Star Spangled Gumdrops

These festive Star Spangled Gumdrops are the perfect patriotic treat for your 4th of July celebration! Made with just a handful of ingredients and bursting with fruity flavor, these homemade gumdrops are as fun to make as they are to eat. Customize the colors, cut into stars and enjoy a sweet, sparkly treat everyone will love! Perfect Memorial Day and Labor Day too!

Need more festive ideas for the 4th? Make sure to check out my 4th of July Charcuterie Board, 4th of July Mini Vanilla Cupcakes and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Flag Dip!

Red White and Blue Gumdrops

These Star Spangled Gumdrops are a festive, fun, and easy treat that’s perfect for celebrating the 4th of July – or any patriotic holiday! With bright colors, fruity flavors and just a handful of ingredients, these chewy homemade gumdrops are guaranteed to be a hit with both kids and adults.

Made with flavored JELLO, applesauce and a touch of lemon juice, these homemade gumdrops have a wonderfully soft and chewy texture and a sweet, nostalgic flavor. Cut them into fun shapes like these stars and coat them in sugar for a sparkly finish that makes any celebration feel extra special.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Skip the store-bought candy and make your own gumdrops at home! These fruity, chewy treats are fun to make and even more fun to eat! We love making these gumdrops for holidays and celebrations (our Christmas Gumdrops are a big fan favorite!) and the 4th of July is no exception. So much to love about this homemade candy recipe:

• Easy to Make – Just a few simple steps and common pantry ingredients quickly turn into homemade candy everyone will enjoy!
• Fun and Festive – These sweet little candies are perfect for parties, gift bags, or 4th of July dessert tables.
• Customizable – Love that you can use any flavor to achieve the color you want and use any shaped cutter to match your theme or event.

What You’ll Need

These Star Spangled Gumdrops are the perfect way to sweeten up your patriotic celebrations! Made with just a few simple ingredients, they’re fun to make, cut into stars, and roll in sugar for a sparkly finish.

Let’s take a quick look at what you’ll need and, as always, you can find the full printable recipe card at the end of this post.

• Granulated Sugar – Adds sweetness and helps with the candy’s structure and coating.
• Applesauce – Provides moisture and gives the gumdrops their soft, chewy texture.
• JELLO (Flavored Gelatin) – Adds flavor, color, and helps the gumdrops set properly.
• Unflavored Gelatin – Strengthens the texture to hold the shape when cut.
• Lemon Juice – Balances the sweetness and enhances the fruit flavors.

How To Make Star Spangled Gumdrops

These Star Spangled Gumdrops are made with sugar, applesauce, flavored JELLO, unflavored gelatin, and lemon juice. They’re cut into star shapes, coated in sugar, and make a festive treat for patriotic holidays like the 4th of July.

As always, you can find the full printable recipe with complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.

1. Prep your baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray. Chill metal pans ahead of time to speed up setting.
2. Combine sugar, applesauce, flavored JELLO, unflavored gelatin and lemon juice in saucepan.
3. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly, and pour into your prepared dish.
4. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight, until firm. (I used a small star-shaped cookie cutter for these.)
5. Cut into shapes using small cookie cutters dusted with sugar.
6. Dry gumdrops on wax or parchment paper sprinkled with sugar for several hours.
7. Roll in sugar and store in an airtight container.

So easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser, you can make these gumdrops into whatever shape and color you prefer. I used a small star-shaped cookie cutter for mine.

Storage Information

Once fully dried and coated in sugar, these gumdrops can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. They can be made a few days in advance. Freezing is not recommended, as it can affect the texture and cause them to become sticky.

Variations To Try

• Flavor Combos – Try green lime and yellow lemon JELLO for a citrus twist.
• Holiday Themes – Use heart-shaped cutters and red/pink JELLO for Valentine’s Day, or green and orange for Halloween.
• Sour Gumdrops – Add citric acid to the sugar coating for a tangy finish.

Can I use sweetened applesauce?

Yes, but it will result in a sweeter gumdrop. Stick with unsweetened if you prefer to control the sweetness.

What if I don’t have cookie cutters?

You can simply slice the gumdrops into squares or rectangles using a sharp knife.

Do I have to let them dry for 8 hours?

Drying helps firm them up and reduces stickiness. For best results, give them time to set fully.

Trish’s Tips

• Use a small cookie cutter to end up with lots of gumdrops. Take the time to get the the cut-outs as close to each other as possible for maximum production.
• Do NOT throw out the scraps. Just take a knife and cut them into smaller pieces, dredge in sugar, and then portion off into snack bags for treats for the kiddos. They LOVE this.
• Coat cookie cutters with sugar to prevent sticking when cutting shapes.
• If the gelatin doesn’t release easily from the pan, loosen the edges with a spatula and gently peel it out.
• Don’t skip the drying step – it’s key to getting that classic gumdrop texture!

More Festive 4th of July Treats

1. 4th of July Mini Vanilla Cupcakes
2. Red White and Blue Rice Krispies Treats Bark
3. No Bake Pull Apart Berry Cheesecake
4. Red, White and Blue Sparkler Cookies
5. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Flag Dip

Originally published May 20, 2014.