Description
Delightfully sweet and chewy homemade gumdrops made with natural fruit flavors using Jello and applesauce. These colorful treats are easy to make, require minimal ingredients, and are perfect for candy lovers looking for a fun DIY project.
Ingredients
Scale
Gumdrops Ingredients
- 2½ cups granulated sugar, divided
- 1½ cups applesauce (no sugar added)
- 6 oz flavored Jello (e.g., cherry, lime)
- ½ oz unflavored gelatin (2 envelopes)
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare the baking dish: Coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking, then set it aside.
- Combine ingredients: In a large saucepan, mix 2 cups of granulated sugar, applesauce, flavored Jello, unflavored gelatin, and lemon juice. Stir the mixture to combine well and let it stand for 1 minute to allow the gelatin to begin dissolving.
- Cook mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring constantly to avoid burning.
- Boil and pour: Boil the mixture for exactly 1 minute, then immediately pour it into the prepared baking dish to set.
- Refrigerate to set: Refrigerate the mixture until firm, which takes about 3 hours, though overnight chilling is recommended for best results.
- Prepare for cutting: Cover a large cutting board with parchment paper and sprinkle it generously with sugar.
- Invert the gelatin: Use a spatula to loosen the sides of the jelly from the baking dish and invert it onto the sugar-coated parchment paper.
- Cut out gumdrops: Using small, sharp cookie cutters dipped occasionally in hot water to prevent sticking, cut out gumdrops from the set gelatin. Rinse the cutters as needed for clean cuts.
- Allow gumdrops to dry: Leave the cut gumdrops on the sugar-coated parchment paper for about 8 hours or until they become slightly sticky.
- Coat and store: Roll the gumdrops in the remaining granulated sugar to prevent sticking and store them in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- If you don’t have flavored Jello, you can use gelatin with fruit juice and sugar as a substitute, though the texture and flavor might differ slightly.
- Using no-sugar-added applesauce helps control the overall sweetness; adjust sugar amount if preferred.
- Dipping the cookie cutters in hot water ensures smooth cutting and reduces sticking.
- Letting gumdrops rest on parchment paper is essential for the right texture and prevents them from being too sticky.
- Store gumdrops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 gumdrop
- Calories: 35
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
