Homemade Gumdrops

Sugary, sweet and fun to eat, celebrate any occasion with colorful, homemade gumdrops. Easily customizable with different colors and flavors, these treats are one-of-a-kind and perfect for gifts, party favors or just plain satisfying sweet tooth cravings.

Homemade Gumdrops Yields 50-60 candies Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Set time: 24 hours, plus 2 days for crystallization

INGREDIENTS

Cooking spray

Baking sheet

4 silicone candy molds or ice cube trays*

4 tablespoons gelatin (4 1/4-ounce packets)
1 cup cold water
1 1/2 cups boiling water

4 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon flavored extracts**
3-4 drops food coloring

Small bowls for coloring and flavoring
Sugar for coating

*Tip: No candy molds? Use shallow baking pans sprayed well with cooking spray. After the candy sets overnight in the fridge, spray a knife with cooking spray, and cut the mixture into squares.

**Tip: Purchase a variety of extracts from the baking section of your local crafts or grocery store and experiment. Start with 1/4 teaspoon, taste test, then adjust accordingly.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large pot, add the gelatin to cold water, and let it sit for five minutes while bringing 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil.
2. Set the candy molds on a baking sheet and spray liberally with cooking spray.
3. Stir the boiling water into the gelatin until it dissolves, then slowly stir in the sugar.
4. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for 25 minutes, stirring constantly. It’s normal for the mixture to bubble and froth when you stir it.
5. Ladle the mixture into four small bowls, and stir the food coloring and flavor extracts into each.
6. Slowly pour the different colors into the different compartments of the silicone molds.
7. Set the baking sheet in the refrigerator and chill overnight.
8. Gently pull the candies out of the molds, then roll them in sugar until fully coated.*
9. Set them on a wax paper-lined baking sheet for two days so they can crystallize.

*Tip: When pulling the candies from the mold, they will be gummy, but gently continue to pull them out quickly. The candy will retain its shape after it settles.