Description
These homemade gumdrops are a delightful, fruity candy made from simple ingredients like applesauce, gelatin, and Jell-O. Perfectly coated in sugar, they offer a chewy texture and vibrant flavors, making them an ideal sweet treat for candy lovers and homemade confectionery enthusiasts.
Ingredients
Scale
Gumdrops
- 2½ cups granulated sugar, divided
- 1½ cups applesauce (no sugar added)
- 6 oz Jell-O (cherry, lime, or preferred flavor)
- ½ oz unflavored gelatin (2 envelopes)
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Coat a 9×13 inch baking dish thoroughly with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Set aside for later use.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large saucepan, combine 2 cups of granulated sugar, the applesauce, Jell-O, unflavored gelatin, and lemon juice. Stir well to mix all ingredients evenly. Let the mixture stand for one minute to allow the gelatin to soften.
- Cook the Mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly to prevent burning and ensure even heating. Once boiling, continue to boil for exactly one minute while stirring continuously.
- Pour and Chill: Immediately pour the hot gelatin mixture into the prepared 9×13 inch baking dish. Place the dish in the refrigerator and chill until the mixture is firm, which typically takes about three hours but can also be left overnight for best results.
- Prepare for Cutting: Cover a large cutting board with parchment paper and generously sprinkle with sugar to prevent sticking. Loosen the edges of the gelatin from the baking dish using a spatula and carefully invert it onto the sugar-coated parchment paper.
- Cut the Gumdrops: Use small, sharp cookie cutters to cut out your gumdrops from the gelatin sheet. To make cutting easier, dip the cookie cutters into hot water before each use and rinse them regularly to keep clean and prevent sticking.
- Dry the Gumdrops: Place the cut gumdrops on top of the sugar-coated parchment paper and leave them to dry for about 8 hours or until they feel just slightly sticky to the touch.
- Coat and Store: Roll each gumdrop in the remaining ½ cup of granulated sugar to coat them evenly. Store the sugar-coated gumdrops in an airtight container to maintain freshness and chewiness.
Notes
- Using no-sugar-added applesauce helps control sweetness while adding natural fruit flavor.
- Dipping cookie cutters in hot water ensures clean, smooth cuts and prevents sticking.
- Letting the gumdrops dry for 8 hours is crucial for proper texture and handling.
- You can experiment with different Jell-O flavors to create colorful and varied gumdrops.
- Store gumdrops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 gumdrop (approximate)
- Calories: 25
- Sugar: 6.0 g
- 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
