It's Bubblegum Time!

Since Kiki released her new kit, Bubblegum Classic, I decided to post a recipe for making bubblegum from Leener's:

Yield 20-30 pieces of gum.

1/3 cup gum base
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 Tablespoon corn syrup
1 teaspoon glycerin
1/4 teaspoon citric acid
5-7 drops flavoring
Microwave safe or heat resistant dish.
Wax Paper or Ziploc Bag

Place the Gum Base, Citric Acid, Corn Syrup and Glycerin into one of the disposable microwave dishes or a microwave safe or heat resistant bowl.

Microwave Method:

Heat the ingredients on high for 30 seconds. Remove from the microwave and stir. If it has not melted, place it back in the oven and heat for 10 more seconds. Stir it again and repeat heating until the gum base is gooey. (continue with no. 2 below)

Stove top Method:

Place ingredients in a heat resistant dish that will fit in a sauce pan of boiling water. Cover the pan and bring the water to a boil. Turn the heat down so the water is at a simmer. Heat the gum base until it becomes gooey. This can take up to 10 minutes. Be sure not to let the water boil dry.

Add flavoring and optional food color to the melted gum base and stir well. *If you have fresh mint or other leaves from a garden that you wish to use for flavor: Put them through a food processor or muddle them. You may still have to boost the flavor a bit with spearmint oil. You may have to use quite a lot of leaves to get enough flavor and then the gum may not mix as well due to the added moisture.

Measure out 1 heaping tablespoon of powdered sugar and set it aside for later. Carefully place about one half of remaining powdered sugar onto your work surface. Make a well in the middle of the pile. Pour the melted gum base mixture into the well. The gum base may still be hot but it will cool quickly. Dip your fingers in the powdered sugar and begin kneading the gum base and sugar together. Work it as if you are kneading bread dough. Add more of the powdered sugar when the dough gets sticky. Continue adding sugar until you have smooth, stiff dough. You must knead the gum dough until all the sugar is worked in. This will take at least 15 minutes. Kneading too little will cause the gum to break up when chewed. You will be done kneading when the gum is smooth and you can roll it in your hands.

Now it’s time to roll out your bubble gum and cut it into pieces. Roll gum into a one-half inch diameter rope and then cut individual pieces about one half inch long. Using scissors will make this easy. If you like your gum in sticks, use a rolling pin dusted with powdered sugar to roll the gum out and then cut into strips with your scissors.

Dust all of the gum pieces with the remaining powdered sugar, and enjoy! Your bubble gum should be stored in a zip lock bag. You can also wrap individual pieces in wax paper to share!