Homemade jujube candies also known as gummy candy are a fun, colorful and chewy treat that is completely irresistible and disappears in no time. These soft, bouncy jelly-like candies are packed with fruit flavours that just explode in every bite. These candies are ideal for gifting during Christmas, holidays or parties and makes a delightful treat for both kids and adults.
Jujubes Recipe
Jujubes was on my to do list for quite some time. Finally I made yesterday and it turned out pretty good. My little one loved it.
Jump to:
This is a delicious and kids friendly recipe.Your kids will love it for sure. You can half the batch for lesser quantity. For vegans and vegetarians you can use agar agar powder in this recipe which will give perfect jujubes.
About Jujubes Candy (Gummy Candy)
Jujube candies are a colorful, jelly-like treat that tastes so soft, chewy and melt in your mouth. It is made with simple ingredients like gelatin, liquid glucose, sugar, flavoring and food coloring.
The secret to making perfect jujube lies in two key ingredients : gelatin and liquid glucose. Gelatin gives the candy its signature chewy texture, while the liquid glucose helps to keep the candies smooth, glossy and non sticky.
Other ingredients like sugar, flavouring and food coloring are added to create bright, colorful and flavourful candies. Together, these ingredients form a classic treat that has an indulgent, satisfying and nostalgic feel in every bite.
Similar Recipes
Jujube candy is all about balance. When the ingredients are combined correctly at the right time, you'll get beautifully set jujubes that are soft, chewy and hard to resist every time.
For many, jujubes are a nostalgic candy that holds many of their childhood memories. Every bite of this candy is a sweet reminder of those little joys we cherish and making this candy at home is so fun and memorable.
With a few simple tips and tricks, you can make these soft, bouncy and irresistible chewy jujube candy at home easily.
What does jujube mean?
Jujube is actually the name of a real fruit that grows on the Ziziphus jujuba tree in China. It is also known as red date or Chinese date.
The fruit looks small, oval shaped and has a mix of sweet and tangy flavour. Naturally, the jujubes are chewy, slightly sticky which makes the fruit so unique among others.
This candy is named after the jujube fruit because it shares the same chewy, sticky and jelly-like texture.
This candy does not contain the actual fruit, but its texture and taste remind people of the original jujube fruit.
Ingredients
- Sugar : Sugar is the main ingredient that gives the candy its sweetness and helps to create the chewy texture. Cook the sugar syrup until thick to form the base.
- Water : Water is used to dissolve the sugar, gelatin and other ingredients while cooking.
- Liquid glucose : Liquid glucose prevents the sugar from crystallizing. This helps to form a smooth, glossy and chewy candy.
- Gelatin : Gelatin is the key ingredient that gives the candy its jelly-like texture. You can also substitute with agar agar for the vegetarian version.
- Lemon juice : Lemon juice adds a mild tangy flavour that perfectly balances the sweetness and helps to stabilize the sugar syrup.
- Food coloring : Food coloring used to create bright, fun and colorful candies.
- Essence : Fruit essence like Raspberry, Strawberry and Pineapple are added to give the candy fruity aroma and flavour. It adds a distinct and delicious taste to the candies.
Step by Step Pictures
Blooming Gelatin
1)We are going to bloom the gelatin. Take gelatin in a bowl.
2)Cover with water and allow them to soak for 15 minutes. This will soften the gelatin.
Pre Preparation
3)Take three setting tray, grease it lightly with some oil and set aside.
4)Squeeze few lemon and strain the juice to remove seeds. Set aside.
Make Sugar Syrup
5)Take sugar in a sauce pan.
6)Pour some water over the sugar.
7)Add in corn syrup or liquid glucose into the sugar.
8)Bring it to a full boil, cook until sugar melts completely.
9)Boil the syrup until it reaches the hard ball stage (125°C)
9)or you can check this by using a clean spoon when the syrup is dropped into cold water it may be formed into a hard ball.
10)Once the sugar syrup has attained the stage, add in the bloomed gelatin into the syrup.
11)Now add in lemon juice and mix well.
12)Bring it to a full boil and take it off the heat. Allow this to cool completely.
Flavouring syrup
13)Divide the mixture into multiple bowls.
14)Add your favorite flavouring and colour and mix well.
15)Mix it well.
Setting Jelly
16)Pour it into the tray which we greased earlier.
17)I made few more flavours of jelly.
18)Pour it into trays. Let it set in fridge for few hours.
Coating Jelly
19)Once set remove the jujubes from the fridge.
