These Homemade Gumdrops are the perfect treat to make for friends and family during the holidays! Made with just a handful of ingredients – including applesauce – this easy gumdrop are sure to become a holiday tradition! A Christmas favorite with our family!Check out these Christmas favorites too: Buttermilk Pecan Pralines, Martha Washington Candies, and Christmas Peppermint Patties.
Homemade Gumdrops
Making homemade candies for Christmas is the highlight of the season for me. We love making fudge, divinity, and all sorts of treats! This easy recipe for homemade gumdrops is sure to be a new family favorite for you too!
This recipe is not only easy, but perfect for kids that want to help out. Now, you’re going to want to make two batches so that you have contrasting colors. I, obviously, chose red and green for Christmas, but any combination of colors you like will work.
You’re going to love how easy these gumdrops are to make! It’s like making Jell-O and then dipping them in sugar – so simple yet so delicious!
What Ingredients Do I Need For Gumdrops
You’ll need the six-ounce Jell-O boxes as well as unflavored gelatin to make the gumdrops. The best part of making the gumdrops is the leftover tidbits after cutting out the shapes. I cut them down into small pieces, roll in sugar and the boys and I have been enjoying the “scraps” and saving the pretties for gifts 🙂
- Applesauce
- Sugar
- Jello
- Unflavored Gelatin
- Lemon Juice
What Else Do I Need?
You will need a set of small, metal cookie cutters to cut out the gumdrops.
I like to have an assortment of cellophane treat bags on hand during the holiday season. It makes giving gifts that much more special. I think they look so cute!
The gumdrops do need to sit out overnight, or for about 8 hours before they are rolled in sugar so make sure you calculate that into your time.
Store the gumdrops in an airtight container or package up for small gifts. Teachers really LOVE these gumdrops!
We are OBSESSED with candy making during the holidays. Make sure to give some of our favorite a try!
- Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls
- Chocolate Covered Mint Patties
- Peppermint Mocha Fudge
- Maple Nut Fudge
- Coconut Macaroons
I hope you give this easy recipe a try this year! Merry Christmas!
How To Make Homemade Gumdrops
Homemade Gumdrops
Ingredients
- 2½ cups granulated sugar divided
- 1½ cups applesauce - no sugar added
- 6 oz Jello {i.e. cherry, lime, etc.}
- ½ oz unflavored gelatin 2 envelopes
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Coat a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Combine 2 cups sugar, applesauce, Jell-O, unflavored gelatin and lemon juice in a large saucepan. Stir to combine. Let stand for 1 minute.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat stirring constantly.
- Boil for 1 minute and then immediately pour into prepared baking dish.
- Refrigerate until firm - about three hours should do it. I left mine in overnight.
- Cover a large cutting board with parchment paper and sprinkle with sugar.
- Loosen the sides of the gelatin with a spatula and invert onto parchment paper.
- Use small, sharp cookie cutters to cut out gumdrops. If needed, you can dip the cutters into hot water first. You may need to periodically rinse off the cutters as well to keep them clean.
- Leave the cutout gumdrops on top of the sugar-coated parchment paper for about 8 hours or until just slightly sticky.
- Roll the gumdrops in the remaining sugar and store in an airtight container.
Video
Nutrition
More easy holiday treats!
Outrageous Peanut Butter M&M’s Fudge
Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties
For all apple recipes, go HERE.
For all dessert recipes, go HERE.
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Taraleah says
……does flavoured gelatin mean like Jello?? or do u buy flavoured gelatin like u do unflavoured? yes a silly question but i have never used gelatin before. thanx for the yummie recipie!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Not silly at all! Flavored gelatin would be like the cherry or lime Jello and them there is unflavored gelatin that comes in a 4-pack of envelopes that you will need as well. Good luck!
Maegan Morin says
Can you please tell me how long these last?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
They will last for a couple of weeks stored in an airtight container. Best within a week though 🙂
Gina says
I am making these now …. It just occurred to me, I’m not sure how to store them until next weekend…. How do you store these delicious little bites?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Hi Gina! Just store them in an airtight container and you’ll be good to go 🙂 Enjoy!
Gina says
Mine started melting instead of getting sticky…..
Viv says
This happens to mine too. I cannot figure out how to stop the weeping.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Check and make sure you added the unflavored gelatin. It should be very firm.
lu says
my dad made home made gumdrops 45 yr ago they were different ingredients, (because of the time period, but they were good, plus he made home made marshmellows too yum!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I’ve always wanted to try making marshmallows but haven’t yet – maybe this year! Thank you!
judy says
home made marshmallow are great. You need to make them, they are easy to make.
