Gumdrop Cookies

Gumdrop cookies are always the first to go from the cookie platter. They’re soft and tender on the inside and crisp on the outside, with a fun, chewy gumdrop surprise in every bite. They’re easy to customize to match any celebration. Try using red, white and pink gumdrops for Valentine’s Day, black and orange for Halloween, green and red for Christmas cookie platters or just green for St. Patrick’s Day.

A dash of almond extract gives these cookies their signature nutty character, but you can easily swap in another type of extract, like vanilla or lemon extract. The gumdrops themselves also affect the cookie’s final flavor. Use fruit-flavored gumdrops to add sweetness, or spiced gumdrops for a sweet-and-spicy profile.

 Gumdrop Cookies Ingredients

• Shortening
• Sugar
• Almond extract
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Gumdrops
• Egg whites

Directions

Step 1: Cream the shortening and sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cream the shortening and 3/4 cup of the sugar until light and fluffy, five to seven minutes. Beat in the almond extract.

Step 2: Prep the dry ingredients

In another bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, and mix well. Stir in the gumdrops.

Step 3: Whip the egg whites

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the dough.

Step 4: Bake the cookies

Drop the dough by level tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool for one minute before removing the cookies from the pans to wire racks to cool completely.

How to Store Gumdrop Cookies

Once cooled, store gumdrop cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also wrap the cookies and freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to three months. Thaw them on the counter before serving.

Gumdrop Cookies Tips

What type of gumdrops should you use to make gumdrop cookies?

You can use any type of gumdrops to make gumdrop cookies, including homemade gumdrops. Fruit-flavored gumdrops add sweetness to the cookies, while spiced gumdrops add peppermint or warming spice flavor. You could also use chopped fruit slice candies in place of the gumdrops.

What else can you add to gumdrop cookies?

If you want to add extra sweetness to your gumdrop cookies, toss the gumdrops in sugar before adding them to the dough. Or, if you use spiced gumdrops, add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough to enhance the spicy flavor.

How do you prevent chopped gumdrops from sticking together?

To prevent the chopped gumdrops from sticking together, sprinkle the cut ends with a bit of flour or granulated sugar. Otherwise, the gumdrops can clump together in the dough and bake into a sticky mess.