By Bonny Osterhage
Staff Writer

Put away the Valentine’s chocolates because today, Feb. 15, is National Gumdrop Day!

The gumdrop is not a candy you typically think of when the sweet tooth flares up, so it seems a little strange that it has been honored with a holiday. Perhaps if it didn’t fall on the day after Valentine’s Day, when everyone is stuffed to the gills with chocolate confections, National Gumdrop Day might be met with more enthusiasm.

As it is, this day to celebrate what is basically a sugar-coated piece of gelatin slips by under the radar undetected by everyone except the most devoted gumdrop groupie.

A more logical choice might have been to honor the kissing cousin of the gumdrop, the “gummi” candy. These gelatin candies are much more popular, perhaps because they come in cute shapes such as bears as fish, and usually don’t have that sugary outer glaze.

Children, however, love anything chewy and sweet so this might be a fun holiday to share with your little ones. Build structures using gumdrops and mini-marshmallows held together by toothpicks. Use them as educational tools by encouraging the children to sort them by color. Play a rousing game of Candy Land using gumdrops as playing pieces. Or try out these two recipes that incorporate the sugary little button.

Who knows, you might have so much fun that National Gumdrop Day becomes a yearly celebration!

Fruity Gumdrop Cookies
(Courtesy of www.cooks.com)

2 cups sifted flour
1-1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup thick applesauce
1 cup gumdrops cut into small pieces (no black ones)
1 cup raisins

Sift together flour, salt, baking powder and cinnamon. Cream shortening and sugar; add egg and applesauce, mixing well. Add flour mixture; stir until well blended. Stir in gumdrops and raisins. Drop by teaspoonfuls about two inches apart onto lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned.

Gumdrop Bars
(Courtesy of www.cooks.com)

4 eggs
1 tablespoon cold water
2 cups brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup cut-up gumdrops
2 cups flour

Beat eggs lightly. Add water gradually. Beat in sugar. Dredge nuts and gumdrops with 1 tablespoon flour. Sift dry ingredients and add to egg mixture. Fold in nuts and gumdrops. Put into 9-by-13-inch pan which has been lined with oiled wax paper. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool only slightly, take from pan and remove wax paper. Cut into bars. Dredge with powdered sugar.