevent them from sticking together.
Extract and Oils – I used mint, peppermint, and cinnamon oil to add to the gelatin to make different flavored gumdrops.
Gel Food Coloring – Food coloring is optional but I will say it is a great way to show what colors are what flavors and it offers a pretty presentation value.
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Variations
- Flavors: You can go in with different flavors of extracts to alter the flavors of the gumdrops. From lemon, lime, cherry, or opt for cloves, wintergreen, etc. You could even step out of the box and use lavender or rose extracts for a different flavor.
- Shapes: Feel free to use smaller gumdrop molds to pour the mixture in and allow the mixture to set up in the fridge. You can do hearts, cubes, etc. They have endless shapes for sale online and at stores.
- Colors: Use any colors of food coloring you would like. I went with simple colors, but you can change it up to fit your theme or style!
- Powdered Sugar Coating: If you don’t want to use white granulated sugar you can coat in powdered sugar. I find that powdered sugar can not be as good at keeping the gumdrops from sticking.
NOTE: This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations
How to Make Homemade Christmas Gumdrops
Prep Work: Start by greasing your pans, I used 3 8×8 square pans. I made three flavors is why I needed 3 different pans.
Step 1: Add 1/2 cup of cold water and 3 packets of gelatin to 3 small bowl. The gelatin will bloom and gel up all of the water.
Step 2: For each of the 3 flavors, add 1 1/2 cups of water and 3/4 cup of granulated sugar to a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and let it come up to a boil. Once boiling, add in one of the bowls of bloomed gelatin, reduce the heat to low, and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Be sure to stir constantly.
Step 3: Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the food coloring and oil/flavoring.
Step 4: Pour the mixture into one of the prepared square pans and refrigerate for 3 hours. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 for each flavor/color you’re making. I did 3.
Step 5: Once the gumdrops chilled, run a knife around the edges of each pan to help release the mixture. Cut each pan of gumdrops into 4 large pieces and remove them from the pan and onto a piece of parchment paper.
Step 6: Now slice each square into small squares. Let the gumdrops sit overnight or at least 8 hours before coating in sugar. Once they’re all coated in sugar, store in an airtight container or storage bag at room temperature for up to a week.
Tips for Making Gumdrops
- Prep all the items you need and have pans ready before you start making up the gelatin on the stovetop.
- Start with a food drops of food coloring and then if you want add more food coloring to enhance the color even more.
- Use non-stick utensils so the gelatin mixture does not stick to the tools.
- Another thing is to re-dip the gummies in sugar or powdered sugar if you find the gumdrops are getting sticky. This will help make them non-sticky again. Sometimes the gumdrops sweat and need more sugar.
How to Store
You can store the gumdrops in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
Recipe FAQs
You will find that if you refrigerate the gumdrops they will create condensation and cause the sugar to melt a bit and the gummies will become sticky. So it is best to store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
Feel free to make as many flavors of gumdrops as you would like. You can make them all in one flavor or opt to do a mix of flavors. Just repeat the same steps for each flavor of gumdrops you want to make.
You are more than welcome to use a natural food coloring if you would like. You can use spices like turmeric, spinach juice, beet juice, and more to change the color naturally.
Christmas Candies To Try
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Homemade Christmas Gumdrops
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Ingredients
- 9 envelopes unflavored gelatin
- 1 1/2 cup cold water divided
- 2 ¼ cups water divided
- 4 1/2 cups granulated sugar divided
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- ½ teaspoon mint extract
- 3 drops cinnamon oil
- Red food coloring
- Green food coloring
- Additional granulated sugar for coating
Instructions
- This recipe makes 3 different colors and flavors of these gumdrops so the steps will be repeated 3 times.
- Grease 3 8×8 square pans with nonstick cooking spray.
- Get 3 small bowls and add ½ cup cold water to each bowl.
- Sprinkle 3 envelopes of gelatin over each bowl of water to allow the gelatin to bloom for the 3 gumdrop flavors.
- While the gelatin is blooming, add 3/4 cup of water and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar to a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and bring up to a boil while stirring constantly.
- Add one bowl of bloomed gelatin, reduce heat to let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes while stirring.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 2 drops of cinnamon oil and a 2-3 drops of red food coloring.
- Pour this mix into one of the 8×8 pans.
- Repeat steps 5-8 again, this time using 2-3 drops green food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of mint extract and add that to the second prepared square pan.
- Repeat steps 5-8 again, this time with no food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract and then add it to the last prepared square pan.
- Refrigerate all three pans of gumdrops for 3 hours.
- After the 3 hours are up, run a knife along the edges of each pan and cut into 4 pieces.
- Using a spatula lift each square out and place on a piece of parchment paper.
- Using a knife cut each piece of candy into little squares.
- Let the gumdrop squares sit at room temperature overnight.
- Once they’ve set overnight, pour about 2 cups of sugar into a shallow baking dish or bowl and place the gumdrops squares in.
- Toss them around to coat with sugar and place back on parchment paper.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.
Notes
Nutrition
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)
