Homemade Valentine’s Day Gumdrops are made with applesauce and JELL-O – super easy and super yummy!
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I love making holiday-specific treats and we had so much fun making our Christmas Gumdrops that I knew we were going to make some for Valentine’s Day. I let the boys pick out the Jell-O and they chose raspberry and strawberry flavors. We made up two batches so we’d have plenty to enjoy at home and to hand out to friends. This recipe is so simple and is so much fun for the kids! I let Reece and Bryce go through out giant box of cookies cutters to pick out which ones they wanted to use.
Reece is the official “sugar boy” – he loves to dredge the gumdrops in the sugar.
We ended up with a lot of gumdrops! We even made some “X’s” and “O’s” – so fun!
These are going to be so fun packaging up and handing out this Valentine’s Day…
What other shapes would be fun for Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day Homemade Gum Drops
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups sugar divided
- 1 1/2 cups applesauce {I used natural no sugar added}
- 6 oz package of Jell-O
- 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin {.25 oz each}
- 1 tsp lemon juice {I used bottled}
Instructions
- Coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Place in refrigerator.
- Combine 2 cups sugar, applesauce, Jell-O, unflavored gelatin and lemon juice in a large saucepan. Let stand for 1 minute. Bring to a boil over medium heat stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute and then immediately pour into cold baking dish. Refrigerate until firm {about three hours should do it.}
- Loosen the sides of the gelatin with a spatula and invert onto cutting board or waxed paper that has been sprinkled with sugar. The sugar keeps it from sticking.
- Use small, sharp cookie cutters to cut out gumdrops.
- Sprinkle sugar over a piece of waxed paper and place gumdrops on top of sugar. Let dry for about 8 hours or until slightly sticky.
- Roll in remaining sugar and store in an airtight container.
Here are some more Valentine’s Day recipes and crafts to try out:
Bring on the “Bling” Valentine Ring
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For all dessert recipes, go HERE.
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Have a great day!
Jodi says
I’ve never done anything like this. Absolutely adorable!
Abby says
Wow – I’m so glad I found this recipe (and your blog!). I can’t wait to make these for my nephews party. Could I use a silpat instead of the cooking spray? Or would that not work? Also, how many ozs/grms are the gelatin envelopes? I’m not in the U.S. so mine are probably different.
Thanks!!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks for visiting Abby! The silpat wouldn’t work only because it needs to go up the sides of the dish. The plain gelatin envelopes are 1 oz each. Good luck!
Abby says
Thanks for the quick response – excited to make them. I’m thinking tomorrow 🙂
Marsha Scott says
I also have silicone candy molds that would work very well with this. I can see spooning the mixture into the shaped wells (after it cools down a bit of course), and don’t forget to set the candy molds on something solid to put them into the ‘fridge to set. Something like a 9X13 inch cookie sheet or something like that. I have a lot of differently shaped molds like tiny pineapples, tiny flip flops for summer, or even tiny baby booties or rattles for baby showers. We use them also for mints which would be good for your mint recipe.
Nancy says
Safety alert!!!!!!!!!!!! Please do not put a glass pan in the fridge and then put boiling hot anything in it.
I have seen glass pans explode.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
So true Nancy! You can let the mixture cool slight for a minute or so before pouring it in OR not refrigerate your dish if it’s glass.
Ruthie says
How adorable!! AND perfect for Valentines. I hope you’ll come by and share them at my Super Saturday Show & Tell party tomo… http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com xoxo~Ruthie
Dianne says
Thanks for this recipe. Now I can make this yummy treats for my gluten-free baby, and control what goes into her candy. Less sugar could be done, i think, and still work out OK. And using applesauce and Jello is great – who doesn’t have that on hand? Great job, great idea and great post!! Thanks a bunch!
Kaylee @ Couponing & Cooking says
Love how easy you made the recipe! I am having all kinds of visions of homemade gummies in my head!
Monica says
These are so cute, and they sound easy, but look impressive! Thanks for sharing!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
So pretty! I love the x’s and o’s!
Brooke says
I am so excited to try these! They look so fun and festive! I have three sugar boys at my house as well. They’ll LOVE these! Thanks so much for sharing! Have a great day!
Shannon Fox says
These are so cute, look super yummy and I just pinned them to death. Can’t believe how cute they are!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Shannon!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
I have had that recipe pinned for a while to try. Now I know I need to make some for my kiddos!!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
So fun and easy too Jocelyn!
KC @ The Real Thing with the Coake Family says
They look so cute and yummy!
KC
Jen Almond says
So fun! I pinned these to make later, like in an hour ;). Thanks so much!
Angie@Echoes of Laughter says
Beautiful ! They look so yummy! You did an amazing job…as always! Have a lovely weekend Trish! Angie xo
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
Trish I love these! I have been wanting to make homemade gumdrops for awhile now! these look perfect!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Sooo easy Aimee!
Nana M says
Just checking as I want to make these for my granddaughter today. Jello with sugar in it is 1.4 oz. Can I just just a box of sugar free using this another 1.4 oz. ?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You need 6 oz total of JELL-O. JELL-O comes in 3 oz and 6 oz boxes so you can use {2} 3 oz boxes or {1} 6 oz box. Then you also need {2} .25 oz packages of unflavored gelatin. Others have substituted the sugar-free JELL-O in and they came out great. Good luck!
Nana M says
I will prepare the jello in the am so my granddaughter and I can finish them together after school. She can give some to her family and take some to kindergarten Thursday. Thanks.