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Gummy Bears

by 38 Comments

Healthier, refined sugar-free Gummy Bears!! Plus, a wine version for mom! This easy and healthier Gummy Bears recipe is a perfect treat for kids. 

Gummy Bears | My Kitchen Love

My friend tagged me on a gummy bears recipe one day and I knew I had to investigate how to make them healthier for my kids. The result is this 3 ingredient recipe for low-honey (refined sugar-free) fruit juice Gummy Bears and little adaptation for some adult Wine Gummy Bears. Because why should the kids get all the goodies?

Needless to say my kids went bananas for the fruit gummy bears and all the adults adored the wine gummy bears. I love that they’re not overly sweet. Your teeth won’t feel like they’re going to fallout from eating a bunch.

This recipe makes 150 gummy bears and I stretched serving them to various my kids and friends over a 5 day period. Since my kid never eat candy enjoying 5 at once for a few days was a special treat for them.

Gummy Bears | My Kitchen Love

Gelatin is used in this recipe. I tried both the regular everyday (found everywhere) gelatine as well as some fancy pants organic gelatin. The results were the same. It would probably come down to your personal preference on which to use. I tried to cut the gelati  in one recipe testing session, but it didn’t work so I’d recommend sticking with the 3 packages.

I used (from left to right) pomegranate juice and mango juice and wine for the gummy bears above. The mango flavoured were the big winner for the kids.

Another occasion I made pineapple coconut juice gummy bears, but the gelatin didn’t hold. I think it’s because this juice is thicker and made it difficult for the gelatine to set. I’d suggest sticking with more clear juices*.

* I’ve been told it’s from the enzymes in pineapple, so stay away from that flavour! 

Gummy Bears | My Kitchen Love

Another fail in this Gummy Bears recipe was when I tried to sugarcoat the wine gummy bears and I watched the sugar melted off almost instantly. I tried it with regular sugar and berry (fine) sugar; neither stuck unfortunately.

If you take up the challenge to make this work, tag me as I’d love to see it. I think it would be fantastic on the wine gummy bears.

I purchased my ($13) moulds and dropper on Amazon.

Healthier, refined sugar-free Gummy Bears!! Plus, a wine version for mom! #candy #gummybears #healthycandy #sugarfree
Print
Gummy Bears
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

All natural refined sugar-free gummy bears for kids and wine gummy bears for adults.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 150 small gummy bears
Author: Samantha
Ingredients
Fruit Juice Gummy Bears:
  • 1 cup fruit juice (unsweetened)
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 3 x 1 tbsp packages gelatin (or 3 tbsp gelatin)
Wine Gummy Bears:
  • 1 cup wine (red, white, rose will work)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 3 x 1 tbsp packages gelatin (or 3 tbsp gelatin)
Instructions

  1. Place gummy bear moulds* on a baking sheet (easier to transport to fridge). Have dropper nearby.

  2. In a small sauce pan over medium-low heat add juice or wine and honey or sugar. Heat until honey/sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat.

  3. Whisk in lemon juice.

  4. Very gradually add one package of gelatin at a time, lightly sprinkling gelatin over liquid before whisking to combine.

  5. Working quickly place liquid in gummy bear molds using a dropper.

  6. Refrigerate for 20 minutes until solid (or can be left for a few hours).

  7. Pop out of moulds and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

* I used these moulds purchased on Amazon. 

 

Enjoy! xo

How To Make Gummy Bears recipe.

Gummy Bears | My Kitchen Love

 

Comments

  1. OMG! I love these homemade gummies Samantha! These are super duper cute! Your kids must have been over the moon eating them! I will have to give these homemade gummies a try! My kids love them(yes I give them occasionally shhh! ) :)
    Reply

    • You're a cool mom though Amisha! And there's nothing wrong with a little treat every now and then. I'd prefer to give mine other treats to candy, but at the end of the day they all have the same impact.
      Reply

    • My kids love them but I ration them out over the course of week or take them to friend's houses as a nice treat so we don't end up like your husband (eating them all in one sitting) ;)
      Reply

  7. They are so cute!! I can't wait to try them, I was never allowed gummy lollies (or any kind of candy) as a kid and I still have guilt about eating them now but I would have no issues with these :) love your site x
    Reply

    • I agree with you on the texture; they're not like the regular "Halibo" gummy bears, but they're much fresher and don't have all the additives and preservatives in them which can attribute to a change in texture.
      Reply

  12. Theses look and sound amazing! Pineapple juice as also prevent jams & jellies form setting as well. Looking forward to trying them, the mango ones will be devoured.
    Reply

    • Hey Redawna! :) We love them. I'm going to make the wine ones for moms movie night this upcoming week. The pineapple juice is apparently something to do with the enzymes. Let me know if you get a chance to make the mango ones :)
      Reply

  13. This looks wild! i might use this recipe for a competition in a month or so! Two questions, can these gummy bears be frozen and can they be dipped in chocolate???
    ★★★★★
    Reply

  14. This is the second gummy bear recipe I’ve tried this week without success. I used cherry juice but no luck....they never hardened up enough for them to come out of the mold. You had good instructions and suggestion to use cookie sheet to put them in the freezer was appreciated. Not sure why they’re not turning out well for me.
    ★★★★★
    Reply

    • Hi ... I'm not too sure. I haven't tried cherry juice before. From a brief research online, it appears as though cherry juice might need more gelatine in it to bond properly. I'd maybe try it one more time with an extra tablespoon of gelatine. Or if you're too frustrated try a different juice (besides pineapple, which won't form due to the enzymes).
      Reply

  16. This looks yummy! For the Mom version, could I sub honey for the sugar? (Can't do Sugar unfortunately) Would they still firm up?
    Reply

    • Peach juice should definitely work for this Gummy Bears recipe. I think Cider could be good or even a play on rum and coke or a cosmopolitan will work well :) If you give another beverage a try please let me know how it works out. Cheers!
      Reply

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