Homemade Gummy Bear Recipe (2024)

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Did you know you can make your own gummy bears with only a few ingredients? We are sharing this easy to makegummy bear recipe with you today. And we’re showing you two ways to make them! You can make them with fruit juice or with JELLO (flavored gelatin). Both methods are really easy to make homemade gummy bears. We hope you try them both!

RELATED: Homemade Fruit Popsicles

Homemade Gummy Bear Recipe (2)

Table of Contents

  • Gummy Bear Recipe
  • Gummy Bear Recipe – 2 Ways
  • How to Make Gummy Bears with JELLO
  • Ingredients for JELLO version
  • Directions to Make Homemade Gummy Bears with JELLO
  • Gummy Bear Recipe With Fruit Juice
  • Other Sweetener Options
  • Ingredients for fruit version
  • Get the Recipe
  • More Snack Ideas

Gummy Bear Recipe

There are two ways you can make homemade gummy bears. We decided to test out both methods and share the recipes here!

Our kids actually preferred the JELLO version but they also liked the fruit version too. If you have gelatin, JELLO or fruit juice on hand you can easily make these!

Homemade Gummy Bear Recipe (3)

The only thing you’ll need to get in advance are the gummy bear molds. Kids will not only love eating these gummy bears but they’ll also love helping to make them! Our 4 year old had fun using the droppers to put the recipe into the molds.

Gummy Bear Recipe – 2 Ways

We’re sharing two ways you can make your own homemade gummy bears. Let us know which one you try and which one is your favorite!

  • Gummy Bears made with JELLO
  • Gummy Bears made with fruit juice

How to Make Gummy Bears with JELLO

To make homemade gummy bears with JELLO you only need a package of JELLO and some gelatin. The easy thing with this recipe is that you don’t need to worry about how to sweeten it. Our kids loved this version because JELLO is sweet. We also love how bright and colorful the JELLO versions turned out. If you have extra JELLO boxes lying around the house this is a perfect way to use up the box!

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Ingredients for JELLO version

Note: You can get Vegan Gelatin – this brand is a 1 for 1 replacement. Another option is Agar Agar Powder but we haven’t tested this with our recipes.

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Directions to Make Homemade Gummy Bears with JELLO

  • Pour 1/2 cup of water into a sauce pan set on low heat
  • Add 1 package of Jello (85 size/3 oz size)
  • Add 1 tablespoon of gelatin
  • Mix until all dissolved and then remove from heat
  • Using the dropper add into your mold
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Tip: Try to avoid getting bubbles in your dropper when placing in the mold. If you end up with bubbles on the top, that’s ok but the bubbles will solidify that way. We had some bubbly ones and the kids still thought they tasted good.

  • Place in fridge for 30 minutes or until solidified.
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  • Once they are hard from the fridge you can easily pop them out of your mold. If you find them hard to take out of the molds, keep longer in the fridge to make sure they are full solidified.

Gummy Bear Recipe With Fruit Juice

We tested a lot of versions with fruit juice. We tried different sweeteners and out of them all honey was our favorite. We didn’t try with regular sugar as we wanted this version to be sweetened naturally. Note: If you want to avoid all added sugar from using store bought juice you can make your own juice with real fruit instead using a juicer.

If you want to substitute the honey for regular sugar we would recommend you add a little bit of sugar to start and then taste-test before filling your molds.

Note: Reminder that honey should not be given to babies under 1 year old.

Other Sweetener Options

You can also use Stevia but only the liquid drops. We tried with the powder version and the recipe did not turn out. We also tested Agave syrup but we personally did not like the flavor. The final option to sweeten naturally is you can use maple syrup. However, we liked honey the best because it’s sweet but the flavor is not too overpowering.

For juices we recommend any clear juices – the ones we used are called Simply Lemonades. You can also use cranberry juice or apple juice.

Storage

Keep stored in the refrigerator and they should last at least one week (but will usually get eaten up before then!).

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Ingredients for fruit version

Note: You can get Vegan Gelatin – this brand is a 1 for 1 replacement. Another option is Agar Agar Powder but we haven’t tested this with our recipes

Here are the directions for the fruit version – you can print the recipe off here too!

Homemade Gummy Bear Recipe (9)

5 from 30 votes

Gummy Bear Recipe

Homemade gummy bear recipe made with fruit juice and honey.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Active Time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Pour 1/2 cup juice into a sauce pan set on low heat.

  • Add 1 tablespoon honey.

  • Add 2 tablespoons of gelatin.

  • Mix until all dissolved and then remove from heat.

  • Using the dropper, add into your mold.

  • Place in fridge for 30 minutes to cool and form or until solidified.

Nutrition Estimate

Calories: 27kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 2g, Sodium: 5mg, Potassium: 20mg, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin C: 0.2mg

Notes

Note: You can substitute the honey for maple syrup or stevia drops. Test a small amount and taste for sweetness to your liking. Do not use honey with babies under 1 year of age.

For the JELLO version, see instructions above.

Storage: Keep stored in the refrigerator and they should last at least one week.

Did You Make This?

We love seeing what you’ve made! Tag us on social media at @bestideasforkids for a chance to be featured.

More Fun Treats:

  • For a healthy snack option for kids, see these fruit popsicles – kids love helping to make these and they are perfect for a hot summer day!
  • Ice cream in a bag is also really fun to make with the kids!
  • And for another fun snack idea for kids – try these yogurt bites or homemade Jello.

