There’s something truly nostalgic about biting into a soft, chewy gumdrop with just the right amount of sugary sparkle. This Homemade Gelatin Gumdrops Recipe brings that magic to your kitchen with simple ingredients and a fun, hands-on process that’s surprisingly easy—and endlessly rewarding.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I still remember the first time I made these gumdrops at home—there’s just something magical about turning a few pantry staples into these brightly colored, chewy little bites. This recipe is a perfect mix of nostalgic candy-making and modern-day ease. Seriously, once you get the hang of it, you’ll want to keep making them for every holiday and sweet craving.
- Simple Ingredients: No weird additives or preservatives—just natural flavors and familiar pantry staples.
- Customizable Flavors: You get to pick your favorite Jello flavor, so whether you prefer cherry or lime, you’re in control.
- Fun to Make: Cutting shapes and rolling in sugar feels like crafting candy magic right in your kitchen.
- Great for Gifting: These homemade gems make sweet, personal gifts that everyone appreciates.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This recipe shines because each ingredient plays a specific role — applesauce adds natural sweetness and moisture, gelatin does the heavy lifting to get that perfect chewy texture, and Jello brings in the vibrant flavor and color.
- Granulated sugar: The sugar not only sweetens but also coats the gumdrops for that classic sparkly finish.
- Unsweetened applesauce: Adds moisture and a natural fruity base that balances the sweetness.
- Jello (flavored gelatin): This is how you get that punch of flavor and fun color—I love alternating between lime and cherry flavors.
- Unflavored gelatin: Gives the gumdrops their chewy, springy texture—Knox is my go-to brand for reliable results.
Make It Your Way
I like to switch things up based on the season or mood. Sometimes I double the batch and create a two-tone tray using cherry and lime flavors side by side—kids and adults both love picking their favorites.
- Fruit Juice Swap: Try using fresh fruit juices instead of Jello for a more natural taste, but keep in mind you’ll need to play with gelatin amounts for firm results.
- Dietary Tweaks: If you want to avoid refined sugar, try coating your gumdrops with coconut sugar or a mix of stevia and erythritol—the texture changes slightly but still tasty.
- Shape Play: Don’t have mini cookie cutters? No worries! A sharp knife or pizza cutter works beautifully to slice your gumdrops into squares or rectangles.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Homemade Gelatin Gumdrops Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Ingredients
First things first, grab an 11×7 or 9×13 baking dish and lightly spray it with non-stick cooking spray. This little trick makes it so much easier to get your gumdrops out later without any sticky mess. Measure out your ingredients too—having everything ready to go speeds up the cooking.
Step 2: Combine and Heat the Mixture
In a large saucepan, stir together 2 cups of granulated sugar, the applesauce, your chosen Jello flavor, and the unflavored gelatin. Let it sit for about one minute so the gelatin blooms—it’s a small but crucial step for that perfect set. Then turn the heat to medium and stir constantly until it boils. The key here is to boil the mixture for a full 1 minute, which helps dissolve everything evenly and develops the right texture.
Step 3: Pour and Chill
Once you hit that boil, immediately pour the mixture into your greased dish. Let it cool at room temperature for about 15 minutes—this helps prevent condensation—and then pop it into the fridge for at least 3 hours, or until completely firm. Patience is key here to get the chew right.
Step 4: Cut and Sugar-Coat
Once set, place a large cutting board with parchment paper and sprinkle it generously with sugar. Use a metal spatula to carefully loosen the gumdrop slab from the pan—don’t worry if it feels sticky, it just means it’s working! You can transfer the whole sheet or portion it into large pieces first. Then, cut out fun shapes with mini cookie cutters or slice into squares. Let these sit at room temperature overnight or for at least 8 hours to dry slightly before rolling in the remaining sugar.
Top Tip
From my experience making this Homemade Gelatin Gumdrops Recipe, these tips really make the difference between “okay” and wonderful gumdrops!
- Heat Your Cutters: Warm your cookie cutters in hot water before cutting—it helps slice through the sticky gumdrops like butter, making shapes crisp and clean.
- Don’t Skip the Overnight Rest: Letting your gumdrops rest uncovered ensures they firm up perfectly and have that classic gumdrop chew and not overly sticky.
- Use a Metal Spatula: It’s worth investing in a sturdy metal spatula to gently loosen your set gumdrops; silicone ones just don’t have the leverage needed.
- Double Batch for Color Variety: Make two batches with different Jello flavors and combine them for festive red and green gumdrops—it’s a game-changer!
How to Serve Homemade Gelatin Gumdrops Recipe
Garnishes
I love rolling my finished gumdrops in extra granulated sugar or even sanding sugar for that sparkling look that feels truly festive. Sometimes, I add a hint of finely grated citrus zest into the sugar coating—just a little twist of orange or lemon brightens things up wonderfully.
