This homemade version of jelly nougat candy captures all that nostalgia of childhood with minimal effort. It takes about ten minutes, a microwave, and zero candy-making expertise.
Whether you’ve always called it nougat Christmas candy, marshmallow nougat candy, gumdrop nougat, or “the chewy white stuff,” this recipe delivers the classic taste and texture everyone remembers—soft, sweet, creamy, and absolutely holiday-worthy.
If you ever dug through a tin of mixed Christmas candy at your grandma’s house, odds are you remember the soft little pastel squares known as Brach’s jelly nougat.
They were the chewy ones—creamy, gumdrop-studded, and oh so good! My Dad loved them and we ate them together all the time.
In my 20s they got harder to find and then in my 30s they were finally discontinued altogether. Recently I decided I missed them enough to try making my own and I’m thrilled with the results.
It’s been so fun sharing them with my kids and my grown up friends who remember jelly nougat fondly from their childhoods!
What Exactly Is Jelly Nougat Candy?
Jelly nougat candy is one of those old-fashioned sweets that manages to be both delightfully simple and surprisingly charming. The texture is what makes it memorable: soft and chewy, with just enough firmness to hold its shape.
The base is made by melting marshmallows with white chocolate and butter until everything is smooth and glossy. Then gumdrops get stirred in so each slice looks like a little stained-glass window.
When I was little I used to pull the white nougat off of the gumdrop pieces and eat every piece separately. It was sticky but that never stopped me!
This candy goes by many names:
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Christmas nougat
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Jelly nougat bars
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Gumdrop nougat
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Chewy nougat holiday candy
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Jujube nougat candy
Whatever you call it, it is beloved for being:
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festive
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colorful
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kid-friendly
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easy to make
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great for gifting
Another reason it’s so popular at Christmas? It fills out cookie plates beautifully. Every cookie platter needs a pop of color and texture variety, and jelly nougat fills that role perfectly.
Don’t tell all the cookie bakers but my favorite thing in the Christmas tin is usually whatever candy (fudge, toffee, etc) is rounding out the cookies!
A Quick History of Nougat Christmas Candy
While modern versions rely on the shortcut method we use today—marshmallows plus white chocolate—the idea behind nougat is much older. Traditional nougat recipes date back centuries and were made by whipping warm honey with egg whites until fluffy, then mixing in nuts or fruit. It was beloved in Europe long before it made its way into American holiday cooking.
But the nougat Christmas candy most of us recognize grew popular in the mid-20th century when manufacturers like Brach’s started producing commercially wrapped nougat pieces filled with soft jelly candies. They became a staple of of holiday gift tins and “fancy” Christmas candy dishes.
People loved them because they felt special. They weren’t everyday candy—you didn’t buy them on a random March afternoon. This was holiday-only territory.
As for the gumdrops? They earned their spot because they were readily available, inexpensive, and packed with bright, cheerful color. Gumdrops held their shape inside the creamy nougat base and added a fruity pop that became synonymous with Christmas candy making.
Over time, home cooks started recreating the treat using marshmallows and white chocolate as a simplified base—because boiling sugar syrup to 240°F was not high on anyone’s holiday wish list. Today’s version honors the original flavor but keeps it fun and approachable for busy holiday kitchens.
When it comes to Christmas toffee there are no shortcuts but jelly nougat was made for shortcuts!
Ingredients You Need for Jelly Nougat Candy
You only need a handful of pantry staples to pull together this old-fashioned favorite, but each one plays a role in how the candy sets and tastes.
Marshmallows
Mini marshmallows melt faster and create a smoother base. If you only have large marshmallows, chop them up first so they melt more evenly.
Marshmallows act as the structure of this candy. Their gelatin and sugar content help mimic the chew of traditional nougat without requiring any complicated technique.
White Chips
I use basic white chips from the chocolate chip section of the store. Some people use almond bark or candy melts but I felt like the white chips were cost effective and worked well. Also I have an unfounded fear of candy melts…. I know I’m weird – it’s ok.
Use whichever you prefer. Just avoid white chocolate chips that contain stabilizers—they’re notorious for clumping instead of melting.
Butter
A tablespoon or two keeps the chocolate from scorching and helps everything melt into a glossy, unified mixture. It also adds a subtle richness that balances out the sweetness.
Gumdrops or Jelly Candies
Dots are the easiest and most standard thing so I used them in this recipe. Everybody in the US can find them and you don’t have to worry about black liquorish!
You can also use classic gumdrops, spice drops, fruit slices, or jelly beans.
If you are using a big candy like fruit slices make sure to chunk them into more Dot sized pieces. You would also do well to roll the cut pieces in granulated sugar so that they don’t stick to everything in sight.
