• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Short Order Cook

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Food & Fun
  • Travel & Dining
  • Meet Angela
  • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Food & Fun
    • Travel & Dining
    • Meet Angela
    • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Holidays

    Published: Jan 13, 2022 · Modified: Oct 3, 2022 by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Gumdrop Nougat

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Tasty fun gumdrop nougat is an easy recipe that is a bit addicting.  The creamy nougat speckled with fruity gumdrop candies is white and bright, for a gorgeous sweet treat.   The taffy-like texture and the pop of gummy candies are a delight in every bite. These little pillowy nuggets are irresistible.

    The combination of sweet marshmallows, rich white chocolate, and fruity gumdrops is so pretty and toothsome.  This nut-free nougat recipe is a homemade candy everyone will love. I warn you, if you like salt water taffy, or divinity, you may eat all of this Christmas candy before you can share.

    Gumdrop Nougat in a ramekin with a red napkin and gumdrops sprinkled on the counter

    This is not a recipe for a traditional old-fashioned nougat.  However, this unique jelly nougat with fruit gumdrops will become a classic someday I bet. If you have never made any homemade confections before, this is a great one to try your hand at. It is an easy candy recipe that does not require a candy thermometer. Plus it is a no-bake dessert.

    This sticky chewy nougat with gumdrops recipe is great for just about any holiday. This colorful candy is ideal for making for all sorts of holidays, especially Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Easter.

    Ingredients for Homemade Nougat with Gumdrops

    This recipe for gumdrop nougat is so simple and easy.  To begin, you only need 4 ingredients to make this homemade chewy and fun candy.   For the nougat base, you need salted butter, mini marshmallows, and white chocolate chips. Since nougat is often compared to tasting like marshmallows this short-cut ingredient is so perfect.

    The chewy nougat is a 3-ingredient recipe.  To that, you will also need gumdrops - of course!  This nougat does not have nuts and is gluten-free so it is a great candy for some special diets.

    Best Gumdrops for Nougat

    The best gumdrops for making gumdrop nougat, are ones that are bright, colorful, and fresh. You want them to be chewy and not stale and hard.  Make sure to use new packages of gumdrops when making this nougat.  You may be tempted to use Jujube's for nougat but I find that the little candies are too hard. I like Dots the best for this recipe.

    I will be honest I love Dots and often "borrow" them from the kids' trick-or-treat bags each Halloween, but I also find they really are the best to use.  I recommend using Dots by the Tootsie Roll company when you make gumdrop nougat because they are smooth without any outside granulated or powdered sugar layer.  The smooth Dots adhere to the nougat best without changing the texture.  If you love Tootsie Rolls as much as you love Dots, try out my cocktail that tastes just like one - TOOTSIE ROLL SHOTS!   

    Gumdrop Nougat ingredients

    How to Make Gumdrop Nougat

    This is a no-bake candy recipe that takes only about 20 minutes to make.  The hard part is waiting 2-3 hours for it to set in the refrigerator.  When making this gumdrop nougat, you do not need a candy thermometer. But it is best to have parchment paper, a double boiler (or a good saucepan that a glass bowl fits over), and an 11x7 baking dish.  To begin you will want to gather your ingredients and prepare the baking dish.

    Line the Pan with Parchment Paper

    You will need an 11x7 baking dish for this recipe.  It will need to be lined with parchment paper so that the nougat does not stick. The parchment paper is also important so that you can lift the nougat out later to cut it.

    To line a baking dish and keep parchment paper in place, I love to use binder clips. This is my hack for keeping parchment paper in place for no-bake recipes. This works when making things like fudge, no-bake cookies, and this nougat candy.

    Gumdrop Nougat parchment lined pan

    How to Cut Gumdrops

    Cutting gumdrops is a sticky situation.  The best knife to use when cutting sticky candy is something sharp, short, and has indentions. A small chef or pairing knife would work best. If you have one with vertical indentations like mine below, I recommend that. The indentions on the knife create space between the food and the knife. This helps those sticky little gumdrops from being too much of a menace.

    Simply choose your knife wisely and get a large cutting board.  Cut each gumdrop in half down the middle.  Try and keep them separate so they do not stick back together, as you cut them.  This is why a big work surface is a good idea. Once all the gumdrops are cut in half, now is the time to start the nougat.

    Gumdrop Nougat cutting board with dots cut and boxes on the counter

    Making Homemade Nougat on the Stovetop

    Now is the time to make the sticky sweet nougat.   This will be done on the stovetop and it involves stirring constantly. Be sure the baking pan is lined, the gumdrops are cut, and you have the ingredients needed for the nougat.

