Gumdrop Squares

This is one of my mother's very old recipes for gumdrop squares. Vary the extracts and colors as you like. You can roll them in confectioners' sugar, too.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 71 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• ½ cup cold water
• 3 drops red food coloring
• ¼ teaspoon lemon extract
• ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
• ¾ cup water
• 3 drops yellow food coloring
• 3 drops green food coloring
• 2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
• ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon oil
• ¾ cup white sugar for decoration

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Sprinkle gelatin over cold water and set aside.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring 3/4 cup water to a boil. Stir in 2 cups sugar and boil 5 minutes. Stir in gelatin mixture. Allow to boil gently for 15 minutes.

Step 3

Dip three shallow, small pans in cold water, then remove. Remove boiling mixture from heat, and divide evenly among three heat-proof bowls. Flavor one bowl with peppermint, one with lemon, and one with cinnamon. Tint the peppermint green, the lemon yellow, and the cinnamon red. Pour each mixture into its own pan and let rest overnight to set.

Step 4

Turn gumdrops out onto a sugared board and cut into squares with a sharp knife. Roll cut gumdrops in sugar. Let stand until firm.