I also suggest avoiding black gumdrops unless you want your candy to taste faintly of licorice and regret. A LOT of regret….
Lots of people love to do just red and green at Christmas time but I LOVE the combination of fruit flavors from using a mixture of colors. And the rainbow of colors is so pretty.
This is also perfect at Easter with pastel gumdrops. You can tuck them in Easter Baskets, eggs for the hunt, or on spring dessert trays.
If you want to theme this for different holidays try these ideas:
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Red & pink for Valentine’s Day
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Red, white & blue for the 4th of July
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Orange, purple & green for Halloween (but that licorice thing…. I mean, you do you?)
How to Store Your Nougat Christmas Candy
Room Temperature
Store in an airtight container with layers separated by wax paper or wrap them individually in clear wrappers. It stays soft and chewy for 5–7 days.
Refrigerator
Keeps the nougat firmer and extends the shelf life to 2–3 weeks or longer. This is ideal if you’re prepping ahead for parties or gifting.
Freezing
Yes, you can freeze it! Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight to prevent condensation from making it sticky.
Ideas for Packaging Jelly Nougat for Gifting
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added to cookie trays and platters
FAQs about Jelly Nougat Candy
Can I make it ahead?
Yes! Jelly nougat actually improves slightly after a day because the flavors meld. Make it 2–3 days ahead and store it in the fridge.
Is nougat Christmas candy gluten-free?
Usually—but always double-check your gumdrops, white chocolate, and marshmallows. Some brands sneak in wheat starch or flavoring additives. (I mean if you are asking this I assume you know to read labels!)
Can I use jelly beans instead of gumdrops?
Definitely. Jelly beans hold their shape well and add a fun twist.
Is this the same as Old-Fashioned Christmas Nougat?
This is the shortcut version. Traditional nougat uses whipped egg whites and hot sugar syrup, which requires more precision. This recipe captures the nostalgic taste with a much simpler method. But by all means if you are in the mood to go for it have fun and tell me how it goes!
Can I double the recipe?
I don’t recommend it. This is a good sized batch. If you double it there ends up being too much candy to press into the pans before it cools. Ideally you would make two batches if you need additional candy.
Helpful Candy Making Equipment for Jelly Nougat:
- I used a practical Pyrex 9×12 pan. I suggest owning one with a lid because it is super easy!
- I love these easy clear candy wrappers to individually package squares of candy. It is the easiest way to store, serve and gift this candy.
More Fun Christmas Candy Recipes to Try:
Jelly Nougat
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter
- 18 oz white baking chips
- 16 oz mini marshmallows
- 2 cups Dots Assorted Fruit Gumdrops
- Butter or pan spray for the pan and your hands.
Instructions
- Before you begin make sure everything is prepared and ready. Once the nougat is combined you need to work quickly to spread it evenly in the pan.
- Butter or spray a 9x12 pan with pan spray
- In a large glass bowl, melt the butter in the microwave.
- Add the white chips and the marshmallows.
- Microwave for 90 more seconds and then stir.
- Continue to microwave 15 seconds at a time stirring after every time until everything is JUST melted.
- Pour in the gumdrops and quickly stir to combine.
- Scrape into the greased pan and use greased hands to press the mixture flat.
- Let the candy cool / set until firm. (You can refrigerate it to speed up the process.)
- When cool, cut into 60 rectangles.
- Wrap individual pieces of candy in candy wrappers or squares of wax paper.
Your Rating Matters
When you leave a comment or star rating, it means more than you might think. It helps me understand what you’re enjoying, builds trust for other readers, and supports real, tested cooking content. If you have a moment, I’d truly appreciate you sharing your experience. - Mirlandra
Nutrition Estimate
A Note on Nutrition
Nutritional info is an imperfect estimate. Please take it with a grain of salt.
I read each and every comment and I try to respond to questions asap, so ask away! If you’ve made a recipe, I would love to hear about it! Please come back and share your experience and give the recipe a 5-star rating so other people will know how much you loved it!
Mirim says
These are winners for the festive colors, simplicity, adaptability, and nostalgia. Plus they are so much fresher than the ones we used to get at the store. Thanks for the recipe and all the variations.
Mirlandra Neuneker says
You are most welcome!
Bi says
these are tasty and I want to make again but I don’t recall the quantity of gummies needed.
Mirlandra Neuneker says
Oh goodness! I totally left the quantity of gumdrops out of the recipe. Wow! Thank you so much – I’m really glad to know about this. I’ve fixed that up. You should plan on about 2 cups 🙂 Happy Candy Making!