    To a double-boiler, melt the salted butter & white chocolate chips over a medium-low simmer. Using a rubber spatula, stir and begin cooking.  Once the chocolate is just starting to melt, add ½ bag of marshmallows and stir.  Continue stirring over the simmering water.  Each minute adds another ½ bag and stirs - repeat. Once you have added the marshmallows in 4 batches, it should look like the image below.

    Gumdrop Nougat partially melted white chocolate and marshmallows in the double boiler

    It will seem to not come together for a long time.  It will look like it will never melt evenly but be patient.  The white chocolate will all likely be melted and you will still see mini marshmallows. Continue to stir and cook over medium-low rolling boil.

    It will feel like nothing is happening for a long time but trust me it will come together as you stir and press a bit of the marshmallow as they melt. The step of finally getting the marshmallows to all melt in with white chocolate does take anywhere from 7-10 minutes.

    Mixing Homemade Nougat with the Dots

    Once the nougat is smooth and combined with all the marshmallows melted, it is time to add the gumdrops.  Remove the nougat bowl or double-boiler pot from the stove.    Carefully sprinkle in the gumdrops and fold them in. Work fast as the nougat will start to cool and set. This will stiffen the nougat.

    Add more gumdrops and fold them in.  This will take some muscle and it is good to get them added as far apart as you can from the beginning. Once those gumdrops are in the nougat, they stay where they are. It is hard to move them around and separate them.  Have fun; continue to sprinkle and fold.

    Gumdrop Nougat nougat ready in a bowl and gumdrops ready on the cutting board

    Press the Nougat into the Prepared Pan

    Once all the gumdrops are added to the nougat base, it is time to get it ready for chilling.   Spoon the mixture into the parchment-lined 11x7 baking pan. Press it with the rubber spatula as you add it to the pan.   At the end using another piece of parchment paper along with your hand, press down on the nougat to make it even and compressed. This will make sure there are no big bubbles and that when you cut the candy into cubes, they can be as uniform in shape as possible.

    How Long to Chill Nougat

    This gumdrop nougat needs to be chilled in the refrigerator before you can cut and serve it.   Place the gumdrop nougat in the refrigerator for 2 hours minimum.   It can be chilled for several days before cutting if you want to make it ahead of time.

    Gumdrop Nougat pressing the nougat in the pan using parchment paper

    How to Cut Homemade Gumdrop Nougat

    To cut, lift the parchment out of the baking dish and place it on a cutting board. Using a sharp chef's knife, cut into 10 even strips along the short end of the nougat.  Next, cut each strip into 8 even pieces.  This recipe will yield 80 pieces of Gumdrop Nougat.

    Gumdrop Nougat cut into row and then square chunks for eating

    How to Store Gumdrop Nougat

    Storing gumdrop nougat is easy and it lasts a long time (if you can control yourself and not eat it all)  Simply seal nougat with gumdrops in an air-tight Ziploc bag or container. Place it in the refrigerator and store it for up to a month.

    ENJOY!

    Gumdrop Nougat two white ramekins filled and a red napkin

    Valentine's Day Gumdrop Nougat Recipe

    To make this easy gumdrop nougat for special occasions, you can make some simple recipe changes.   This original recipe is great for Christmas with all the colors or you may just want to add red and green gumdrops.  Gumdrop nougat is great for Easter too with the bright-colored fruit gumdrops are bright like Easter eggs.   For St. Patrick's Day, use the green & yellow dots.

    For Valentine's day, you can use only the pink and red Dots candies.  This makes a fun and colorful homemade candy perfect for giving to anyone you love.  When you slice the creamy white chocolate marshmallow nougat and expose the red and pink gumdrops, you know it's the best Valentine's Day candy recipe.  It is so pretty but not too pretty to eat!

    Gumdrop Nougat red bowl and nougat with red and pink dots for Valentine's Day

    PIN FOR SAFEKEEPING & SHARING!

    Gumdrop Nougat in a white ramekin and a few gumdrops on the counter

    Gumdrop Nougat overhead of a bowl filled with nougat and pieces plus gumdrops on the side

    Product Recommendations for this Recipe - #ad:

    The Short Order Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you! 

