Easy Gumdrop Whirligigs Recipes

EASY GUMDROP COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, mix cookie mix, flour, softened butter and egg with spoon until soft dough forms. Stir in 1/2 cup of the quartered gumdrops.
• Shape dough into 40 (1 1/4-inch) balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased large cookie sheets; flatten each ball to 1 1/2-inch circle. On each dough round, sprinkle sugar and place 3 quartered gumdrops.
• Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are set and light brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 20 minutes. Store covered in airtight container.

BERRY WHIRLIGIG

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt and cinnamon. Stir in water until smooth. Cook until mixture boils and thickens. Stir in berries; cook over low heat for 5 minutes. , Pour into a greased 9- or 10-in. cast-iron skillet or 8-in. square baking pan; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening until coarse crumbs form. , In a small bowl, mix egg and milk. Add to flour mixture; stir until mixture forms a soft ball. Knead several minutes. Roll into a 12x8-in. rectangle. Spread with butter. Combine sugar, zest and cinnamon; sprinkle over dough. , Starting at a long end, roll up; seal edges. Cut into 9 slices. Place slices over berry mixture. Bake at 400° until golden brown, 22-25 minutes.

CHRISTMAS NOUGAT

Steps:

• Prepare either a 9x13 baking pan for a thinner layer of nougat or an 8x8 baking pan for taller nougat squares. Line your baking pan with parchment paper.
• For either method, microwave or stovetop, it is best to melt the white chocolate with the butter before adding marshmallows.
• Microwave: In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the white chocolate chips and butter. Microwave for 1 minute on high, then stir. Continue heating in 30-second increments and stirring between each heating. Repeat until the milk chocolate is melted. Add the marshmallows and heat in 30-second increments, stirring each time until you can fully combine the marshmallows and melted white chocolate.
• Stovetop (Double Boiler): Use a large glass mixing bowl that will safely set atop your saucepan. Combine the white chocolate chips and butter. Bring a saucepan with about an inch of water to a low boil and place the bowl with the butter and white chocolate chips on top of the saucepan. Heat the white chocolate chips until fully melted. Add the marshmallows in 2-3 portions so that it melts easier with this method. Stir the marshmallows and cook until fully melted before adding the next portion of marshmallows. Continue until fully combined then remove from heat.
• Set the bowl with the nougat base aside for 2-3 minutes to cool before adding the gumdrops. *You can cut the gumdrops into smaller chunks if desired.
• Add the gumdrops and fold them into the nougat, then transfer it into your prepared baking pan. Use a lightly greased sheet of parchment paper or spatula to spread the nougat to the pan corners in an even layer.
• Transfer the nougat to your refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight to fully setup.

EASY GUMDROP WHIRLIGIGS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 F. Remove half of cookie dough from wrapper; refrigerate remaining dough until needed. On lightly floured surface with rolling pin, roll half of dough into 9-inch square (make edges square with side of ruler). Cut into 9 (3-inch) squares; place on ungreased large cookie sheet.
• With sharp knife or fluted pastry wheel, cut each square from each corner almost to center, leaving about 1 inch uncut in center. Place wooden stick on each square with one end in center. Fold alternate corners of square over, pressing in center. Place gumdrop half in center to resemble button. Sprinkle whirligigs with red and/or green sugar. Repeat with remaining half of dough.
• Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet and place on wire racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.

QUICK & EASY GUMDROPS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup water; let stand 5 minutes. In a small saucepan, bring sugar and remaining water to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Add gelatin; reduce heat. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in extract and food coloring as desired., Pour into a greased 8-in. square pan. Refrigerate, covered, 3 hours or until firm., Loosen edges of candy from pan with a knife; turn onto a sugared work surface. Cut into 1-in squares; roll in sugar. Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature until all sides are dry, turning every hour, 3-4 hours. Store between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

HOMEMADE GUMDROPS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine 2 cups sugar, applesauce, red or green gelatin, unflavored gelatin and lemon juice; let stand for 1 minute. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Immediately pour into a cold 11x7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until firm., With a spatula, loosen gelatin from sides of pan. To remove, invert onto waxed paper. Using kitchen scissors or small sharp cookie cutters dipped on hot water, cut into 1-in. squares or shapes. , Place on waxed paper. Dry at room temperature for about 8 hours or until slightly sticky. Roll in remaining sugar. Store in an airtight container.

HOMEMADE GUMDROPS

Steps:

• Sprinkle the unflavored gelatin over 1/2 cup water to soften; set aside.
• Put the granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the cherry-flavored gelatin to the pan, followed by the softened unflavored gelatin. Stir and remove from the heat. Continue stirring until the gelatins are dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Strain into a measuring cup and let cool for 5 minutes; it will be warm but not yet set. Pour the liquid into the molds. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Remove the gumdrops from the molds and place onto wax paper. Coat some in granulated red sugar, some in granulated white sugar and some in coarse white sugar; return to the wax paper. Store in a cool dry place until ready to eat.

CHRISTMAS NOUGAT CANDY WITH GUMDROPS

Steps:

• Set aside about 10 red and 10 green quartered gumdrops.
• Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
• In either a double boiler OR a large stock pan, add butter, chocolate chips and marshmallows and heat over low to medium low heat, stirring constantly until mixture is completely melted. This process can take about 10-12 minutes and must be done slowly and while stirring.
• Remove chocolate from stove heat and cool for 2 minutes.
• Fold 1 cup quartered gum drops into the mixture with a spatula.
• Spread mixture into a prepared pan. The marshmallow is sticky, so I place a sandwich bag greased with cooking spray on my hand and use that to press candy into the pan (see article for image example).
• Add 1/2 cup reserved gumdrops to the top of the nougat and gently press into the surface of the candy.
• Refrigerate Christmas Nougat overnight to set. Remove from refrigerator, remove from pan and discard the parchment paper.
• Use a sharp knife to cut into 30 squares. Serve gumdrp candy immediately or refrigerate, covered until ready to serve.

HOMEMADE GUMDROPS

Steps:

• Lightly spray candy molds or miniature muffin cups with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, sprinkle gelatin on 1/2 cup cold water; set aside.
• In small saucepan, heat 3/4 cup water and 2 cups sugar to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes until sugar is dissolved and mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat; carefully add to gelatin mixture, stirring until gelatin is dissolved.
• Divide mixture into 4 small bowls (or more, depending on how many colors/flavors you want). Tint each bowl with 4 to 5 drops food color, then stir in 1/2 teaspoon extract. Carefully spoon mixture into molds. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight until set.
• Carefully remove gumdrops from molds, using a butter knife as needed to coax gumdrops from molds. Roll gumdrops in sugar; place on waxed paper. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours to crystallize slightly. Store tightly covered at room temperature.