Homemade Gummy Bears
Indulge in fun and delicious homemade gummy bears! Bursting with fruity flavors, these chewy candies are customizable and healthier compared to store-bought gummies. Using fruit juice for natural sweetness, gelatin for that classic gummy texture, and a touch of honey for an extra hint of sweetness. With no artificial additives or sweeteners, they’re a great activity for family bonding and a tasty snack to enjoy anytime.
This homemade gummy bear recipe is super easy and family-friendly. Everyone can lend a helping hand to prepare these gummy candies and then they just taste that much better once they are ready to eat.
Everybody, especially kids, love a gummy bear and our recipe without any added sugar or additives makes this a perfect guilt-free treat. Play around with different flavored juices to change the flavor and color of the gummy bears to keep it interesting.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Everyone loves a gummy treat but now you can eat them guilt free without all the added sugar.
- The whole family can help to make these healthy gummies.
- Younger kids can practice their fine motor skills using the dropper.
Homemade Gummy Bear Ingredients
- Beef gelatin – This is what will thicken the juice and give that gummy texture we love in a gummy.
- Organic apple juice – No additives or preservatives here, so keeps these gummies better for you.
- Organic purple grape juice – You can use whichever flavor organic juice is preferred by your family. Switch it up every time you make these and find out what flavor everyone likes best.
- Raw honey – Raw, unpasteurized honey doesn’t have any added sugars.
- Vegetable oil – Use this or any other light tasting oil to grease the gummy bear molds so the gummies pop right out.
Will the beef gelatin make the gummies taste like beef?
The beef gelatin will not make the gummies have a beef flavor. The gelatin is unflavored so all you will taste is the wonderful fruit juice that you add to the mixture.
Helpful Tools
- Q-Tips – Use these to grease the gummy bear mold.
- Gummy Bear Molds and Dropper – A quick search and you can find any shape of silicone mold you want, but we definitely love the classic bear.
- Small pot – Use a medium sized pot to double the recipe.
- Liquid measuring cup – a liquid measuring cup will leave a little extra room for stirring the mixture.
- Measuring spoons – Measuring spoons are a good item for kids to practice with.
- Whisk or Spoon – Give the mixture a good stir to really incorporate the gelatin.
- Large cookie sheet – This has to fit in your fridge with the gummy molds on top of it.
How to Make Homemade Gummy Bears
- Heat 4 ounces of your choice of juice on low heat until it is very lightly steaming. This should take about 3-5 minutes.
- Add 3 Tablespoons of unflavored gelatin powder to the remaining juice in the measuring cup. Mix well and set aside to allow the gelatin time to bloom and thicken.
- Once the juice in the small saucepan is hot and gently steaming, pour it into the juice-gelatin mixture in the measuring cup. The thick mixure will turn liquid. Pour all of the liquid back into the pot and gently heat for another 3-5 minutes. Be careful not to let this boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- While the mixture is cooling, place gummy bear molds onto the baking sheet. Lightly swab a thin layer of vegetable oil into the mold cavities using a Q-Tip. Be sure not to overgrease.
- Use the dropper to fill the molds with the juice mixture.
- Carefully place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for one hours. They should pop out easily after this time, but if they don’t, put them back in the fridge for another hour or so.
- Store the gummy bears in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Pro Tips
- If you don’t have any Q-tips handy, a new small paintbrush will work in its place.
- If the gummy bears do not pop out of the molds easily after an hour in the fridge, place them back in for another hour or so. They should come out easily.
- One packet of gelatin contains about 1 Tablespoon of powder, so for this recipe you will need three packets.
- You can use real maple syrup in place of honey, just make sure it isn’t a bottle with added sugars.
Can I make these vegan?
Yes, you can make this healthy gummy bear recipe vegan. In this recipe, the beef gelatin is of course what makes it not vegan but if you can buy agar agar, it is a really good substitute for gelatin that is made from seaweed. You can use it in a 1:1 ratio, which makes it an easy swap.
