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Homemade Bubble Gum Recipe | Family Fun | Gum Books for Kids | Writing Research

~ Carole Marie ~ Leave a comment

Making Bubble Gum

While writing a fun story about bubble gum, I wondered if I could make my own gum from home.
I found a video showing how to make bubblegum and copied it. Finding the gum base to purchase took more searching than I anticipated, but don’t worry; I’m sharing my source here so you can easily find it.

Making bubble gum was a sticky process, and the first time around, we learned too late that using our nice dishes for mixing ingredients wasn’t the best option (we had to use rubbing alcohol to remove the gum base from our dishes and silverware afterward).

Once we switched to using paper bowls and a wooden stirring stick, the clean-up was a breeze. (The image on the left features gum base and flavor drop bottles.)

We purchased a gum base that is made in the USA from HungryRobot. It doesn’t smell very good when you pull it out of the package, but after adding the flavor oils and powdered sugar, it smells and tastes amazing.

We used two capfuls of either Bubblegum flavor or Cotton Candy flavor from LorAnn Oils, as we tested batches. With one batch, we also added a few drops of the LorAnn Tart and Sour Flavor Enhancer, which gave the gum a tangy sour punch. (Be aware that the more liquids you add to the gum base, the more powdered sugar you’ll need later.)

We also experimented with different food colors, but classic pink was our favorite.

After testing and verifying measurements, we invited guests to join in on the gum-making. We’ve had three bubble gum-making parties with teens and adults, followed each time by a bubble-blowing contest – what a blast!

Want to make bubble gum, too? You’ll find the recipe below. If you make homemade bubble gum, let me know. I’d love to hear your results!

Print Recipe

Homemade Bubble Gum

Equipment

  • 1 Paper bowl
  • 1 Paper plate
  • 1 Wood craft stick or plastic spoon
  • Cutting utensil or plastic knife
  • Wax paper or parchment paper, cut into squares

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 TBLS Unflavored Gum Base (or 30 grams)
  • 3 TBLS Corn Syrup
  • Flavor Drops Such as Cotton Candy or Bubble Gum flavors. We used 2 capfuls.
  • 1 Drop Food Coloring Red provides the classic bubblegum pink color
  • 2 TBLS Powdered Sugar

Instructions

  • In a paper bowl, microwave the gum base in ten-second increments until it’s fully melted. (use the wood craft stick to stir it)
  • Add the corn syrup, and continue microwaving in ten-second increments and stirring until fully mixed.
  • Add the flavor drops and stir.
  • Add the food coloring and stir. Set aside.
  • Pour the powdered sugar onto the paper plate.
  • Pour the melted ingredients into the middle of the powdered sugar.
  • Use the craft stick to pile surrounding powdered sugar onto the top of the mixture.
  • Using your fingers, press more powdered sugar in.
  • Massage the sugar in while adding more and more powdered sugar until the mixture is no longer sticky.
  • Roll the gum into a log.
  • Cut into gum-size pieces.
  • Drop the pieces back into the powdered sugar and roll.
  • Shake the sugar loose and roll each piece inside wax or parchment paper. Twist ends.

Notes

*We purchased gum base that is made in the USA from HungryRobot https://hungryrobot.com/products/base
**We used two capfuls of either Bubblegum flavor or Cotton Candy flavor from LorAnn Oils https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJMGG3MW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_bAmazon.com: LorAnn SS Flavor combo Pack – Bubble Gum and Cotton Candy – 1 Ounce : Grocery & Gourmet Food_fed_…

As I researched bubble gum, I learned about archeological evidence showing that chewing gum has existed for a long time. The Mayans, ancient Greeks, and others chewed gum. The world’s oldest preserved chewing gum is 9,000 years old and made from birch bark in Sweden.

More Fun Facts About Bubblegum:

*A British archeologist once discovered a 5,000-year-old piece of chewing gum in Finland. It was made from bark tar and still contained tooth imprints.

*The oldest bubble gum brand, Blibber-Blubber, started in 1906, but it was way too sticky. In 1928, Walter Diemer discovered a successful formula called Bubble Dubble, which is still being sold today.

*The most expensive chewing gum in the world is called Mastika Gum. If you’d like to try the gum that elitists and royal families worldwide chew, you can buy it online.

*The current world record for the most chewing gum chewed at one time is 250 pieces. Yikes!

*All forms of chewing gum have been banned in Singapore since 1992.

Picture Book Recommendations:

As I searched for picture books that feature bubble gum (to use as inspiration, mentor texts, and comp titles for the story I wrote), these books stood out as my favorites. Take a look!

*On Account of the Gum, by Adam Rex

*Bubble Gum Bison Needs a Bath by Scott Rothman

*Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy

I Wrote A Book… Now What?

~ Carole Marie ~ 2 Comments

 

“I wrote a book… now what?”

You’ll hear many different answers to that question because not every person has the same writing skills, the same opportunities in their local area or the same goals for their book. Since we are unique individuals, you can decide which of the following steps you’ll take – and they are all highly recommended. These steps won’t get your book published, but they will position you and your book to be ready for publication.

  • Attend a writers workshop/conference

Attending local workshops and conferences is a great starting point. Not only will you learn about your craft, you’ll connect with other writers and discover opportunities you weren’t aware of. Get feedback from editors and published authors while you are there and take their suggestions to heart. If you feel confident with your work, make appointments with publishers and agents.

  • Join a writer’s critique group

You can read your work many times over and still not see the flaws or realize you have weak points. A writer’s critique group can give you feedback on your writing in a supportive environment.

Be aware that by participating, you’ll be expected to review the work of others in your group and provide them feedback as well.

  • Build your publishing credits

A publishing house wants to know you can write, meet a deadline and be professional. One way to show this is by building your publishing credits. Begin by writing articles for local papers and magazines – they may not pay you for your article but it is a worthwhile way to build credibility. Yes, I can hear you… “I don’t want to write articles.” This may not be your cup of tea, but can be a refreshing break from the book you are self-editing. And it is very fulfilling to see your work in print.

  • Write your book proposal (non-fiction) or query (fiction)

I’ve heard it said you should ‘write your proposal or query before your book is finished’ because it will help you bring definition to your story and keep you focused on the goal. Not a bad idea.

  • Research

It will take much research to find out which publishing houses fit your book. Read their guidelines carefully. If all the best-fitting publishing houses will only accept queries or proposals from a literary agent, then begin researching literary agents.

  • Have patience

Even though your book is written, it may take years to fine tune and bring it to excellence. You want to see progress without getting discouraged, so make reasonable and achievable goals for yourself. For example, this year I will:

  1. write two articles and submit them to local magazines
  2. edit chapters 1-5 of my book utilizing the feedback from my critique group
  3. research and choose the top five publishing houses that would be a good fit my book
  4. finish writing my query and bio

Most of all, don’t give up in your pursuit of getting your book published or getting it ready for publication.  All the time and effort will be worth it!