Christmas Jelly Candy
Bring holiday cheer to your kitchen with this festive Christmas Jelly Candy recipe! Bursting with fruity flavors and customizable with apple, cranberry, or orange juice, these chewy, jewel-toned treats are perfect for gifting or sharing at holiday gatherings. Made with a simple blend of granulated sugar, unflavored gelatin, and light corn syrup, these candies come alive with optional red and green food coloring for a classic Christmas look. Shaped into stars, trees, or snowflakes, and dusted in powdered sugar for a snowy finish, each bite is as delightful to eat as it is to look at. With just 15 minutes of prep and a few hours to set, these homemade jelly candies are easy, delicious, and ideal for spreading holiday magic.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups Granulated sugar
- 1 cup Fruit juice (apple, cranberry, or orange, based on desired flavor)
- 4 packets Unflavored gelatin
- 1 cup Light corn syrup
- 5 drops Green food coloring (optional)
- 5 drops Red food coloring (optional)
- 0.5 cup Powdered sugar (for coating)
- 1 teaspoon Butter (for greasing pan)
Instructions
Prepare a 9x9-inch baking dish by greasing it with butter. Set it aside.
In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, fruit juice, unflavored gelatin, and corn syrup. Stir well to mix.
Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to allow the gelatin to bloom.
Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes smooth.
Once dissolved, bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, for approximately 20-25 minutes or until it reaches 240°F (soft-ball stage) on a candy thermometer.
Remove the saucepan from the heat. If desired, divide the mixture into two batches. Add green food coloring to one batch and red food coloring to the other batch, mixing well to ensure even coloring.
Pour the jelly mixture into the prepared baking dish. Smooth the surface with a spatula.
Allow the mixture to cool at room temperature for about 4 hours or until completely set. For faster setting, refrigerate for 2 hours.
Once set, use a buttered knife or cookie cutters to cut the jelly into desired shapes. Stars, trees, and snowflakes are great Christmas-themed options.
Roll the jelly candies in powdered sugar to prevent them from sticking together and to give them a festive finish.
Store the candies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2690 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 4.1 g | 5% | |
| Saturated Fat | 2.5 g | 12% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 10 mg | 3% | |
| Sodium | 92 mg | 4% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 668.0 g | 243% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.5 g | 2% | |
| Total Sugars | 662.6 g | ||
| Protein | 24.5 g | 49% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 22 mg | 2% | |
| Iron | 0.3 mg | 2% | |
| Potassium | 266 mg | 6% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
