This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
If you’re looking for a fun and festive treat to make this holiday season, gumdrop nougat candy is the perfect no-bake recipe to try! This delightful candy combines the creamy goodness of white chocolate and marshmallows with colorful, chewy gumdrops for a sweet explosion of flavor in every bite. It’s incredibly easy to whip up, making it a great activity to do with the kids or a quick addition to your holiday treat platter. Plus, these vibrant squares make for thoughtful homemade gifts that are sure to impress friends and family. Once you taste these sweet, chewy bites, you’ll be hooked!
Sink your teeth into gumdrop nougat and you’ll feel all Christmassy! This is a nostalgic homemade treat that’s incredibly easy to prepare.
Also whip up some panettone (Christmas bread), Rudolph the Reindeer donuts, divinity candy, and gingerbread man cookies.
Why You’ll Love It
So easy to make: You only need 4 ingredients to make gumdrop nougat and the recipe is straightforward too, involving not much more than microwaving and stirring.
A classic sweet treat: Although it’s fun to try new recipes, recreating the older ones is also satisfying, and many of us will remember these fondly from Christmases past!
No fancy baking equipment needed: All you really need is a mixing bowl, a wooden spoon and a baking dish for the gumdrop nougat candies – no candy thermometer or stand mixer required!
Nougat Gumdrop Candy Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Dots candy: Cute and colorful gumdrops (just grab the 13½-ounce package).
Mini marshmallows: For the white color and also to give gumdrop nougat its characteristic chewy texture.
White chocolate chips: Blends with the mini marshmallows to make the nougat.
Unsalted butter: For richness and flavor. If you only have salted, that would work too.
How to Make Gumdrop Nougat Candy
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Melt the white chocolate chips: Microwave the chocolate chips until creamy and smooth.
Melt the marshmallows: Put them in a bowl with the butter and melt.
Combine the two: Stir the melted chocolate with the marshmallow mixture, working quickly to mix them before they set.
Add some Dots: Add most of the Dots (reserve some) and mix them in.
The finishing touches: Spread mixture into a wax paper or parchment paper lined pan and press the rest of the Dots in wherever needs more color. Let it rest until set and then cut into squares to serve.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: Dots gumdrops are gluten-free and so is butter, so you just need to make sure you’re using gluten-free chocolate chips and mini marshmallows (try these gluten free mini marshmallows) for this Christmas candy.
Not a white chocolate fan? You can use milk chocolate or even dark chocolate which will result in a light brown rather than white nougat but you’ll still be able to see the colorful Dots gumdrops in there.
No microwave? Use a double boiler (or a glass bowl over a pan of boiling water) instead.
Chopped gumdrops: Instead of adding whole Dots, cut them into slices or smaller pieces. Or use another kind of colored candy altogether.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with other sweet treats: Enjoy nougat gumdrops with some Santa cupcakes or cranberry cookies.
As a cupcake decoration: Chop your Christmas gumdrop nougat finely and press the pieces into white chocolate cupcake frosting. Or add some to a gingerbread trifle!
Enjoy with a holiday beverage: Gumdrop nougat is delicious paired with Santa hat coconut rum cocktails.
How to Store Nougat Candy with Gumdrops
Store: Keep gumdrop nougat in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Freeze: These aren’t good for freezing because they will thaw out too hard and chewy.
Top Tips
Dots candies: You will have some Dots left over (as the chef, of course you are allowed to enjoy the remainder!)
Red and green gumdrops theme: Making this for the holidays? You can use only red and green Dots if you want. The classic version was multicolored so you might prefer to recreate that though.
Soften the chocolate: If the chocolate is too thick by when the marshmallows melt, microwave it for another 30 minutes and then add it to the marshmallows.
Gumdrop Nougat FAQs
That’s up to you! It’s very sweet though, so I tend to cut quite small squares, maybe 1-inch squares.
Sometimes that happens and it can depend on the temperature and humidity in your kitchen. If your Christmas gumdrop nougat candy is still sticky after a few hours, give it an hour in the refrigerator or refrigerate overnight to set it.
Try a few drops of vanilla extract or hazelnut extract. You might even like to try a splash of festive peppermint extract!
Easy Gumdrop Nougat Candy Recipe
Gumdrop Nougat
Equipment
- Glass Baking Dish 8-Inch Square
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 10 Ounces mini marshmallows
- 10 Ounces Dots candy
- 1¾ Cups white chocolate chips
- Cooking spray, as needed
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
- Microwave the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl on high for 2 and a half minutes, stirring every 30 seconds.
- Set the bowl aside when the chocolate is creamy and smooth..
- Add the butter and marshmallows to a mixing bowl and microwave for a couple of minutes on high or until the marshmallows rise up to the top of the bowl.
- Take the bowl out of the microwave and stir until the marshmallows are smooth and the butter has completely melted.
- Immediately add the chocolate to the marshmallow mixture and stir well (and fast – before it sets!)
- Reserve ⅓ cup of Dots and add the rest of them to the bowl and stir to distribute evenly throughout.
- Pour this mixture into your prepared pan immediately.
- Use cooking spray to grease your hands and them spread the mixture out in the pan evenly.
- Press the rest of the Dots into the top of the nougat so the whole thing is colorful with no big gaps.
- Cover the baking dish and let the nougat sit on the counter for about 4 hours or until completely set. If it’s still too tacky, you can pop it in the fridge for an hour.
- Cut into small squares once set (you can pick the size) and serve.
Notes
Red and green gumdrops theme: Making this for the holidays? You can use only red and green Dots if you want. The classic version was multicolored so you might prefer to recreate that though.
Soften the chocolate: If the chocolate is too thick by when the marshmallows melt, microwave it for another 30 minutes and then add it to the marshmallows.
Nutrition
Gumdrop nougat is wonderfully easy to make. It looks pretty and is ideal for the holiday season. You might remember this flavorful sweet treat and now you can recreate it in your own kitchen. Make sure you print or bookmark this easy candy recipe because you’ll be craving it around Christmas time!
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
Such a fun treat to make! The colorful gumdrops add a chewy, sweet surprise.
Have not had this since I was a kid. Just as good as I remember!