Another option is to use pectin in place of gelatin but it works better when you add sugar which we are trying to avoid in this recipe.
Do these gummy bears have to be refrigerated?
Since this recipe does not contain preservatives, I recommend refrigerating them to keep them fresh. They also will begin to melt back into a liquid state if they get too warm, so refrigeration is key to keeping these gummy bears solid! They will soften slightly at room temperature.
How long do homemade gummies last?
These homemade gummy bears can last up to three weeks refrigerated in an airtight glass container. But I have a feeling they will be long gone before then!
This is a perfect rainy day activity to do with your family when everyone wants a sweet treat. Without any added sugar, they are guilt free and so much fun to make!
More Family Friendly Treats
- No-bake recipes are always great to do with kids especially our No Bake Peanut Butter Cereal Bars.
- Monster Energy Balls are great to have on hand when you’re on the go and it’s time for a snack.
- Kids can practice color recognition and fine motor skills making these Flower Pretzels.
- If you’re in the mood for S’mores but a crackling bonfire is not in the plans, prepare this yummy S’mores Bark.
Homemade Gummy Bears
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons beef gelatin
- 1 cup organic apple juice
- 1 cup organic purple grape juice
- 2 Tablespoons raw honey
- vegetable oil
Instructions
Directions for the apple juice gummy bears:
- Pour 4 ounces of the apple juice into a small pot. Gently heat on the stove top using low heat until the apple juice is very lightly steaming. This should take 3-5 minutes.
- While waiting for the apple juice to warm up, add 3 tablespoons of gelatin to the remaining apple juice in the measuring cup. Mix well and set aside to let the gelatin bloom. The mixture will thicken up a lot!
- Once the apple juice is hot and gently steaming, pour it into the apple juice and gelatin mixture. This will turn the thick mixture into a liquid. Pour the liquid back into the pot and gently heat for another 3-5 minutes. Do not let this mixture boil! Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
- While waiting for the mixture to cool slightly, place the gummy bear molds on a large cookie sheet. Use a Q-tip to lightly swab a thin layer of vegetable oil into the gummy bear mold cavities. Do not over grease!
- Once the gummy bear mold cavities are lightly greased, use the dropper to fill the molds with the apple juice and gelatin mixture.
- Carefully place the cookie sheet containing the molds in the refrigerator and set a timer for one hour. The gummy bears should set up nicely in this amount of time, but if they do not pop out of the molds easily after one hour, place them back in the refrigerator for an additional hour. They should pop out easily when they have had enough time to set up!
- Store the gummy bears in an air-tight glass container in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks… If they last that long!
Directions for the grape juice gummy bears:
- Pour 4 ounces of the grape juice into a small pot. Gently heat on the stove top using low heat until the grape juice is very lightly steaming. This should take 3-5 minutes.
- While waiting for the grape juice to warm up, add 3 tablespoons of gelatin to the remaining grape juice in the measuring cup. Mix well and set aside to let the gelatin bloom. The mixture will thicken up a lot!
- Once the grape juice is hot and gently steaming, pour it into the grape juice and gelatin mixture. This will turn the thick mixture into a liquid. Pour the liquid back into the pot and gently heat for another 3-5 minutes. Do not let this mixture boil! Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
- While waiting for the mixture to cool slightly, place the gummy bear molds on a large cookie sheet. Use a Q-tip to lightly swab a thin layer of vegetable oil into the gummy bear molds cavities. Do not over grease!
- Once the gummy bear mold cavities are lightly greased, use the dropper to fill the molds with the grape juice/gelatin mixture.
- Carefully place the cookie sheet containing the molds in the refrigerator and set a timer for one hour. The gummy bears should set up nicely in this amount of time, but if they do not pop out of the molds easily after one hour, place them back in the refrigerator for an additional hour. They should pop out easily when they have had enough time to set up!
- Store the gummy bears in an air-tight glass container in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks… If they last that long!
