Happy Gumdrop Day

Sharing the day with Presidents Day is one of the sweetest days of the year. President Day that always falls on the third Monday just so happens to fall on Gumdrop day that happens every year on the same day every year, February 15th.

If you are not sure what gumdrops are they are tasty, chewy candy made with gelatin and coated with sugar. They come in a variety of fruity flavors such as grape, cherry, orange, lemon and spice flavors as well. There is an easy way to know what spice you will find in the gumdrop

orange is clove
yellow you will find as all spice or sassafras
red is cinnamon
green is spearmint
purple is cardamom or anise
white is wintergreen or peppermint
black is licorice

Gumdrops have been a popular confection for at least two hundred years. So famous in fact that the boardgame Candy Land featured both a gumdrop Pass and a Gumdrop Mountain.

It is believed that Percy Trusdale invented the gumdrop in 1801. Trusdale worked for the Snyder Chafee Company before he founded and incorporated the P.S. Trusdell Candy Manufacturing Company. Trusdale was known as the Gumdrop King

Gumdrop Cookies
Yield: 1 1/2 dozen

1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup of chopped gumdrops

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar
Add eggs, one at a time. Beat well after each addition
Beat in vanilla
Combine flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl
Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture while the mixer is still running.
Fold in the chopped gumdrops
Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 10-13 minutes

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