Would you like to try your hand at making homemade gum drops? With just a few ingredients you can make delicious, customized candies with a texture and taste reminiscent of the old gum drops sold at 15-cent convenience stores. The following article describes an easy way to make your own gum drops.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons plain gelatin (about 3 packs)
- 120 ml of cold water, plus 180 ml of boiling water
- 450 grams of sugar
- Food coloring in different colors
- Food flavor extract
- More sugar
- Fresh cooking spray
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparing Gelatin
Step 1. Prepare the pan
To make square gum drops like sugar cubes, you can use a 23 x 13 cm bread pan. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with unsalted cooking spray, or apply a thin layer of grapeseed or peanut oil to prevent the candy from sticking to the pan. If you are making more than one flavor of gum drop, prepare several small pans in the same way.
- This recipe can also use other types of baking sheets, the only difference being the thickness of the finished candy. Use a wider pan for thinner gum drops.
- You can also use small molds to make gum drops in a variety of shapes.
Step 2. Dilute the gelatin
Place the gelatin in a saucepan with 120 ml of cold water. Stir with a spoon, then let it rest and let it become watery while you prepare the other ingredients.
Step 3. Make a sugar syrup solution
Bring 180 ml of water to a boil in a separate saucepan. After the water boils, add 450 grams of sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
Step 4. Combine the syrup with the gelatin
Pour the hot sugar syrup into a saucepan of gelatin. Place the pan over medium heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring constantly.
Method 2 of 3: Making Assorted Gum Drops
Step 1. Divide the gelatin mixture
Pour equal amounts of gelatin into separate bowls. Use one bowl for each flavor/color combination you make.
Step 2. Add food coloring and flavouring
Each bowl requires only about 4 drops of food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon or less of food flavoring. Pour little by little until the liquid meets the taste you want. The following combinations make for the best gum drops; Choose from several of them, or create your own combination of flavors and colors.
- Cherry food flavoring with red food coloring.
- Lime food flavoring with green food coloring.
- Licorice flavoring with purple food coloring.
- Raspberry food flavoring with blue food coloring.
- Peach food flavoring with orange food coloring.
Step 3. Pour the flavored gelatin into the prepared pan or mold
Each color must be placed in a different print. Place the pans in the refrigerator to chill overnight.
- To make gum drops in layers, with a different color and taste in each layer, chill one layer at a time. When the first layer has hardened, after a few hours, pour the second layer on top and put it back in the fridge.
- Do not try to cut the gum drops until they have cooled completely and hardened.
Method 3 of 3: Finishing the Making of Gum Drops
Step 1. Remove the aluminum foil from the pan or mould
Grab the edges of the aluminum foil and pull up to remove all the candy coating from each pan. Place the aluminum on a hard, flat surface, such as a cutting board.
Step 2. Cut the gum drops
Use a sharp knife, lightly coating with oil if necessary, to cut the candy into cubes. You can make uniform dice or cut the gum drops into cute shapes.
- Try using a pizza cutter to speed up this step.
- Use small cookie cutters to make fun and festive gum drop shapes. You need to coat it with oil first so the candy doesn't stick.
Step 3. Roll the dice in the sugar
Pour the sugar into a bowl and roll the dice in it, one at a time, until they are completely coated in sugar. Set aside the sugar-coated dice on a piece of waxed paper for curing. Leave the candies for 2 days at room temperature. The finished gum drops will be crunchy with sugar on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside.
Tips
- Store gumdrops in a tightly closed container at room temperature
- No food coloring is required in this recipe.
Warning
- Watch the dough very carefully; Candy dough scorches very easily.
- Don't let children near you when you make gumdrops, because accidents are bound to happen.
