Wintergreen Wafers

Ingredients

• 0.5 oz Gum Tragacanth (Original recipe calls for 1 oz, but this is a large amount. Reduce to 0.5 oz for a more manageable batch.)
• 0.5 cup Cold Water (Original recipe calls for 1 cup, reduce to 0.5 cup to match gum tragacanth reduction.)
• 1 cup Confectioners’ Sugar (Plus more for dusting)
• 3 drops Oil of Wintergreen (Adjust to taste)
• 1 drop Fruit Red Food Coloring (optional) (Optional, for pink color)

Instructions

1. 1In a small bowl, combine the gum tragacanth and cold water. Stir briefly to combine. Cover and let soak for 24 hours, or until the gum tragacanth has softened and formed a gel.
2. 2After soaking, rub the gum tragacanth mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl. This will remove any lumps and create a smooth base for the wafers.
3. 3Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar to the sieved gum tragacanth mixture, kneading until a smooth, pliable dough forms. The dough should be firm but not sticky. If it's too sticky, add more confectioners' sugar, a tablespoon at a time.
4. 4Add the oil of wintergreen to the dough and knead until evenly distributed. If desired, add a drop of fruit red food coloring for a pink hue and knead until the color is uniform.
5. 5Lightly dust a clean work surface (such as a cutting board or marble slab) with confectioners’ sugar. Roll the dough out very thinly, about 1/16 inch thick. Use a small round cutter (about 1 inch in diameter) or a knife to cut the dough into desired shapes (squares or rounds).
6. 6Spread the cut wafers on a clean, flat surface (such as a baking sheet lined with parchment paper). Cover loosely with a clean cloth or paper towel to protect them from dust. Let the wafers stand at room temperature until they are completely dry and brittle, which may take several hours or overnight.