How to Make Chewing Gum: 2 Ways
Chewing gum is a popular candy and it’s even known for improving memory. Making it at home is not only a great way to spend time with your children, but also a great way to reduce the sugar content they encounter when consuming candy. It’s easy and cheap to make as well.
5-Minute Crafts shows you 2 ways of making your own chewing gum.
1. Classic gum base
What you’ll need:
- 1/3 cup of gum base
- 1/4 tsp of citric acid
- 1 tsp of glycerin
- 2 tbsp of corn syrup
- 1/2 cup of powdered sugar + some extra sugar to coat your fingers
- 5 to 7 drops of flavoring (traditional bubble gum, chocolate, vanilla, or anything you like)
Instructions:
1. Mix 1/3 cup of gum base with 1/4 tsp of citric acid, 1 tsp of glycerin, and 2 tbsp of corn syrup.
2. Microwave the gum base mixture for about 1 minute.
3. Pour out 1/2 cup of powdered sugar onto a cutting board or on a flat surface. Make a hole in the center of the pile of sugar.
4. Then remove the gum base from the microwave and stir. The gum base should be melted and very sticky. If it’s not, microwave it for another 30 seconds and stir again. Repeat the process until the mixture is gooey.
5. Add 5 to 7 drops of flavoring to the gum base and mix well.
6. Coat your fingers and knead the base mixture to combine the powdered sugar. This process should take about 20 minutes and by the end of it, the dough should feel smooth but stiff in your hands. If things get too sticky you can sprinkle on more powdered sugar. Keep in mind that the longer you knead the dough, the less likely the gum will be to fall apart later on when you chew it.
7. Roll the homemade bubble gum into a sort of rope-shaped tube. Then cut it into smaller pieces using scissors.
8. Wrap each of these pieces in wax paper. You can also store them in a Ziploc.
2. Beeswax base
What you’ll need:
- 1/3 cup food-grade beeswax
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp light corn syrup
- Peppermint extract
- Double boiler and ice-cube trays
Instructions:
1. Place water in the bottom of a double boiler and wait for it to boil. Once that happens, add the beeswax to the top bowl and heat it until it melts. You should get about 1/3 cup of melted beeswax before removing it from the heat. Add corn syrup and mix well.
2. Add half of the powdered sugar to the melted beeswax and mix until well-combined. You have to do this quickly otherwise the wax will harden, but if you see that it’s getting too thick, you can put it back in the double boiler and wait for it to melt again. Taste for sweetness and add sugar as needed.
3. Place back over the heat. Add 3 drops of peppermint extract and stir to combine. Taste again and adjust the flavor as needed.
4. Finally, scoop out some of the mixture and place it into ice cube trays. Once cool, take the chewing gum out and wrap each of them in wax paper.