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QUICK & EASY GUMDROPS

These homemade candies are sweet little gummy bites. They're softer than the ones you buy in stores and fun to eat.

—Leah Rekau, Milwaukee, WI

Prep: 25 min. + chilling Makes: 64 pieces

3 envelopes unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup plus 3/4 cup water, divided

11/2 cups sugar

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. raspberry extract

Red food coloring

Additional sugar

1. In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup water; let stand for 5 minutes. In a small saucepan, bring sugar and the remaining water to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Add gelatin; reduce heat. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in the extract and food coloring as desired.

2. Pour into a greased 8-in. square pan. Refrigerate, covered, until firm, about 3 hours.

3. Loosen the edges of the candy from pan with a knife; turn onto a sugared work surface. Cut into 1-in squares; roll in sugar. Let the squares stand, uncovered, at room temperature until all sides are dry, 3-4 hours, turning every hour. Store gumdrops between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container in refrigerator.

Note: For lemon gumdrops, use lemon extract and yellow food coloring. For orange gumdrops, use orange extract and yellow food coloring plus 1 drop of red food coloring.

1 gumdrop: 19 cal., 0 fat (0 sat. fat), 0 chol., 1mg sod., 5g carb. (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 pro.