Looking to add something sweet, colorful, and full of joy to your 4th of July celebration? These Star Spangled Gumdrops are just what you need. Made with real fruit flavors, soft and chewy in texture, and cut into star shapes that sparkle with sugar, this easy homemade candy brings both fun and flavor to any patriotic gathering. Whether you’re hosting a backyard BBQ, preparing goodie bags for kids, or simply want to create a festive treat to share, these gumdrops are a beautiful way to show your spirit.
🍓 Why This Recipe Steals the Show
There’s something magical about homemade candy. It’s not just the flavor—it’s the process. These gumdrops take you back to childhood with their nostalgic chew and vibrant colors, but they also allow you to express your creativity.
You don’t need fancy tools or hard-to-find ingredients. Everything comes together using items most kitchens already have. With a little applesauce, JELLO, sugar, and love, you can turn a simple saucepan mixture into something dazzling.
🌈 Endless Reasons to Love This Recipe
✔ So easy, even beginners can make it
✔ Perfect for kids to help with
✔ Bursting with fruity flavor
✔ Customizable for any holiday or party
✔ Beautiful on dessert tables
✔ Great for edible gifts or favors
✔ Keeps well for days without refrigeration
🎉 What You’ll Need to Get Started
Before you dive in, gather these simple ingredients. One batch is for one color, so if you want to make both red and blue gumdrops, double the amounts accordingly.
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (divided)
• ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 package (3 oz) flavored JELLO (Cherry and Berry Blue are popular)
• 1 envelope (¼ oz) unflavored gelatin
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice (bottled is fine)
You’ll also need a small star-shaped cookie cutter, an 8-inch square baking dish, cooking spray, wax paper or parchment, and extra sugar for coating.
🍬 Step-by-Step: How to Make Homemade Gumdrops
1️⃣ Prepare Your Dish
Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. If you’re using a metal pan, chill it first for quicker setting.
2️⃣ Mix the Magic
In a medium saucepan, stir together 1 cup sugar, applesauce, flavored JELLO, unflavored gelatin, and lemon juice. Let it sit for one minute before cooking.
3️⃣ Heat It Up
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Let it boil for 1 full minute, then immediately pour into the prepared dish.
4️⃣ Chill Until Firm
Refrigerate the dish for at least 3 hours. Overnight works great if you want to prep ahead.
5️⃣ Cut into Stars
Once firm, dust a clean surface with sugar and loosen the gelatin from the pan. Flip it onto your work surface. Use a small cookie cutter to press out star shapes.
6️⃣ Dry for Texture
Place the stars on wax paper sprinkled with sugar and let them dry for about 8 hours. This reduces stickiness and gives them that classic gumdrop texture.
7️⃣ Final Touch
Roll the stars in sugar to create that irresistible sparkle. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
🍭 Tips for Success
✨ Use small cutters to get more gumdrops from each batch.
✨ Don’t toss the scraps! Chop them up, sugar them, and enjoy as snack bites.
✨ To avoid sticking, dust your cookie cutters with sugar before cutting.
✨ If the gelatin doesn’t release easily from the dish, gently slide a spatula around the edges.
🎨 Make It Your Own
These gumdrops are wonderfully versatile. Here are a few ways to switch things up:
💚 Flavor Combos – Try green lime and lemon yellow JELLO for a zesty twist.
💗 Holiday Themes – Heart shapes for Valentine’s Day. Trees for Christmas. Pumpkins for Halloween.
😋 Sour Lovers – Add a bit of citric acid to the sugar coating for that tangy finish.
🧃 Sweetened or Unsweetened Applesauce? – Either works. Sweetened will make the final result sweeter, so choose based on your preference.
🍱 Storage and Serving
These gumdrops can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. They’re best enjoyed within the first few days while their sparkle and chew are at their peak. They’re perfect for prepping ahead for parties and events.
🚫 Freezing isn’t recommended. It can alter the texture and make them too sticky.
🎁 Great for Gifting
Package your gumdrops in small cellophane bags tied with a ribbon for easy, adorable gift giving. They’re a hit at school events, parades, holiday parties, and neighborhood potlucks.
💡 No Cookie Cutters? No Problem.
If you don’t have any fun-shaped cutters on hand, simply cut the set mixture into small cubes or rectangles using a sharp knife. The candy still looks fantastic, especially when rolled in sugar.
❤️ The Joy of Making Something By Hand
There’s a quiet kind of joy in making candy at home. You stir, you wait, you cut, you sugar. It’s a process that slows time and sparks creativity. And when you serve these star-spangled treats to your guests, it’s not just sugar they taste—it’s the warmth of something made with your own two hands.
Whether you’re making them for the kids or for the kid in you, these gumdrops will bring smiles to everyone who tries them. They’re soft, colorful, full of flavor, and bursting with the kind of joy that only homemade treats can offer.
🎇 Your Celebration Just Got Sweeter
These Star Spangled Gumdrops aren’t just candy—they’re a celebration in every bite. Perfectly chewy, sweetly nostalgic, and endlessly customizable, they’re a delightful way to bring sparkle and sweetness to your holiday spread.
So grab your saucepan, your cookie cutter, and your favorite flavors, and get ready to create something truly special. From the first bite to the last sparkle of sugar, these gumdrops are guaranteed to be remembered long after the fireworks fade.
🍒 Red, white, and blue never tasted so good.