20)Cut jujubes into pieces.
21)Coat the jujubes in some sugar.
22)Store in fridge.
Expert Tips
Gelatin blooming : Always soak the gelatin in water for at least 10 minutes before cooking. This helps them to dissolve quickly and prevents lumps in the candy mixture.
Cook the mixture : As gelatin and sugar form the base of chewy jujubes, they should be cooked until it reaches a thick, syrup-like consistency.
Grease the pan : Grease the pan, mold or tray that you will use to set the jelly. This helps the candy from sticking to the pan and makes it easy to remove.
Sugar coating : Once jujubes are set, cut into cubes and roll them in sugar. This helps the candies from sticking together and adds an extra sweet touch.
Storage : Once the jujubes are set and sugar coated, store them in an airtight jar in fridge.
Serving : These delicious and chewy candies can be enjoyed on its own. And these are ideal for gifting during parties, Christmas and special occasions.
FAQ
This usually happens if the gelatin is not dissolved properly or if the mixture is not cooked long enough to the desired consistency.
Absolutely ! You can use any silicone or chocolate molds to create fun and attractive shaped candies.
No. This candy is completely different from the actual jujube fruit. It is just a simple sweet treat that is made using gelatin and sugar, not using the fruit.
📖 Get Recipe
Jujubes Candy Recipe (Gummy Candy)
Equipment
Ingredients
To Cook Together
- 2½ cup Granulated Sugar 500 grams
- ½ cup Water
- ½ cup Liquid Glucose or Corn Syrup 150 grams
To Bloom Gelatin
- 50 grams Gelatin
- ½ cup Water
Flavourings
- ⅛ teaspoon Food Colouring Yellow, Red & Green
- teaspoon Extracts Raspberry, Strawberry and Pineapple
- 3 tablespoon Lemon Juice
For Rolling Candy
- ½ cup Caster Sugar
Instructions
- Blooming Gelatin - Take gelatin in a bowl, add in ½ cup of water and mix well. Set aside for 10 mins.
- Boil Sugar - In a heavy bottom pan, take sugar, ½ cup of water, glucose and mix well. Put it on heat and cook on low heat till the sugar melts. Bring it to a boil.
- Boil the syrup until it reaches the hard ball stage (125°C) or you can check this by using a clean spoon when the syrup is dropped into cold water it may be formed into a hard ball.
- Now add in lemon juice and mix well. Boil it well. Now add in bloomed gelatin, mix and cook until it comes to a full boil again. Remove from heat and let it cool a bit.
- Flavouring mix - Divide this into three bowls and food colour and essence.
- Setting - Now divide the mix onto the greased tray and let it dry outside overnight. Now cut into small pieces, and roll it in sugar.
- Store in an air tight container in fridge..
Video
Notes
- Instead of lemon juice use citric acid.
- Using agar agar will give melt in mouth jujubes. Gelatin will give gummy jujubes.
- Cook sugar syrup till it reaches hard ball stage, so it gives perfect gummy.
Rajshekher Garikapati
Thanks for your recipe. This particular one is quite unique. Please keep it up. I have bookmarked your page. Thanks once again.
Uma Raji
Awesome..can we use corn syrup instead of liquid glucose.if yes, pls mention the quantity..thank you
Rosalita David
Super duper.. I am a great fan of your recipes and almost always dishes turn out right when I follow your style of doing things.. keep up the good work... btw can you post traditional nagercoil recipes.. My husband is from nagarcoil and I will like to make some authentic nagarcoil food for him...
Rosalita David
Super duper.. I am a great fan of your recipes and almost always dishes turn out right when I follow your style of doing things.. keep up the good work... btw can you post traditional nagercoil recipes.. My husband is from nagarcoil and I will like to make some authentic nagarcoil food for him...
sona
agar agar is not available at my place from where i can get it and for how much.
Aarthi
check this
https://www.amazon.in/Meron-Agar-Agar-China-Grass-Sachet/dp/B00VRA7HUS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1480962583&sr=8-4&keywords=meron+agar+agar
waves sea
Hi Aarthi,i have tried jujubes,but i got semi-solid one,like top layer was all set and the bottom layer was not good.i used agar agar patches instead of powder.
Aarthi
this works with only powder
waves sea
oh ok ok Thanks Aarthi..
Dhruva Satchelman
For extra chilli pip zing zing, put in Trader Joe’s ground bhut jolokia (ghost papper) powder. But only little bit. Then give to you little gupta goons for playtime.
Woodrose Lifestyles
Excellent work!