Nancy Yeats says
Hi these look terrific..want to do these with my granddaughters. Quick question- If I wanted to eliminate the cookie cutter and leftovers, could I use the “various shaped chocolate molds I have from my crazy chocolate making days ?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I would try a small amount first. They are very sticky until rolled in sugar so they might be hard to get out of the mold. If it’s a silicon mold you might have more luck 🙂 Let me know how it works if you give it a try!
Yes Cook says
Hi, I want to make these. Is there a substitute for Apple sauce? Thanks.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Not that I can think of unfortunately. Sorry!
Liz says
I am aware I am a little slow as this post is a few months old now, but I am hoping I could maybe get a few answers to some questions I have.
Was going to try these out today to test them before the holidays start so I would have a better idea for my shopping list. I make a ton of cookies and candies during Christmas to send to work with my husband and myself. So knowing what I need before hand saves from having to send the hubster to the store 20 times.
Figured just get different cutters and different flavor gelatin would go with just about any holiday/season… or just the heck of it.
However, I have refrained from starting as I do have some questions.
The directions int he article say “2 envelopes unflavored gelatin {.25 oz each}”, which is .5 oz total. I believe in the normal Knox boxes they come in envelopes of .25oz each. However, in your reply to #32 Jessica you say 1oz each, and to #33 Brittany you say 2 oz of unflavored gelatin per batch. So in the comment say 2 oz total unflavored Gelatin, but the article is .5 oz. total. Am I misunderstanding or misreading something? I have some bad run-ins with unflavored gelatin and wrong measurement in the past so want to make sure before I start going all mad scientist on these I have the correct amounts. 😀
Another question I didn’t see asked int he comments. How long do these usually last, I mean if the kids and husband don’t eat them all? Are they good for a few days, a week, longer? Are they okay if left in a container in a container without being put back in the fridge after sugaring them like store-bought gumdrops? I am hoping to send these with my husband to work, and usually these kind of things don’t last long, but may stay around for a week or so.
Now a bit of me going all mad scientist on these. Could you remove the flavored gelatin, add an extra 6oz unflavored gelatin, food colouring and extract flavors like butterscotch, rum, mint, bubblegum, root beer (flavors you usually can’t get in gelatin) instead? Not sure how that much liquid would play on this or the unflavored to flavored ratio measurement.
Thanks for posting this and for any answers you can give me. Looking forward to making these. 🙂
Liz says
Okay to answer a few of my own questions in case someone else is reading through this.
“Could you remove the flavored gelatin, add an extra 6oz unflavored gelatin”
1 packet of knox gelatin is the amount that is in each 4 serving packet of jello. The rest is sugar and flavoring. So will need 1 packet of unflavored for every 1 – 3oz box of flavored, and add in enough sugar and applesauce to make up the remaining “sugar and flavoring” weight.
“food colouring and extract flavors like butterscotch, rum, mint, bubblegum, root beer ”
Going to try to drain some of the liquid from the applesauce in equal amounts to the colouring and extract or adding this into the weight as part of the “sugar and flavoring”. Will try both and see what I get.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Hi Liz! Just got back from vacation and am still catching up on comments. Okay, so the ingredients list is correct – ignore the comments. I was clearly experiencing a sugar high. It sounds like you’ve got this all figured out and I can’t wait to see how the flavoring goes. Another suggestion might be to add a little more unflavored gelatin instead of draining the applesauce. It should compensate for the added liquid. Good luck!
fb says
I know this is late, but thank you for this comment! I just found this recipe and was also curious about substituting unflavored gelatin (we don’t eat pork, but I do keep a bag of beef gelatin on hand).
Anita says
Wow, gotta try these with my son…I think it’s fun to make ánd also fun to eat! Thanks for sharing!
Brittany says
So wait is it 1 flavored package of jello + two unflavored packages of jello or is it 1 flavored + 1 unflavored packet per batch?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
It depends on the size of JELL-O box. You need six ounces of JELL-O and .50 ounces of unflavored gelatin per batch. Hope that helps!
jesica says
hi ! i’m going to try this recipe but i need to know how many ounces does the unflavored gelatin has, because i have different brands with different weight ..thanks !
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Oh wonderful! They are .25 oz each. Have fun!
jesica says
thank you !! 😀
Ruba says
Look so nice… I’ll try it soon
Thank you