Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are gelatinous, reddish brown, button-shaped at first then often coalescing and becoming irregularly effused.

Molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, has shown that the species is distinct.

[1] Exidia subsaccharina forms reddish to vinaceous brown, gelatinous fruit bodies that are button-shaped at first, typically coalescing with age and becoming irregularly effused, around 10 cm (4 in) across.

The spores are weakly to distinctly allantoid (sausage-shaped), 12.5 to 17.5 by 4 to 5.5 μm.

[1] Fruit bodies of Exidia saccharina also occur on conifers and are not distinguishable in the field, but have smaller basidia and spores (10 to 14 by 3 to 4.5 μm).