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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Tami says
Good morning. The gum drops are so cute my kids will love doing them. Can you tell me how long they last? Do they get moldy?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thank you Tami! A couple weeks at least, and no, they don’t get moldy 🙂
Sarah O'Brien says
I made the homemade gumdrops using your recipe. They are amazing! I am wondering what the shelf life is for these gumdrops?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I’ve kept them for a month of longer Sarah so – quite awhile 🙂 Definitely you can make now and save for Christmas. I actually have a batch chilling in the fridge right this second!
Ann says
Hi Trish!
I love Homemade Gumdrops, I want one of these right now!!!
Nicole T says
I made these. Do NOT I repeat , DO NOT take it out of the pan and put it on plain wax paper. It will stick . I was still able to cut about half of them out and rip them off the wax paper but it would have been nice if I knew better! From the pan it needs to go on sugar right away. I ended up using a knife and cutting a lot of it into square shapes too. I also rolled mine in sugar immediately after cutting. I am not sure why you should wait to do the other side. Otherwise they are tasty!
Ida Cribb says
Do I need to keep in refrigerator?
When finished using cutters and covering sugar. It seemed my gum drops were loosing their firmness and becoming slightly gooey. Is this normal I got between 4 & 5 doz
Stacie says
Question… I am worried about breaking my 9×13 dish! You say to refrigerate it while you are preparing the gumdrops… Then to pour the hot liquid into the cold dish… In my mind I see it shattering. Do you use a glass dish?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I do use glass Stacie but if you are worried just skip that step. It’s no biggie.
Jane says
I love these! It was so much fun with my 5 year old 🙂 The second batch, I cut the shapes in the tray and found it a bit easier to get them out that way. I would like to make some more and make them slightly harder – these are quite sticky and floppy…what ingredient controls the ‘hardness’, if you know what i mean? Could i add more of something to make them harder? I had a fair bit of waste though, around the edges of the shapes (which i will just keep for me!), i think i need smaller cutters 🙂 Thank you so much for this recipe! These ones are for Christmas, but I’m going to make them for all occasions xx
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I always have a lot of waste too Jane so I just take a knife and cut it into small pieces and save those for our family. Send the rest off as gifts 🙂 So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
t.rice says
I love this! I have a nephew with extreme allergies (even the slightest exposure to peanuts would send him into anaphactic shock & stop his breathing within minutes). It’s not easy to find treats for him. Thank you!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
This recipe is perfect for those with allergies! Enjoy!
Eileen says
Hi do you mix the jello powder with water first? And the unflavored geleton? Im not sure. I want to make tese but dont want to use too much water
Cori says
These are amazing!! I have been making them for a few years now and everybody loves them!! I have made Cherry, Raspberry, Lime, Grape, and Orange. The grape went over the best and Raspberry was a close 2nd!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
We just made raspberry and lime for Bryce’s Christmas party at school and they were a hit 🙂 Such a fun recipe! Thanks Cori!
Joelle says
These are so cute. I was wondering if you knew of a way to make them sour?
ammara says
how can we make apple sauce?
ammara says
or from where can I get apple sauce?
Amy Huntley@theidearoom.net says
I am going to have to try and make some of these yummy treats!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Amy! xoxo