Homemade Gummy Lego Candy
Deborah Liu | Mommy School
I had been racking my brain for new activities, when I saw this YouTube video online for making Lego Gummy Candy. It was such a cool idea that we had to try it at home. We bought these molds for the Artisan Chocolate activity, so we were all set to go. The recipe in the video is more advanced than necessary and had a lot of added sugar, so I adapted it for the kids. After much experimentation, here is where we landed. Note that my son loves super chewy gummies, so we use 3 packs of gelatin. We found 2 packs of gelatin made them taste a bit too much like regular jello and harder for the little ones to remove them from the mold.
INGREDIENTS
1 3oz box of Jell-O
3 envelopes of Knox Gelatin
2/3 cup of cold water
Silicone candy molds (available on Amazon)
Pour the cold water into a small pot on the stovetop. Gradually sprinkle the Knox gelatin on top in layers giving it time to soak in.
Then add the flavored Jell-O on top again giving it time to slowly absorb in. Kids love this part because the gelatin expands as it soaks up the water making what looks like folds on top of the water. If you end up with a flotilla of dried gelatin on top (and you will if you have a 3 year-old who lacks control with the packet), stir a bit with a spatula until it is absorbed. Note that there should be no “bits” of undissolved gelatin in the water when you are done. This should take about 10 minutes of sprinkling and stiring. Make sure to stir it slowly, careful not to create too much foam on top.
Once it is absorbed, turn on the stove to medium-low heat and cook the mixture. Stir on occasion to ensure that it does not stick.
Pour it in a clear measuring cup with a spout, and let sit on the table for about 10 minutes.
The foam and extra bits will float to the top. Show the kids how to off the top with a spoon.
Get your silicone molds. Some recipes tell you to spray them with vegetable oil, but don't bother. If you make the recipe correctly, they peel right off even if the design is intricate. Pour the gummy syrup into the shapes you prefer. We tend to make 2 or 3 colors at a time to get a good mixture of colors and flavors.
If you want to eat a few immediately, put them in the freezer for 10 mins, and they will solidify enough to eat. If you leave them in the fridge overnight in the molds, they can easily be unmolded in the morning.
Show the kids how to unmold the gummies. Pull on the side and it is release. Then push up from the bottom, and it will release.
What is great about using more gelatin, is that you can get a lot of detail and a super chewy mouth feel. You can see the level of detail on the final product.
If you run out of space in your silicone molds, just cover and store the rest in the fridge. You can remelt it on the stove and create new shapes later. Store finished gummies in the fridge. They stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
