Create a rainbow of flavors and colors when you make these easy and delicious Homemade Gummy Bears!
Have you ever felt foolish that you never realized you could make something at home—and make it better than the store-bought variety? That’s how I feel about this recipe for homemade gummy bears. In my defense, nobody I know was making these treats in their kitchens twenty-odd years ago.
Fast-forward to today, and moms have everything they need to create magical culinary memories for their children at their fingertips. Here at About A Mom, I get to share many great recipes, including ones like this that make you feel better about giving your children special treats. After all, making a candy favorite without artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or excess sugar is something we can all agree is a better alternative to some of the chemical-laden options we see on store shelves. And, these gummy bears are ideal for taking to the movies!
What excites me the most about this recipe is how good it sounds. Fruit juice, honey, and gelatin powder—other than water, that’s all you need. I recommend using unsweetened juice, since you are adding honey to sweeten the candies. Maple syrup is an excellent substitute for honey in this recipe. Your gummies will taste refreshingly delicious with whatever juice flavor you use. You can also adjust the gummies’ sweetness by increasing or decreasing the amount of honey.
When filling your molds, be sure to fill them level with the top of the mold. That’s why using a dropper for smaller mold shapes is highly recommended. You don’t want to overfill them, or the gummies will wind up attaching to each other rather than creating perfectly formed individual shapes. Also, try not to get air bubbles into the juice as you fill the molds. You can gently tap the filled molds on the counter to bring any air bubbles to the surface, then pop them with a toothpick.
*Note: Avoid enzyme-containing juices like mango, passion fruit, pineapple, papaya, kiwi, guava, and fig, as the protease in them will hinder the gelatin’s setting ability.
Go on a gummy candy craze with assorted flavors and molds
Once you make homemade gummy bears for the first time, you won’t want to stop. Don’t be surprised when your kids beg you to make them week after week. And, since you control the ingredients, you probably won’t mind. Of course, you don’t have to stop at gummy bears—with those tiny molded shapes. Think about all the gummy candies you see in those giant-sized bins at mall candy stores. You can make any gummy candies you like with this recipe.
Today, there are silicone molds for just about anything you could want, from worms to seashells, hearts to dinosaurs, and flowers to instruments. You can get molds for various holidays and special occasions. If your child wants a robot, princess, or superhero party, you can make gummy candies for those themes, too! A fun idea is to get alphabet molds and have your children make words with their gummy letters, or do math equations with their gummy numbers. There’s no limit to the colors and creations you can make with assorted fruit juices.
How do I store leftovers?
Store homemade gummy bears in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week. Do not leave them sitting out because they can develop mold or become too soft. If your gummy candies stick together, separate the layers with parchment paper. Do not freeze these candies, as that will alter their texture.
Serving suggestions
There are so many fun things you can do with homemade gummy bears and other cute shapes. Of course, you can make gummy worms for the traditional chocolate pudding worms and dirt dessert. Or, take any gummy shapes and add them to this Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe, Salted Caramel Ice Cream, or this Frozen Custard Recipe. Make fun cookies by pressing a hole in each little dough ball and filling it with your homemade gummy shape before baking. Some great cookie recipes to use are Cream Cheese Cookies, Coconut Flour Cookies, and classic Butter Cookies, omitting the decorator’s sugar.
Homemade Gummy Bears
Ingredients
- 1 cup fruit juice apple, orange, or grape work well
- 2 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons unflavored gelatin powdered
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- Place your silicone gummy bear molds on a baking tray so they are easy to move to the refrigerator later.
- In a small saucepan, mix the fruit juice with the honey. Heat over medium heat and stir until the mixture begins to simmer. Remove it from the heat as soon as small bubbles form.
- In a small bowl, sprinkle unflavored gelatin over the cold water and stir to combine. Let it sit for about 2 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Stir the bloomed gelatin into the warm juice mixture until it dissolves completely. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove any impurities.
- Quickly fill each cavity of your silicone molds using a dropper or small spoon before the mixture begins to set.
- Place the filled molds in the refrigerator for about 2 hours or until the gummies firm up. Carefully remove the gummy bears from the molds and enjoy. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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