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Gumdrop Brains - Creepy Halloween Candy
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 
Gumdrops made in the shape of brains with red food coloring "blood" inside
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: gumdrop brains, gummy candy, homeade gummy brains
Servings: 16
Author: Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Ingredients
  • butter to grease pan and brain mold
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1 1.75 ounce package original powdered fruit pectin (not low or no sugar pectin)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 -1/2 teaspoon flavored oil I used LorAnn Sour Apple oil
  • granulated sugar to coat gumdrops
  • red liquid food coloring
  • NOTE: You want pectin that is white or clear looking. I used Sure-Jell for this recipe. Ball pectin has a brown hue to it so I don't suggest it for this project.
Supplies:
  • 2 Fred and Friends Brain Freeze Molds with 8 brain cavities
  • optional food handling glove to help with greasing your molds
  • 1 1/2 or 2 quart saucepan preferably a good quality stainless steel pan
  • 2 or 3 quart saucepan
  • candy thermometer
  • glass bowl with spout or a glass mixing bowl
  • skewer or toothpick
Instructions
  1. Butter your brain molds before you make your batch of gumdrops.

  2. Pour corn syrup and sugar into a buttered 3-quart saucepan set over medium-high heat.

  3. Cook until a candy thermometer reaches 280 degrees Fahrenheit.

  4. Meanwhile, in another saucepan bring water, pectin, and baking soda to a boil, stirring constantly.

  5. Once the sugar syrup reaches 280 degrees, pour in the pectin syrup. Stir constantly for one minute then remove it from the heat.

  6. Stir in the flavoring.

  7. As soon as your gumdrop mixture is ready, pour it into a glass bowl, preferably with a spout.

  8. Pour the gumdrop mixture into your brain molds, filling them 3/4 full.

  9. Immediately, poke a hole in each brain using a skewer or toothpick that has been dipped in red food coloring.
  10. Swirl the skewer around a bit, spreading the red coloring around inside the brains.
  11. Allow the gumdrops to cool for 1 hour then pop the molds into the freezer for an hour.
  12. Remove, and un-mold the brains onto some sugar.
  13. Coat all the gumdrop brains in sugar.
  14. Store in an airtight container for up to a month.