My children were very upset with me last night when they saw I was making gummy bears. Why? I told them they could not eat any as I needed them for a morning photo shoot…for you all. The boys will be happy this afternoon when they get home from school and find this healthy candy ready to eat. These gluten-free gummy bears are the perfect thing to pack as a treat in school lunches, make a wonderful after-school snack, and are a great homemade Halloween candy for your little ghosts and goblins.
My boys (both teenagers now) are literally obsessed with these fruit juice-sweetened gummy bears and worked with me as I made them numerous times to perfect both the texture and flavor.
Gummy Bears
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic grape juice, pineapple, or pomegranate juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon stevia
- 3 tablespoons gelatin
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan bring juice to a boil
- Allow to cool for 3 minutes, then stir in lemon juice and stevia
- Very gradually, Whisk in gelatin
- If you do not whisk gradually and thoroughly your bears will be lumpy
- Allow mixture to cool almost to room temperature, then pour into gummy bear molds
- Refrigerate for 2 hours
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
Each healthy gummy bear candy has close to 2 grams of protein –not bad for a snack food. My older son likes to eat these with breakfast.
I haven’t played with gelatin for quite some time, however, Kelly kept telling me about her gummy recipe using pure gelatin (as in unflavored, without all of the sugar and dyes found in the more commercial product) and now I’m totally on the gelatin bandwagon.
Gelatin is fantastic for gut health and high in protein, which makes it an optimal food for my family. I make sure to purchase the grass fed gelatin and have found it to be very high quality. Here’s to the oxymoron of healthy candy, and gummy, or gummi, bears!
Tara Nicholson says
How to get the gummies out of the mold without them sticking? I made pretty firm gummies, but to get them out of the mold they did not come out easily. What did I miss?
Ruth says
These are Feingold compliant, and my sons loved them and asked for more flavors. I’m going to try to fix up the recipe for lime or grape gummy bears too. Found the gummy bear mold on ebay, and had to order a 2nd one to satisfy demand. Thank you Elana! My son was craving decadence, and this satisfied him.
jennifer says
I actually found molds at meijer! They have their summer things on clearance and there were so many different shapes to choose from! 99 cents each! I picked up six and I can make two batches. I got bears, cars, stars, apples, strawberries and smiley faces!
Maryann says
How do you actually make the bears?
Jamie says
These are too cute! I’ll need to Google to find the molds. Love them! For more creative recipe ideas, fill out the form at http://www.BetterOffHealthy.com!
Michelle says
I have tried numerous other gummy candy recipes and was not happy with the results due to taste (lack of mostly) texture (too rubbery), and finally I have found the perfect recipe! I used a mango juice with no stevia (juice was intensely sweet already) and they are perfectly textured. Thank you!
Laura says
I can’t wait to make these with my boys!! Can’t believe they’re so easy to make and even healthy!
Julie says
Those gummies look so perfect!
Leah says
These we’re so easy to make! I was worried (silly me) that they would come out to be glorified jello jigglers, but darned if they aren’t gummies! My kids like them. I bought silicone molds from Amazon for $4 each. Penguins, fish, hearts, and ducks. Perfect!
Mary Ann says
I am wondering how to store these. Do you keep them in the refrigerator or can they be left out. Mine are like ice cubes. Please advise.
Beth says
They will grow mold if left out. Store in the fridge and consume within a few days.