How to Make My Own Flavor of Jelly Beans

Make your own jelly beans with gelatin dessert mix.

Rather than settling for the commercially made varieties of jelly beans, invent your own jelly bean flavors by using packages of gelatin dessert mix. Unlike traditional jelly beans, which have a hard candy shell, these have a covering of superfine sugar to give the same flavor---but with a slightly different texture. As a benefit, you will not have to purchase an expensive candy panning drum to make this version of your own jelly beans. Prepare these treats for your own homemade Easter candy or any time of the year.

Things You'll Need

• Jelly bean mold
• Cooking spray
• Cornstarch
• 1 ¼ cups boiling water
• 2 packages (4 servings) flavored gelatin
• Bowl
• Spoon
• 1 cup superfine sugar

Instructions

1. Spray the inside of a jelly bean mold with cooking spray and sprinkle the inside of each well with cornstarch. Turn the mold upside down to knock out excess cornstarch.

2. Stir the boiling water into the two packages of flavored gelatin in a bowl for three minutes, or until the gelatin dissolves.

3. Pour the gelatin mix into the wells in the jelly bean mold and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the jelly bean centers to harden.

4. Turn the mold upside down to tip the jelly beans into a large bowl.

5. Stir the beans in the bowl with one hand while slowly pouring one cup of superfine sugar over them. Continue to stir the jelly beans until they are all covered with an even coating of sugar. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Tips & Warnings

• Combine different packages together to increase your possibilities. For instance, instead of making lemon jelly beans, use one box of lemon and one of lime gelatin mix to create lemon-lime jelly beans.

• Look for jelly bean molds at candy-making supply stores or on the Internet.

References

• NYU: XDesign - Jelly Bean
• Gale Cengage Learning: How Jelly Beans are Made
• Kraft Foods: Jello Beans Recipe