Homemade Gumdrops or Agar-Agar Gumdrops are gelatin-free, orange flavored sugar-coated gumdrops. They are not only delicious but are fun to make as well. Check out this detailed recipe with step-by-step pictures.
Holidays are fun, and it is all about food and fun with families and friends. This Christmas try making these homemade gumdrops with your kids and make this holiday season a memorable one and of course a sweet one. Here is my third recipe under the “Christmas Candies” theme. If you missed the first two, then click the links below to check out those two recipes.
The Wait Time Making Homemade Gumdrops
When it comes to candies, there is always a wait time involved. Like the orange peel candy, there is a wait time of 48 hours in this recipe as well. The preparation process is straightforward. You need to mix the agar-agar, water, sugar, and simmer until the sugar dissolves and then add your favorite flavor. Then add in your favorite food color and allow to set them in the molds. Then need to roll them in the sugar and let the sugar to crystallize which usually takes about 48 to 72 hours. So plan accordingly.
The kiddo lost his patience towards the end. Every time during the sugar-coating process, he was gobbling a few candies. These gumdrops are hard to resist. I couldn’t photograph these as I planned. I had a different setup in mind, but the time was pressing; hence I went with this. Anyways without any further ado, here is the homemade gumdrops recipe.
Homemade Gumdrops or Agar-Agar Gumdrops Recipe
Ingredients:
- Water – ¾ cup
- Sugar – ⅓ cup
- Agar-Agar – ¾ tsp
- Green Food Color – ⅛ tsp
- Red Food Color – ⅛ tsp
- Sugar for coating – ½ cup
- Orange Essence – ¼ tsp
Steps:
- Mix the agar-agar, water, and sugar in a bowl.
- Now simmer this for 5 minutes and make sure you are stirring at regular intervals. The agar-agar tends to get deposited in the bottom. So stirring helps a lot.
- Now add the orange flavor and mix it thoroughly.
- Separate into three equal parts and add the required food color and mix it again.
- Pour into molds, or you can pour in any rimmed pan and refrigerate it.
- It should set in about 30 to 40 minutes. I usually let it sit for atleast 4 hours.
- Carefully remove the gumdrops from the molds. Just press them out from the bottom, and it should come out quickly.
- If you are not using the molds, then cut the gumdrops into desired shapes.
- Take the sugar for coating in a bowl and coat the gumdrops generously with sugar and place them on the rimmed pan lined with parchment paper.
- Let this sit for 24 hours. The sugar coated might look thin and runny, and it is normal.
- Coat them again and let it sit for another 24 hours. By now the sugar should have crystallized if not coat the gumdrops with sugar again and allow it to set. After the second coating, it should set within 8 hours.
- That’s it. Homemade gumdrops are ready. Store in an air-tight container
Notes:
- Depending upon the gel strength of the agar-agar adjust the amount. I went with the package instructions which mentioned ½ tsp of agar-agar for ½ cup of water. And I have linked the product that I used as well.
- I used raw sugar, and the crystals were comparatively more prominent than the regular ones. If you use the regular white ones, it won’t stick out like mine.
- The two days wait time is mandatory as sugar needs to crystallize.
- You can include flavors of your choice instead of orange.
- Adding food colors is optional.
- I used the molds for setting up the gumdrops. But you can pour it on a tray or rimmed pan and allow it set and cut it.
- You can ignore the sugar coating process and make them like a jello-drop. Check my rose jello recipe for the same.
📖 Recipe
Homemade Gumdrops | Agar-Agar Gumdrops
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Water
- ⅓ cup Sugar
- ¾ tsp Agar-Agar
- ⅛ tsp Green Food Color
- ⅛ tsp Red Food Color
- ½ cup Sugar for coating
- ¼ tsp Orange Essence
Instructions
- Mix the agar-agar, water, and sugar in a bowl.
- Now simmer this for 5 minutes and make sure you are stirring at regular intervals. The agar-agar tends to get deposited in the bottom. So stirring helps a lot.
- Now add the orange flavor and mix it thoroughly.
- Separate into three equal parts and add the required food color and remix it.
- Pour into molds, or you can pour in any rimmed pan and refrigerate it. It should set in about 30 to 40 minutes. I usually let it sit for atleast 4 hours.
- Carefully remove the gumdrops from the molds. Just press them out from the bottom, and it should come out quickly. If you are not using the molds, then cut the gumdrops into desired shapes.
- Take the sugar for coating in a bowl and coat the gumdrops generously with sugar and place them on the rimmed pan lined with parchment paper.
- Let this sit for 24 hours. The sugar coated might look thin and runny, and it is normal. Coat them again and let it sit for another 24 hours. By now the sugar should have crystallized if not coat the gumdrops with sugar again and allow it to set. After the second coating, it should set within 8 hours.
- That's it. Homemade gumdrops are ready. Store in an air-tight container
Notes
- Depending upon the gel strength of the agar-agar adjust the amount. I went with the package instructions which mentioned ½ tsp of agar-agar for ½ cup of water. I have linked the product that I used as well.
- I used raw sugar, and the crystals were comparatively more prominent than the regular ones. If you use the regular white ones, it won't stick out like mine.
- The two days wait time is mandatory as sugar needs to crystallize.
- You can include flavors of your choice instead of orange. Adding food colors is optional.
- I used the molds for setting up the gumdrops. But you can pour it on a tray or rimmed pan and allow it set and cut it.
- You can ignore the sugar coating process and make them like a jello-drop. Check my rose jello recipe for the same.
Nutrition
I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.
Sending this recipe for the BM 95. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM#95
P.S. Make sure to follow me on my Pinterest for more healthy and delicious ideas!
You will love these, too:
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- Easy Turmeric Milk | Golden Milk
- Masala Pori | Spicy Puffed Rice
- Zucchini Raita
Vidhya, this is so brilliant. My little one loves fruit snacks and this looks just like that. I am going to be making this for sure. I have agar agar and he will be so happy if he sees this.
:-) Thanks Sandhya. Please do try and let me know how they liked it.
my daughter will be so happy if I will make this for her. looking absolutely great and easy to make. bookmarking to try this, my kids will love these beauties.
Thanks. Please do try and let me know.
wow. They look super cute. Vibha would love these. She picks up some jujups everytime she visits india
:-) Thanks Veena
wow Srividhya, this is excellent, I never really looked into how these are made, so interesting and must make it sometime..
Thanks Valli. Please do make them. I am sure you will like them.
Wow.. one of mine childhood love.. love it.
:-) :-)
These vegetarian gum drops look so colourful and festive. My daughter has been asking me to make them. Trying now would be perfect.
Thanks Gayathri. Please do try and I am sure you daughter will love it.
These gelatin free gumdrops are absolutely fantastic They look colorful and cutely shaped. Looking exactly like store bought. Good one, Vidhya.
Thanks a lot Suma.
Homemade gumdrops is something I won’t mind giving to my kids!! these look so colorful and tempting!!
Thanks Swati.
I am sure the wait was all worth it. I agree that it is an activity which can be enjoyed along with the kids.
he he Thanks.
Omg,, those gumdrops looks super cute and very attractive, wish i get a box of those cuties, prefect for xmas Vidhya, you have got them prefectly with agar agar.
Thanks much Priya. I will send all those to you. :-)
They look so pretty.. As you said making these with kids would be sooper fun and an engaging activity :)
True Chitz.. Thanks much.
This is a fun activity to prepare these gumdrops with kids. It keeps them busy and also involve them in the preparation, specially filling and unmolding the molds.
Very true Usha. Thanks :-)