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It’s a good thing yesterday was Valentines. I would like to let you know February 15 National Gumdrop Day #nationalgumdropday which means people need to go shopping and pick up some Gumdrops to share with there friends and family. I will share a secret with you about me and that is I can’t stand Gumdrops and neither can Charlie. How about you do you like Gumdrops and do you plan on celebrating the Holiday?
I remember as a child my grandparents always had candy dishes set out in different spaces in there home which you would think would be a child’s dream. But it wasn’t when the bowls contained Jelly Beans or Gumdrops nothing my sister, brother or I liked. If you visit my home I have a candy dish but there isn’t any Gumdrops or Jellybeans we have all types of Chocolate Candy Bars I bet you would enjoy.
Most Americans love their candy and several days have been set aside to celebrate specific candies like National Gumdrop Day, Gumdrops are unique because they are not only fun to eat but Gumdrops also make great decorations. People have crafted with Gumdrops for years and because they come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors, Gumdrops create unique art pieces.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL GUMDROP DAY
Gumdrops, are one of America’s most beloved sweets. Gumdrops are a chewy, Gelatin candy, flavored with fruit or spices. In their most traditional form, Gumdrops are Sugar-coated and shaped like a small dome or ‘drop.’ Gumdrops have evolved, and you can now find Gumdrops with smooth coatings and in tons of fun shapes and sizes.
Debates abound as to the history of Gumdrops but some people credit Percy Trusdale as the inventor of Gumdrops in 1801. The term ‘Gumdrop’ was first seen in an Illinois newspaper mentioning a local candy shop owner, George Julier, in the 1850s. The National Confectioners Association lists National Gumdrop Day as one of the many candy-focused holidays we can celebrate.
With the popular trend of gourmet candies hitting the market, you can now find Gumdrops beyond the traditional Orange, Cherry, Grape, and Lemon flavors. Whole Foods offers rather large Gumdrops (1 inch tall x 1 inch wide) in exotic flavors including Key Lime, Tangerine, Grapefruit, and Pomegranate.
The classic Gumdrop paved the way for what we know today as Gummy candies in general. Gumdrops, if kept in an unopened package and stored in a cool place, will last for up to 12 months. If you choose to use Gumdrops for crafting, they will, , become hard but that’s ok, as long as you don’t try to eat.
WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL GUMDROP DAY
- Homemade Gumdrops are simple to make and taste better than store-bought ones. If you plan on making Gumdrops purchase a few inexpensive molds to create fun shaped Gumdrops and get the family to make Gumdrops with you.
- Using Gumdrops and toothpicks, test your engineering skills by building structures; make it a contest with your kids or friends to see who can build the tallest structure which can be done in your Homeschool Science Class and if you keep track of how many Gumdrops you use then it can also be a Math Class.
FACTS ABOUT GUMMY CANDIES
- The largest Gummy candy of any shape was made in 2014 in Germany; it weighed 1,128 pounds and 12 ounces, and took six days to set during refrigeration.
- Cherry is the most popular Gumdrop flavor followed by Grape, Orange, and Lemon.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL GUMDROP DAY
- The average American eats 22 pounds of candy each year.
- Gumdrops are a go-to food when it comes to crafts so it’s totally acceptable to play with gumdrops as you create Gingerbread Houses or use them in Science projects.
Ingredients
3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more for coating
One 3-ounce package cherry-flavored gelatin
Granulated red sugar, for coating
Coarse white sugar, for coating Get Ingredients
Special equipment:
- 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
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David cates