    Gumdrop Nougat featured closeup overhead with red napkin

    Gumdrop Nougat

    Angela
    This chewy homemade nougat with gumdrops is an easy recipe that everyone will love. The taffy-like texture makes this fun candy a delight while the bright fruity gumdrops make it almost too pretty to eat. Gumdrop nougat is a great recipe for when you want a candy for holidays like Christmas, Easter, & Valentine's Day.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 80 pieces

    Equipment

    • double-boiler
    • 11x7 baking pan

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 Tablespoons salted butter
    • 2 bags white chocolate chips 11 ounces each
    • 2 bags mini marshmallows 10 ounces each
    • 1 ½ cups gumdrops cut in half

    Instructions
     

    • Line an 11×7 pan with parchment paper.
    • To a double-boiler, melt the salted butter & white chocolate chips over a medium-low simmer. Using a rubber spatula, stir continuously.  Once the chocolate is just starting to melt, add ½ bag marshmallows and stir. 
      Continue stirring over the simmering water.  Each minute adds another ½ bag and stir – repeat.  
    • Continue stirring until all the marshmallows have melted and the nougat base has come together. This does take some muscle and about 7-10 minutes.
    • Remove the nougat bowl or double-boiler pot from the stove.    Carefully sprinkle in some of the gumdrops and fold them in. Work fast as the nougat will start to cool and set. This will stiffen the nougat. 
      Add more gumdrops until all are added and fold them in.  
    • Once all the gumdrops are added to the nougat base, it is time to get it ready for chilling.   Spoon the mixture into the parchment-lined 11×7 baking pan. Press it with the rubber spatula as you add it to the pan.   
      At the end using another piece of parchment paper along with your hand, press down on the nougat to make it even and compressed. This will make sure there are no big bubbles and that when you cut the candy into cubes, they can be as uniform in shape as possible.  
    • Place the gumdrop nougat in the refrigerator for 2 hours minimum.   It can be chilled for several days before cutting if you want to make it ahead of time.  
    • To cut, lift the parchment out of the baking dish and place it on a cutting board. Using a sharp chef’s knife, cut into 10 even strips along the short end of the nougat.  Next, cut each strip into 8 even pieces.  This recipe will yield 80 pieces of Gumdrop Nougat. 
    • Storing gumdrop nougat - seal in an air-tight Ziploc bag or container. Place in the refrigerator and store for up to a month.
      ENJOY!

    Notes

    Nutrition Facts
    Servings: 80
    Amount per serving  
    Calories 75
    % Daily Value*
    Total Fat 3.2g 4%
    Saturated Fat 2g 10%
    Cholesterol 3mg 1%
    Sodium 15mg 1%
    Total Carbohydrate 11.5g 4%
    Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
    Total Sugars 9.4g  
    Protein 0.8g  
    Vitamin D 0mcg 2%
    Calcium 17mg 1%
    Iron 0mg 0%
    Potassium 25mg 1%
    *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.
    Keyword 2-ingredient, candy, chocolate, christmas, confection, Easter, easy, gluten-free, green, Halloween, no bake, nut-free, orange, pink, st patrick's day, sweet, treat, valentine's day, Xmas

    Did you make this The Short Order Cook Recipe?

    Tag @theshortordercookblog (Instagram & Facebook) or @shortorder_cook (Twitter). 

    I would love to see your latest creations and kitchen adventures.

    « Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop #453
    Toaster Oven Baked Potato »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Jess says

      February 03, 2022 at 12:57 pm

      5 stars
      The family cannot get enough of this. We ate it all in less than 24 hours so there is your biggest compliment. I guess I need to make this again.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        February 03, 2022 at 1:54 pm

        So glad you all enjoyed the nougat. It is a good thing it is easy to make so you can have it often.

        Reply
    2. Julie Deeson says

      January 18, 2023 at 9:06 pm

      5 stars
      So good. I did stir for a long time but it finally came together like the directions say.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Angela the short order cook on a step stool reaching into the top kitchen cupboard.

    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. I have been cooking since I could pull up a stool to finally reach the counter. I still rely on my trusty stool every day. I am a former personal chef turned blogger that hopes you find something new & tasty to love while you are here.

    More about me →

    This site has links to products/services that may make us a commission. #ad

    Popular

    • Air Fryer Broccolini with Lemon & Parmesan
    • Toaster Oven Bacon
    • Best Pots & Pans for Gas Stove
    • Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick
    • Homemade Snickers Bars
    • Creamy Coconut Chicken 
    • 3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes (Gluten-Free)
    • Collard Greens Seasoning

    The Short Order Cook LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

    #ad The Short Order Cook LLC is an affiliate of ButcherBox. I have been a customer for years and cannot recommend it enough. Great prices & even better meat! Sign up today.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Disclosure Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Meet Angela
    • Meet the Family

    Copyright © 2023 The Short Order Cook LLC All recipes, photos, and articles on this site are the property of The Short Order Cook LLC. You are welcome to share a photo ONLY with an accompanied do-follow link back to this site. Publishing any items as if they were your own is prohibited.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read Privacy Policy
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT