You know what’s a good follow-up for the chocolates of Valentine’s Day? The gumdrops of National Gumdrop Day! It looks like this simple candy deserves a day like February 15th, too. People don’t even know who invented these treats–although some believe a man by the name of Percy Trusdale invented the candy confection in 1801. It’s hard to say if this is true or not, but no matter; the gumdrop is here and it’s one of the most popular candies in the world. And you can celebrate by whipping up a batch of the chewy goodness in your own kitchen. This recipe from Tasteofhome.com is easy to make and tastes even better than any gumdrop bought in stores. Be warned, you may want to make a double batch because these candies will disappear fast!
Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups sugar, divided
- 1-1/3 cups applesauce
- 2 packages (3 ounces each) red or green gelatin
- 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Directions
- In a large saucepan, combine 2 cups sugar, applesauce, red or green gelatin, unflavored gelatin and lemon juice; let stand for 1 minute. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Immediately pour into a cold 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until firm.
- With a spatula, loosen gelatin from sides of pan. To remove, invert onto waxed paper. Using kitchen scissors or small sharp cookie cutters dipped on hot water, cut into 1-in. squares or shapes.
- Place on waxed paper. Dry at room temperature for about 8 hours or until slightly sticky. Roll in remaining sugar. Store in an airtight container.
If red or green gelatin isn’t your thing, you can use other flavors. This recipe yields about 1 ¾ pounds of gumdrops. Happy National Gumdrop Day!
