A cake for kids of all ages! Christmas Gumdrop Bundt Cake is moist and delicious and packed full of chewy candy – who wouldn’t love that?

Gumdrop cake has to be one of the most recognizable traditional Newfoundland cakes. And even though it’s probably most popular at Christmastime, it’s a cake that can be found in some homes all year round. Why not? It’s a cake that’s both delicious and fun to eat. Both the young and the old love to eat candy. Cake and candy together – it’s like the ultimate birthday cake, wouldn’t you think?

There are a few recipes floating around for what one might consider an authentic gumdrop cake, and to be honest, I’m not sure which one is legitimate. For example, I’ve seen recipes that have cream cheese as an ingredient, but my particular recipe does not.

CAKE VARIATIONS

My dad loves to make gumdrop cake and makes it quite frequently – Christmastime or otherwise! But, his gumdrop cake is very different from mine. While my cake tends to look a little more rustic and light in colour, his gumdrop cake is darker in colour and slices much better. I think it’s because he bakes his cake a little longer than I do, but also, his recipe is slightly different.

Whenever I make cake, I’m much less concerned about the look of the cake and more apt to focus on the taste and texture. I’m no cake aficionado, but in my humble opinion, cake is meant to be fluffy and moist. Otherwise, it just tastes like a biscuit, and biscuits are just not cake!

WHAT ARE GUMDROPS?

Are you familiar with gumdrops, Dear Reader? Contrary to popular belief, gumdrops are not the same as jube jubes or wine gums. Gumdrops are a type of baking candy. They are brightly colored pectin-based pieces, shaped like a narrow dome with a flattened top. They come in fruit flavors. I usually find them a Fortinos.

Gumdrops are used in baking, candy crafting, decorating, and for eating out of hand to mouth. They are often used for decorating cakes and cupcakes. Around Christmastime, this candy is an ingredient commonly used in the making and decorating of gingerbread houses.

When baked into a cake, such as this Christmas Gumdrop Bundt Cake, the viscosity of the candy changes. Before baking, the candy is chewy and tough. The candy should feel hard to the touch with very little give in it. After being baked into the cake though, the candy transforms into a soft, gooey consistency, yet it holds it’s shape very well.

THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY A SLICE OF GUMDROP CAKE

Everyone seems to enjoy Gumdrop Cake a little differently. I’ve seen some people just eat a slice of the cake just as it is – and there’s really nothing wrong with that. But, I think to truly enjoy Christmas Gumdrop Bundt Cake, you need first a hot cup of tea. Orange Pekoe Tetley tea with one sugar cube and a good splash of milk. Yes, that’s the best!

Then, don’t slice the cake too thick, but not too thin either; about half an inch. Now, this is where I might lose some of you, but to me, Gumdrop Cake, even though it’s already moist and perfectly delicious on its own, needs a good smear of butter. Yes, butter!

And, Dear Reader, if you’re doing things really right, you’re eating your Gumdrop Cake smeared with butter, accompanied by a slice of good cheddar, and sipping your hot tea. Now that, is how to properly eat Christmas Gumdrop Bundt Cake!

Please try this recipe. Get your kids involved. And, if you don’t have kids of your own, borrow the neighbours kids. Kids love to bake and they love to bake even more with candy! And, as I’ve said before, who doesn’t love cake and candy!?

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