Homemade Gumdrops

These classic, chewy candies are bursting with color and flavor. They’re made with simple pantry ingredients — no corn syrup required! Perfect for gifting or decorating cakes and desserts.

Ingredients

• 4 cups granulated sugar (plus more for coating)

• 4 tablespoons unflavored gelatin powder

• 1½ cups water

• 1 cup cold water

• Lemon or vanilla extract (or any extract of your choice — strawberry, orange, mint, etc.)

• Food coloring (optional, for colorful gumdrops)

Instructions

1. Bloom the Gelatin
   In a small bowl, pour 1 cup of cold water and sprinkle in the gelatin powder. Stir gently and let it sit for 5–10 minutes to allow the gelatin to absorb the water and soften. This step is called blooming and helps achieve a perfect chewy texture.

2. Make the Sugar Syrup
   In a medium saucepan, combine 1½ cups water and 4 cups sugar.
   Heat over medium heat, stirring continuously until the sugar fully dissolves.
   Continue cooking until the syrup reaches 230°F (110°C) — known as the soft-ball stage — using a candy thermometer. This usually takes about 5 minutes once it begins boiling.

3. Combine Syrup and Gelatin
   Remove the sugar syrup from the heat and carefully pour in the bloomed gelatin. Stir thoroughly until the gelatin dissolves completely and the mixture is smooth and clear.

4. Flavor and Color
   Add a few drops of extract (like lemon or vanilla) for flavor.
   If you want multiple colors, divide the mixture into small bowls and add a few drops of food coloring to each. Stir well to combine.

5. Mold the Gumdrops
   Lightly grease silicone molds or small trays with oil. Pour the gelatin mixture into the molds or spread evenly in a shallow pan if you plan to cut them into cubes later.
   Let them set at room temperature (or in the fridge) until completely firm — usually 8–12 hours or overnight.

6. Cut and Coat
   Once set, gently remove the gumdrops from the molds or cut the sheet into small cubes.
   Roll each gumdrop in granulated sugar to give it that classic, sparkly finish.

7. Serve or Store
   Your beautiful, chewy gumdrops are ready to enjoy!
   Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Flavor Ideas

• Strawberry: Red coloring + strawberry extract

• Orange: Orange coloring + orange extract

• Lemon: Yellow coloring + lemon extract

• Grape: Purple coloring + grape extract

• Watermelon: Pink coloring + watermelon extract

• Apple: Green coloring + apple flavoring

Tips for Perfect Gumdrops

• Avoid boiling the sugar mixture too long — it can make the candies too hard.

• To ensure clear gumdrops, skim off any foam before pouring into molds.

• For extra sparkle, roll them in sugar just before serving, not immediately after coating.

• You can dust them with cornstarch instead of sugar if you prefer less sweetness.

• Try layering colors — pour one color, let it partially set, then add another on top for striped gumdrops!