December 1, 2021

Christmas gumdrop nougat candy

Bowl of Christmas gum drop nougat candy cut into squares.

This old-fashioned Christmas gumdrop nougat candy is a delicious and festive holiday treat. This candy is full of red and green Christmas spice gumdrops and perfect for gift giving.

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The holiday season is upon us and this time of year I love to make all sorts of festive treats. I usually make a lot of cookies, but I also like to make Christmas candy and fudge on occasion. 

This candy feels very nostalgic to me because it contains Christmas gumdrops. Gumdrops were something that I always saw at my grandparent's homes or other older relatives as a kid, and I feel like I don't see them as much anymore.

Christmas gum drop nougat candy mixture spread into a baking dish.

These red and green gumdrops are hot cinnamon and spearmint flavored. You can find them in other flavors as well, but I like the cinnamon and spearmint (or wintergreen) for Christmas. I purchased them in the bulk section of a larger grocery store. 

The ones I used here had sugar on the outside. But if you find ones without a sugar coating, those work fine as well. You want the small gumdrops, not very large ones.

I like the red and green color of these gumdrops and having only the two flavors (versus the gumdrops that have purple, black, and other colors and flavors as well). They are called spice gumdrops or spice drops, or they are sometimes labeled as jelly drops.

This candy is incredibly sticky to make. It takes a while to melt down and it is thick to stir. You need a large pot and metal bowl, or a large double boiler to melt the butter, white chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows. 

Hardened candy mixture cut into 6 long pieces.

You need to stir it constantly so it doesn't burn and have some patience with the thick and sticky nougat base. Once it all melts and comes together, you let it cool slightly, stir in the gumdrops, and then spread into an 8" x 8" parchment lined baking dish.

Then the candy needs to refrigerate for several hours (overnight is best) to set. Once it is set, use a sharp knife to cut into in small squares. 

I cut mine into 48 pieces. You can do them smaller or larger is you prefer, but I find smaller is better as they are quite sweet. 

You can trim off the edges if you prefer so that they are all squared up and smooth (the edges were all eaten by myself and my family for this batch).

Side view of the pieces showing the red and green gum drops.

When cold, the candy will be very sticky and difficult to chew. Let it come to room temperature before serving so that it softens up a bit. 

You can also freeze this candy, making it a terrific make-ahead holiday treat. Cut and then freeze them in a freezer safe container. 

To do so, simply line the bottom of the freezer safe container with parchment paper. Then place the cut candy so that they aren't touching on top. If needed, add another layer of parchment on top of the first candy layer, and add another layer of candy to freeze. 

Close up view of a piece of Christmas gum drop nougat candy.

When making anything that requires melting white chocolate, make sure you are using a high quality chocolate. I always use Ghirardelli white chocolate chips because they melt smoothly and don't turn grainy which can happen sometimes.  

This recipe uses mini marshmallows as well. These will melt faster and more easily than regular sized marshmallows. 

Christmas gum drop nougat candy with a bite out of it.

Add these festive and old-fashioned Christmas gumdrop nougat candies to your holiday dessert or gift giving list this year! The white, red, and green colors make it a perfect addition to your Christmas celebrations.

Check out all the other holiday candy recipes from some blogger friends at the bottom of this post. 

Yield: about 48 pieces
Author: Amy (Savory Moments)
Christmas Gum Drop Nougat Candy

Christmas Gumdrop Nougat Candy

This old-fashioned Christmas gumdrop nougat candy is a delicious and festive holiday treat. This candy is full of red and green Christmas gumdrops and perfect for gift giving.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 bags (11 oz. each) white chocolate chips
  • 2 bags (10 oz. each) mini marshmallows
  • 1-1/2 cups halved red and green Christmas gumdrops

Instructions

  1. Line an 8" x 8" baking dish with parchment paper.
  2. In a large double boiler, melt the butter and then stir in the chocolate chips one bag at a time. Stir constantly.
  3. One the chocolate is almost melted, stir in the mini marshmallows one bag at a time. Keep stirring and stirring until they melt. It will be thick and sticky.
  4. Remove the bowl from the heat and let cool for about 3-4 minutes. Then slowly stir in the gumdrops.
  5. Spread into the baking dish and then use a piece of parchment paper to push it down and spread the mixture evenly in the dish.
  6. Let cool and then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
  7. Cut with a sharp knife into 48 pieces, or whatever amount is preferable to you.
  8. Store in a covered container in the fridge and let come to room temperature before serving.

Notes:

If you do not have a double boiler, use a metal bowl and a metal pot to create one. Make sure your bowl fits snugly into the pot without touching the bottom. Put an inch or so of water in the bottom of the pot and then the bowl on top.

Did you make this recipe?
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I hope you give this old-fashioned Christmas gumdrop nougat candy a try! Let me know in the comments below.

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Collage of Christmas gum drop nougat candy in a bowl, in a hand, and on a cutting board.

Check out these other holiday treat recipes:

Sugar Plums

Eggnog Truffles

White Chocolate Eggnog Fudge

Sweet & Spiced Glazed Mixed Nuts 

Welcome to #CandyFudgeFavorites Day hosted by Jennifer from Take Two Tapas! It's the holidays and we are celebrating the holiday tradition of making candy and fudge!

Join me and my fellow bloggers as we share our favorite holiday candy and fudge recipes today. I know you will see some old favorites and I hope you find some new ones!

15 comments:

  1. They are so gorgeous and festive! Wish I could taste one now. Good job, Amy.

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  2. Wow, so pretty! Really neat recipe -- thanks so much.

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  3. This looks so festive and sounds easy to make! Yum!

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  4. Oh like you, my Grandmother always had cinnamon and spearmint gum drops during the holidays, I am making these!

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  5. So fun and festive! These candies look like stained glass and will be so pretty on my goodie trays this year!

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  6. I grew up eating this fudge but hadn't ever made it. Your recipe made it easy and they're perfect for my holiday cookie platters.

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  7. I'm sad that no one really eats gum drops anymore! I do and I buy extra bags every holiday season! This candy is a new twist on a classic!

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  8. The red and green gumdrops are perfect in this!

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  9. My mother used to make this candy and I absolutely loved it. Wish I could handle the calories because I sure would love to make this during holidays. Thanks for sharing. It brought back some nice memories.

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  10. Very festive and this is fun! Love it!

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  11. Can you use spiced red and green gum drops

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    Replies
    1. Yes, that is what the recipe uses.

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    2. Thank you my 92 yr old mother loves gum drop nougat candy, x-mas could not come fast enough for her. I lost my recipe from last yr and this yr we had to put her in the nursing home. Holiday candies and cookies triggers her memory that it must be Christmas time.

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    3. I hope that this recipe is like what she loves and remembers. Merry Christmas!

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