Side Dishes
These gumdrops are a sweet treat on their own, but I also like to serve them alongside hot tea or coffee, especially during cozy winter afternoons. They’re a fun addition to holiday dessert boards, paired with nuts, chocolates, and dried fruits for a delightful variety.
Creative Ways to Present
Got a party coming up? Arrange your homemade gumdrops in little glass jars with colorful ribbons or pack them into decorative tins for sweet gifts. Another idea I’ve tried is threading them onto skewers with berries and marshmallows for a playful candy kebab perfect for kids (and kids at heart).
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store my homemade gumdrops in an airtight container at room temperature, layered between parchment paper to avoid sticking. They stay fresh and chewy for up to one week—usually lasting less time because we snack on them so quickly!
Freezing
Freezing gumdrops isn’t my first choice because it can slightly change their texture, but if you want to keep them longer, I recommend freezing in a single layer on parchment and then transferring to a sealed container. Thaw at room temperature for a few hours before serving to soften.
Reheating
I usually don’t reheat gumdrops since they’re perfect chilled or at room temp. If they feel a bit too firm from refrigeration, just letting them sit out for 15 minutes softens them nicely without losing that delightful chew.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Gelatin is essential for the chewy texture in this Homemade Gelatin Gumdrops Recipe. You might try agar-agar as a vegetarian substitute, but the texture and setting time may differ, requiring some experimentation.
Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they last up to one week while maintaining their chewy texture and sweetness. Beyond that, they may start to harden or dry out.
Fresh fruit juice can be used, but you will need to adjust the ratio of gelatin to juice for proper setting. It often requires more gelatin and careful measuring to get the right firmness without being too sticky.
Yes, refrigerating the mixture for at least 3 hours until firm is key to making sure your gumdrops set properly before cutting and coating. After that, they’re stored at room temperature.
Final Thoughts
This Homemade Gelatin Gumdrops Recipe holds a special place in my kitchen—and I hope it will in yours too. It’s one of those little homemade treats that bring back memories and make new ones, all while being a fun, easy project you can share with family or friends. Give yourself the gift of simple candy magic—you won’t regret it!
Print
Homemade Gelatin Gumdrops Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 11 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 60 pieces
- Category: Snack
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
Homemade Gumdrops are a delightful, chewy candy made from a simple mixture of sugar, applesauce, gelatin, and flavored Jello. These colorful treats can be shaped into fun shapes and coated with sugar, making them perfect for snacking or gifting. This recipe uses basic ingredients and straightforward stovetop cooking, followed by cooling and setting times to achieve the perfect gummy texture.
Ingredients
Gumdrops
- 2 ½ cups granulated sugar, divided
- 1 ⅓ cups unsweetened applesauce
- 6 ounces Jello (lime or cherry)
- 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin (such as Knox)
Instructions
- Prepare the 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 to combine 2 cups of the granulated sugar, unsweetened applesauce, Jello, and unflavored gelatin. Let the mixture stand for 1 minute to blend.
- Cook the Mixture: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar and gelatin completely. Allow it to boil for 1 minute to activate the gelatin.
- Set the Mixture: Immediately pour the hot gelatin mixture into the prepared greased baking dish.
- Cool and Refrigerate: Let the dish cool at room temperature for 15 minutes, then refrigerate for 3 hours or until the mixture is firm and set.
- Prepare for Cutting: Line a large cutting board with parchment paper and generously sprinkle with sugar to prevent sticking.
- Remove and Transfer: Use a metal spatula to loosen the gumdrop mixture from the sides and bottom of the baking dish. Transfer the whole sheet or cut into 6-8 large pieces and place onto the sugared parchment paper.
- Cut Shapes: Use mini cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the gumdrop sheet, then return the cut pieces to the lined baking sheet.
- Dry the Gumdrops: Let the gumdrops rest at room temperature overnight or for at least 8 hours to dry and develop their chewy texture.
- Coat with Sugar: Place the remaining granulated sugar in a shallow bowl and roll each gumdrop until fully coated in sugar, adding sweetness and preventing sticking.
Notes
- Store gumdrops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week to maintain freshness.
- For red and green gumdrops, prepare the recipe twice using lime Jello for green and cherry Jello for red to get vibrant colors.
- Heat cookie cutters in hot water before using to easily cut through chewy gumdrops without sticking.
- If you do not have cookie cutters, use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to neatly slice gumdrops into small pieces.
- The gelatin mixture will be very sticky; use a metal spatula to slide under it and keep pulling to remove it from the pan smoothly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 40 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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