Gumdrop Bars

This is a recipe that the cookbook, The Golden Treasury of Cooking 1973 from Better Homes and Gardens, says it's from the Thirties. It makes a large pan and is good for bake sales and as a take-along for Holiday get-togethers. There is no fat in the recipe – I had to double-check! 4 eggs provide the fat necessary and they are rich. Cut in small bars.  I use red and green gumdrops for Christmas and regular "spice drops" for Halloween and Thanksgiving, minus the licorice flavored ones.  You can slice a few additional ones and decorate the tops if you wish.
Gumdrop Bars
2 cups flour, all-purpose
1 cup gumdrops -- finely chopped (6 oz)
1/2 cup walnuts -- chopped
4 each eggs
1 tablespoon water
2 cups brown sugar -- packed
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Icing
3 Tablespoons Butter
2 Tablespoons Orange Juice
Powdered Sugar
Mix gumdrops, flour and nuts, set aside. Beat eggs with water until foamy. Gradually add brown sugar, beating till light. Beat in cinnamon and salt, stir in gumdrop mixture. Spread evenly in greased 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking pan. Bake at 375 till done, 15 to 20 minutes. Spread with orange icing while still warm: 3 tbsp butter, melted, 2 tbsp orange juice and powdered sugar to make thin icing.
Cut into 36 bars when cool.
Cost 2010: $3.12 or 9¢ per bar.
Per Serving: 102 Calories; 3g Fat (22.2% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 18g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 26mg Cholesterol; 38mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Fat; 1 Other Carbohydrates.
*1946 Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book baked this recipe in 9 x 13" pan at 350° for 25 minutes.

5 comments:

  1. Thank You IowaSue! I have been looking for this particular recipe for over two years now. My mom used to make these during the holidays. And this is the "old" recipe she had and I lost!

    Darwin Barnes
    Kasson, MN

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  2. Thank you! I have this recipe copied down from "way back when". I haven't made them for many years. I thought I must have left an ingredient or two, out! But mine matches yours! No vanilla, no butter or oil!

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    Replies
    1. Good luck finding gumdrops...they are getting harder to find, especially the spice ones.

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    2. I use jelly fruit slices. I cut them into small pieces. They work very well. Also, sometimes you can find the giant fruit gumdrops and cut those into quarters. My mom used to make these as well and after she passed, her recipe was lost in the chaos. Thank you so much for publishing this recipe.

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  3. I use 4 of each regular gumdrop slices...red, yellow, orange, and green. I use 1 cup walnuts. The only difference in my recipe and this one is mine calls for 1 teaspoon baking powder. I suggest using the baking powder, since mine turn out so chewy. Made them for a group of friends yesterday and everyone raved about them. I don't understand why anyone complains that these are dry. They are chewy! I doubled the glaze topping recipe, just because the fresh orange juice and grated orange rind are truly the "icing on the cake". I used about one cup powdered sugar, but, that is my preference, too. I wanted a glaze, not a icing. Yum! Don't forget! Add the teaspoon baking powder!

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