February 15 — National Gumdrop Day

Feb 15th is National Gumdrop Day. Gumdrops are a type of confectionery or candy. They are usually brightly-colored gelatin- or pectin-based pieces and coated in sugar. The history of gumdrops is a bit sketchy, but they are a very popular type of candy!

Try making your own gumdrops today:

• Vegetable oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1 package (1-3/4 ounces) powdered fruit pectin
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 drops red food coloring, if desired
• Sugar

Line a loaf pan, 9×5×3 inches, with aluminum foil. Brush with oil. Heat 1 C sugar and the corn syrup to boiling in 1-1/2 quart saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Cook, without stirring, to 280 degrees F. on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water separates into hard but not brittle threads.

While cooking sugar mixture, heat orange juice, pectin and baking soda to boiling. The mixture will be foamy. Reduce heat.

Slowly pour the hot mixture in a thin stream the into orange juice mixture, stirring constantly (this should take 1 to 2 minutes); remove from heat. Stir in food color. Let stand 2 minutes. Skim off the foam.

Pour the gumdrop mixture into pan. Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature 24 hours. Lift foil from pan and remove foil from sides. Cut into 3/4-inch squares with knife dipped into sugar. Roll squares in sugar. Let stand uncovered at room temperature 1 hour. Store gumdrops in airtight container. About 72 gumdrops. 28 calories per gumdrop.

Note: To make different flavors, substitute flavors of juice.

Or how about making something with gumdrops. These penguin gumdrops are very fun.

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