Gumdrops

[sunshine]

Gumdrops
Cut into shapes you like.

1 pkg Powdered fruit pectin (a 3/4 ounces)
3/4 cup Water
1/2 tsp Baking soda
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Light corn syrup
2 tsp Imitation Strawberry extract*
Red food coloring*
enough Granulated sugar to coat

Combine fruit pectin, water and baking soda in a medium-size pan. (Note, mixture will foam) Combine sugar and corn syrup in large saucepan. Place both saucepans over high heat.

Cook, stirring alternately until foam disappears from fruit pectin mixture and sugar mixture boils rapidly for 5 minutes. Pour fruit pectin mixture into boiling sugar mixture in a thin stream until all pectin is added. Boil, stirring constantly 1 minute longer.

Remove pan from heat. Stir in extract and a few drops of coloring. Immediately pour mixture into and 8x8x2 inch pan. For fancier shapes spoon mixture into tart or similar little pans. Allow to stand at room temperature (do NOT refrigerate) about 3 hours or until candy is cool and firm.

Cut gum drop mixture into fancy shapes with small cutters or into cubes with a knife dipped in warm water. Roll in granulated sugar.

* green ones substitute oil of anise for strawberry extract and greed food coloring for red. yellow ones substitute oil of lemon and yellow food coloring red ones substitute oil of clove for strawberry extract Makes about 1 1/4 pound.

[homesteadmamma]

Denise have you made these. Do they taste like the original gumdrops. Our family loves, loves gumdrops. I think I'm going to try this one.

[sunshine]

I made them a few times, some time ago-- they taste pretty close to store bought gum drops, but were more time consuming than I cared to do.