Note: this recipe takes some time, so be sure to plan ahead!
Ingredients
2 - 3 oz pkgs flavored jello (not sugar free)
2 packets unflavored gelatin
1 1/3 cup applesauce
1 tsp lemon juice
2 cups sugar
More sugar for coating candy, about 1/2 to 1 cup
Making the jelly:
Spray a 11x7 pain with nonstick spray. Put in fridge to chill.
Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan. Let sit 1 minute. Then, bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Boil 1 minute, stirring the whole time.
Pour immediately into prepared chilled pan. Refrigerate for 4 hours.
Cutting the jelly:
After 4 hours, remove from fridge, and sprinkle sugar on the surface of the jelly, gently spread to coat. Run a knife along edges to loosen jelly (wet knife if needed). Gently pull up from pan (I found a small metal spatula helps).
Turn out onto a surface that has been coated in sugar. I've found my large plastic cutting board works great. Just make sure it's coated in sugar to prevent sticking.
Sprinkle plenty of sugar in the bottom of the 11x7 pan you just pulled the jelly from.
Now, either cut into cute shapes with little cookie cutters, or use kitchen shears (or a knife) to slice into little cubes.
Toss cubes in sugar to coat all sides. Cut and coat all pieces of the jelly and place black in 11x7 pan. You can also place spaced out on a cookie sheet if you want to.
One last step:
Leave jelly candies sitting in pan on your counter, uncovered, for 8 hours or overnight. Then, store them sealed.
Tips:
- Using 2 packages of the same flavor of jello will provide a more intense flavor. Mixing will muddle the flavors more.
- Try using flavored applesauce. I combined cherry jello and cinnamon applesauce. The cinnamon wasn't too strong, but you could taste it.
- There are tons of jello flavors! Have fun and get creative.
- This makes a fantastic gift -- people will be impressed because homemade jelly candies are not as common as cookies or fudge, for instance.
