Today we pay homage to a favorite candy of many, the gumdrop❗
According to nationaldaycalendar.com, credit goes to "chemist and candy manufacturer Percy S. Truesdell. According to articles written after his death in 1948, Truesdell took the once hard, poorly flavored glob of sugar and turned it into the smooth, chewy delight we enjoy today. While at the University of Ohio, the chemist altered the consistency of the candy by experimenting with the amount of starch used. He later worked for the Snyder-Chafee Company until 1915. In 1916, Truesdell founded and incorporated the P.S. Truesdell Candy Manufacturing Company. At his death, he became known as the Gumdrop King."
In honor of today, here's a few ways you can pay homage:
📍Eat some gumdrops.
📍Play a game of Candy Land (the game features both a Gumdrop Pass and a Gumdrop Mountain)
📍Listen to The Crew Cuts sing their song "Gum Drop". (https://youtu.be/8wsbrd_3WjI)
📍Make some homemade gumdrops using this recipe: 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗚𝗨𝗠𝗗𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗦
𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
9 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cup water divided
2 ¼ cups water divided
4 1/2 cups sugar divided
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
½ teaspoon mint extract
Few drops cinnamon oil
Red food coloring
Green food coloring
Additional sugar for coating
𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
This recipe makes 3 different colors and flavors of these gumdrops so the steps will be repeated 3 times.
Grease 3 8×8 square pans.
Get 3 small bowls and add ½ cup cold water to each bowl.
Sprinkle 3 envelopes of gelatin over each bowl of water.
Meanwhile in a small saucepan bring ¾ cup of water and 1 ½ cups of sugar to a boil over medium heat stirring constantly.
Add one bowl of gelatin, reduce heat, stir and simmer for 5 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 2 drops cinnamon oil and a couple drops of red food coloring.
Pour this mix into one of the 8×8 pans.
Repeat steps 5-8 again, this time using the green food coloring and mint extract.
Repeat steps 5-8 again this time with no food coloring and the peppermint extract.
Refrigerate all three pans for 3 hours.
After 3 hours run a knife along the edges of each pan and cut into 4 pieces.
Using a spatula lift each square out and place on a piece of parchment paper.
Using a knife cut each piece of candy into little squares.
Let the gumdrop squares sit at room temperature overnight.
When ready pour about 2 cups of sugar into a baking dish or bowl and place the gumdrops squares in.
Toss them around to coat with sugar and place back on parchment paper.
Serve!
8" Square pan with Lid #100668
Don't have this item on hand, don't panic. Pick it up here⬇️
ACTION STEP: Whip up a pan of these sweet treats today and let me know in the comments how they turned out or kick your kitchen up a notch by booking your cooking show here:
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