Homemade Bubble Gum

Since almost every pack of gum that you can pick up at the grocery store is laced with aspartame, we never get a chance to enjoy the stuff. But last week, as a part of lesson time, Jada and I made homemade bubble gum that we could all safely enjoy!

We were fortunate enough to have received a Bubble Gum Making Kit for Jada’s Christmas one year, but you can easily gather the ingredients to make your own gum yourself.

Here is a recipe from Leeners, where you can also purchase some of the necessary ingredients:

“This is our recipe for making bubble gum.  It will yield 20-30 pieces of gum. Making gum is a great activity for scout meetings and birthday parties.  The guests get to take home their own delicious creation!”

The Bubble Gum Recipe

• 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

1. 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: (ask an adult to help)

1. 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)

Stovetop Method: (ask an adult to help)

1. Place ingredients in a heat-resistant dish that will fit in a saucepan 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Pour the melted gum base mixture into the well.  The gum base may still be hot but it will cool quickly.
5. 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 a 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.
6. 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.
7. Dust all of the gum pieces with the remaining powdered sugar, and enjoy!  Your bubble gum should be stored in a Ziploc bag.  You can also wrap individual pieces in wax paper to share!

*I think you may be able to omit the glycerin. The kit we have does not require glycerin. However, it may affect the elasticity and bubble-making-ability of the gum. The gum we made was more chewing gum; not good for bubbles.