Homemade Gumdrops Recipe

Introduction

Skip the store-bought gumdrops and make these soft, chewy homemade gumdrops instead! This easy recipe creates three festive flavors and colors, perfect for gifting or enjoying yourself. Old-fashioned and delightful, these gumdrops are a treat everyone will adore.

Ingredients

• 9 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 1 ½ cups water, divided
• 2 ¼ cups water, divided
• 4 ½ cups granulated sugar, divided
• 2 drops cinnamon oil, or to taste
• 2 to 4 drops red food coloring (gel recommended)
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon mint extract, or to taste
• 2 to 4 drops green food coloring (gel recommended)
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon peppermint extract, or to taste
• 2 cups granulated sugar, for coating

Instructions

1. Step 1: Spray three 8×8-inch baking pans with cooking spray and set aside. If making fewer colors, you can use a 9×13-inch pan for double quantity.
2. Step 2: In three small bowls, add ½ cup water to each and sprinkle 3 envelopes of gelatin over each bowl. Set aside to bloom.
3. Step 3: In a small saucepan, bring ¾ cup water and 1 ½ cups sugar to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves.
4. Step 4: Add one bowl of bloomed gelatin mixture to the saucepan, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Step 5: For red/cinnamon gumdrops, remove from heat, stir in 2 drops cinnamon oil and 2-4 drops red food coloring, adjusting for desired color. Pour into one prepared pan and refrigerate uncovered for 3 hours.
6. Step 6: Repeat steps 3-5 for green/spearmint gumdrops, substituting spearmint extract and green food coloring, then refrigerate uncovered for 3 hours.
7. Step 7: Repeat steps 3-5 again for natural/clear peppermint gumdrops, adding peppermint extract without food coloring or adding green if desired. Refrigerate uncovered for 3 hours.
8. Step 8: Once set, run a knife around the edges of each pan. Cut each pan into 4 large squares, transfer to parchment paper, and then cut into smaller gumdrop pieces or use cookie cutters for shapes.
9. Step 9: Let the gumdrops sit on parchment on the counter overnight (about 8 hours) to dry and firm up.
10. Step 10: The next day, toss the gumdrops in granulated sugar to coat. Return to parchment to let excess sugar absorb. Serve and enjoy.

Tips & Variations

• You can make fewer colors or flavors by adjusting pan sizes and quantities as needed.
• Use gel food coloring for the best, most vibrant colors and add drops gradually until you reach the shade you want.
• Add extracts carefully, starting with less and increasing to your taste, especially with peppermint which is potent.
• For fun shapes, use small cookie cutters after cutting the gummy squares.
• Instead of cinnamon oil, cinnamon extract can be used, and always avoid mint oils as they may be too strong.

Storage

Store gumdrops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Avoid refrigeration or freezing, which can affect texture. If gumdrops become sticky or “weep,” toss them again in sugar mixed with a bit of powdered sugar, and allow some air circulation by loosening the container lid.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make fewer than three colors or flavors?

Yes, you can make one or two flavors by adjusting the quantities and using different pan sizes. A 9×13-inch pan holds the equivalent of two 8×8 pans, so you can double a flavor if you prefer.

Why do I need to let the gumdrops sit overnight on the counter?

Letting the gumdrops sit uncovered overnight allows them to dry and firm up properly. This step helps achieve the perfect chewy texture and prevents them from sticking together when coated in sugar.

Homemade Gumdrops Recipe

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5 from 78 reviews

Homemade Gumdrops are soft, chewy, and naturally flavored candies that you can easily make at home using gelatin, sugar, and various extracts and food colors. This recipe offers three different festive flavors—cinnamon, spearmint, and peppermint—perfect for holiday gifting or enjoying a nostalgic treat. The candy sets up in the fridge and requires chilling and resting to achieve the ideal texture, finished with a coating of granulated sugar for classic gumdrop sweetness.

• Author: Jeannette
• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 11 hours 25 minutes
• Yield: Approximately 70 gumdrops 1x
• Category: Candy
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Gelatin Base

• 9 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 1 ½ cups water, divided
• 2 ¼ cups water, divided
• 4 ½ cups granulated sugar, divided

Flavorings and Colors

• 2 drops cinnamon oil (or to taste)
• 2 to 4 drops red food coloring (gel recommended)
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon mint extract (or to taste)
• 2 to 4 drops green food coloring (gel recommended)
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon peppermint extract (or to taste)

Coating

• 2 cups granulated sugar, for coating

Instructions

1. Prepare Pans and Gelatin: Spray three separate 8×8-inch baking pans with cooking spray and set them aside. In three small bowls, add ½ cup water to each, then sprinkle 3 envelopes of gelatin over each bowl to bloom, and let them sit.
2. Make Sugar Mixture: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine ¾ cup water and 1 ½ cups of granulated sugar. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture boils.
3. Combine Gelatin and Sugar: Add one bowl of the bloomed gelatin mixture into the boiling sugar syrup. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to fully dissolve and blend.
4. Flavor and Color Red Gumdrops: Remove the saucepan from heat. Add 2 drops cinnamon oil and 2-4 drops of red food coloring, adjusting color intensity as desired. Pour this mixture into the first sprayed 8×8 pan and refrigerate uncovered for 3 hours.
5. Repeat for Green Gumdrops: Repeat the sugar mixture and gelatin combining process with the second bowl. After removing from heat, add ¼ to ½ teaspoon spearmint extract and 2-4 drops green food coloring. Pour into the second pan and chill uncovered for 3 hours.
6. Repeat for Clear/Peppermint Gumdrops: Repeat the process with the third bowl. Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon peppermint extract (without food coloring for natural clear gumdrops) to taste. Pour into the third pan and chill uncovered for 3 hours.
7. Set and Cut Gumdrops: After chilling, use a paring or butter knife to loosen the edges of each pan. Cut each pan into 4 large squares, lift with a spatula onto parchment paper, then cut each square into small gumdrop-sized pieces or use cookie cutters for festive shapes.
8. Rest Overnight: Let the cut gumdrops rest uncovered at room temperature on parchment paper for about 8 hours to fully set and dry.
9. Sugar Coating: Pour 2 cups granulated sugar into a shallow bowl. Toss batches of gumdrops in the sugar until fully coated, then place back on parchment paper allowing sugar to absorb and gumdrops to dry slightly.
10. Serve and Store: Serve the gumdrops at room temperature. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week, avoiding refrigeration or freezing to maintain texture.

Notes

• You can customize the gumdrops by using any combination of flavors and food colorings, including making fewer flavors or doubling quantities by using different sized pans.
• Use gel food coloring for best color intensity and ease of mixing.
• Be cautious with mint extracts because of their strong potency; start with half the suggested amount and adjust as needed.
• If your gumdrops start to weep or sweat, toss them with a mixture of powdered sugar and granulated sugar to reduce tackiness, and consider slightly cracking the container lid to allow airflow.
• Gumdrops keep best at room temperature in an airtight container and do not store well in the fridge or freezer.

Keywords: homemade gumdrops, chewy candy, gelatin candy, holiday candy, cinnamon gumdrops, spearmint gumdrops, peppermint gumdrops, homemade candy recipe