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Homemade Gummy Bear Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the 3 main ingredients in gummy bears? ›

Gummy bear
Gummy bears produced by Haribo, the first company to manufacture gummy bears
TypeGummy candy
Place of originGermany
Created byHans Riegel Sr.
Main ingredientsGelatin, sugar, glucose syrup, starch, flavoring, food coloring, citric acid
1 more row

What makes gummy bears so chewy? ›

Despite all the changes and developments in the gummy candy world, the basic recipe has remained largely the same: sugar, glucose syrup, starch, flavoring, food coloring, citric acid, and gelatin. The last ingredient, gelatin, is what gives gummy candy its signature chewy texture.

How long do homemade gummies last? ›

How long do gelatin gummies last? Gelatin gummies will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Make sure they are kept in an air-tight storage container. Since they are made with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives, be careful as they get close to 2 weeks as they could get some mold on them.

Can I make gummies without a mold? ›

You can use fun and fancy shaped little molds, but you don't have to! I have used the smaller shapes, but I also love using a regular ice cube silicone mold too. If you don't have trays like this, don't worry! You can use a glass dish with sides and cut out the gummies into squares.

What part of the pig is in gummy bears? ›

Two of the major ingredients in gummy candies are gelatin and carnauba wax. Gelatin is made from the cartilage, bones, hooves, or skin of slaughtered pigs, and sometimes other animals. “Carnauba wax, a key ingredient in car wax that produces a brilliant shine, is also found in gummy bears and fruit-flavored snacks.

Why are my homemade gummies not chewy? ›

The major bottleneck in pectin-based gummy candy is to achieve a somewhat chewy texture as it is meant to be jelly-like. The tricks here are to maintain a precise pH of 3.5 during gel setting and not to heat up the pectin-sugar-water mixture beyond 220-240°F, otherwise, the candy may become sticky and caramelized.

Why are my homemade gummies sweating? ›

Gelatin gummies can have a tendency to sweat or weep in the first few days after they are made. As the gummy dries the proteins will tighten, squeezing out any excess water. The first thing you can do when attempting to prevent weeping would be to get the perfect ratio of gelatin, water, and sugar.

What does vinegar do to gummy bears? ›

The gummy bear we put in vinegar did expand, but lost all of its gummy bear shape and just became a blob. We believe that the acid in the vinegar dissolved the gummy bear completely. The answer to our gummy bear experiment was simple. Osmosis!

Can I freeze homemade gummy bears? ›

When you freeze gelatinous foods, you are left with a rather interesting texture. While other candies might become extra crunchy and breakable after a trip to the freezer, gummy bears will most likely become extra chewy and chilly with a burst of flavor.

How do you coat homemade gummies? ›

Sugar Coating

Coating with a mixture of citric acid and sugar at a 1:4 ratio by lightly tossing in a bowl and then sifting with a sieve to remove excess coating mixture. This coating method can be adjusted to taste, by increasing or decreasing the acid ratio.

How to cure homemade gummies? ›

The most common thing that is done with gummies is open air drying. This basically means to leave them in a dry place to dry out for a few days. Gums made from gelatin will benefit from this as it is the easiest to control.

Why are Goli gummies so sticky? ›

While the gummies may sometimes appear to be sticky or melted, this is mostly caused by any excess moisture trapped in the bottle - not by prolonged exposure to heat. Our product team has tested this by putting them in extreme heat and found that the bottle melted before the gummies themselves were affected.

Where do you store homemade gummies? ›

Keep gummies in a pantry or cupboard away from heat sources, direct sunlight, and moisture. Keeping your edible gummies in the refrigerator can extend their shelf life by one to two weeks. If you don't plan on consuming your gummies within a week or two, consider storing part of your batch in the freezer.

When to coat gummies with sugar? ›

Application: Use a 1:1 ratio of cornstarch to powdered sugar. Apply the mixture to the gummies immediately after removing them from their molds. Cure in a dry, cool environment before packaging. Benefits: Acts as a desiccant, preventing moisture-related stickiness.

What ingredient is in gummies? ›

Gummy bears are typically made of gelatin, citric acid, sugar, fruit juice, corn syrup, flavoring and starch. These ingredients combine to give gummy bears their chewy texture and sweet taste.

What are gummies usually made of? ›

Ingredients. Gummy candies are made mostly of corn syrup, sucrose, gelatin, starch and water. In addition, minor amounts of coloring and flavoring agents are used. Food acids such as citric acid and malic acid are also added in order to give a tart flavor to gummies.

What is the gross ingredient in gummy bears? ›

Gelatin. Added to a variety of yogurts, Jell-O products and confections such as gummy bears, fruit snacks and jelly babies, gelatin is about 50 percent boiled pig skin and 25 percent cow bones.

What is the main ingredient in Haribo gummy bears? ›

GLUCOSE SYRUP (FROM WHEAT OR CORN), SUGAR, GELATIN, DEXTROSE (FROM WHEAT OR CORN), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: CITRIC ACID, ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL FLAVORS, PALM OIL, PALM KERNEL OIL, CARNAUBA WAX, WHITE BEESWAX, YELLOW BEESWAX, YELLOW 5, RED 40, BLUE 1. MAY CONTAIN: WHEAT, TRACES OF MILK.

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