Valentine’s Sour Gummy Candy is a fun and festive homemade candy made with flavored gelatin and coated in a sweet-and-sour sugar mixture that tastes similar to Sour Patch Kids. These chewy gummy hearts are surprisingly easy to make and perfect for Valentine’s Day parties, classroom treats, or homemade gifts. You can even adjust the sour coating to suit your taste, making them as sweet or as tangy as you like.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Great for gifting: These gummies hold their shape well and store nicely, making them ideal for sharing.
- Festive and fun: These heart-shaped gummies are perfect for Valentine’s Day and look adorable on treat trays or in gift bags.
- Sweet or sour — your choice: Add citric acid for that classic sour candy kick, or skip it for a sweet gummy instead.
- Customizable flavors: Use any Jello flavors you love to change up the colors and taste.
Ingredients in Valentine’s Sour Gummy Candy
- Sugar: There is a lot of sugar in this recipe, but it is candy after all! You will divide the sugar into two different pans and then save some to coat the candies with.
- Applesauce: Some of the sweetness in the candy comes from applesauce. You will divide the applesauce between the two different flavors.
- Jello: You will need two small boxes of Jello. You can use the same flavor or two different flavors. You can use whichever flavors you want to use. Strawberry, cherry and raspberry all work well for Valentine’s Day, but you can use other colors/flavors for other occasions.
- Unflavored gelatin: You will need 4 envelopes of unflavored gelatin. Use 2 envelopes for each flavor of Jello.
- Citric acid: Just 1 tablespoon of citric acid is mixed with sugar to make the candy coating. This will add the sour taste to the candy. If you don’t like sour, you can just leave it out and use only sugar for the coating.
Tips for Success
Full instructions for making the recipe can be found on the recipe card below, but here are a few helpful tips.
- Allow full drying time: Drying helps the gummies develop the perfect chewy texture and prevents sticking.
- Work quickly when pouring: The gelatin mixture sets fast, so have your pans ready before you start heating.
- Use a metal spatula: It’s the easiest way to lift the sticky gummies out of the pan without tearing them.
- Adjust sourness: Start with less citric acid and add more if you want a stronger sour flavor.
Storage Instructions
- Room temperature: Store gummies in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
- Avoid humidity: Keep them in a cool, dry place so the sugar coating stays intact.
Valentine’s Sour Gummy Candy Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 cups sugar divided
- 2 ⅔ cups applesauce divided
- 2 packages 3 ounces each strawberry jello
- 2 packages 3 ounces each cherry jello
- 4 envelopes unflavored gelatin divided
- 1 tablespoon citric acid
Instructions
- MAKE THE CANDY MIXTURE: In a large saucepan, stir together 2 cups sugar, 1 ⅓ cups applesauce, 2 packages of strawberry jello and 2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin.
- Let this mixture stand for 1 minute.
- Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil stirring constantly. Boil the mixture for one minute and then remove from heat.
- Immediately pour the mixture into a greased 11×7 or 9×13 pan.
- Repeat these steps with another 2 cups of sugar, 1 ⅓ cups applesauce, 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin and 2 packages of cherry jello.
- CHILL THE CANDY MIXTURE: Place both pans into the fridge for 3 hours.
- CUT OUT THE HEARTS, DRY THEM: I find it is easier to cut the mixture into squares and use a metal spatula to pull the squares out and transfer onto a wax or parchment paper. This will be a sticky job but they will come out of the pan. (These are really sticky and if will feel like you are going to rip it pulling it out of the pan but just keep sliding the metal spatula under them and they will come out.)
- Using a mini heart cookie cutter, cut out as many hearts as possible and place them onto a parchment or wax paper lined tray.
- Let the candies dry at room temperature 8 hours or overnight.
- COAT THE GUMMY CANDIES: After a minimum of 8 hours dry time take the remaining 1 cup of sugar and mix with the citric acid and dip each gumdrop candy in, coating it all around with sugar.
Nutrition
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FAQs
Can I use different Jello flavors?
Yes! Any flavored Jello works. Lemon, lime, or black cherry are fun options if you want something different.
Do I have to use citric acid?
No. If you prefer sweet gummies, simply coat them in sugar and skip the citric acid.
Why do the gummies need to dry overnight?
Drying allows excess moisture to evaporate, giving the gummies a firmer, chewier texture and helping the coating stick better.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Absolutely. These candies are perfect for making a day or two in advance.
More delicious Valentine’s Day treat recipes to try:
- Valentine’s Gumdrop Fudge is a quick and festive treat made with just three ingredients, combining white chocolate fudge with pink and red gumdrops.
- Made with white chocolate–coated cereal and festive candies, Strawberry Valentine Chex Mix is a fun, sweet snack that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day sharing.
- Strawberry Cool Whip Candy comes together easily with just three ingredients and a microwave, making it a simple, sweet treat for Valentine’s Day or anytime.
- With only three ingredients plus optional coloring, Valentine’s Cream Cheese Butter Mints are an easy no-bake treat that’s as cute as it is delicious.
- Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries are surprisingly simple to make and feature sweet maraschino cherries wrapped in fondant and dipped in smooth chocolate.
Valentine’s Sour Gummy Candy is a fun, festive homemade treat that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day, combining chewy gummy hearts with a sweet-and-sour coating everyone will love.
Marg Adams says
These look great, but there is a typo in step 5….it says 1 1/3 cups of sugar instead of applesauce. I knew what you meant but it may be confusing for some. I plan to make these for Valentine’s with my 5 year old granddaughter.
Nellie says
Got it fixed! Thanks for catching that and letting us know!