This post may contain affiliate links.
Jump to Recipe
This homemade gummy bears recipe is a delicious, healthy snack! They’re simple to make and they contain no unhealthy chemical ingredients.
I once thought store-bought gummy bears were a healthy treat. Before our journey into a more natural lifestyle began, I remember thinking that anything low in calories was “healthy.”
Ingredients in Commercial Gummy Bears
I’ve since completely stopped looking at calories in products and started focusing on ingredients. Now when I pick up a package of popular brand gummy bears, I know it’s not a healthy snack like my homemade gummy bears recipe is. Ingredients in Haribo® gummy bears include the following:
Corn Syrup, Sugar, Gelatin, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Corn Starch, Artificial and Natural Flavors, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Carnauba Wax, Beeswax Coating, Artificial Colors Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue (source)
Corn Syrup
Most likely derived from GMO corn.
Sugar
Most likely derived from GMO sugar beets.
Gelatin
Likely from animals that were raised in a questionable environment and fed a very questionable diet.
Artificial Flavors and Artificial Colors
Linked to all sorts of health and learning problems.
Make a Healthy Homemade Gummy Bears Recipe Instead
So, as we’ve discussed in so many of our past articles, products like this can almost always be made at home with ingredients that are far more pure, natural, and healthful. For my homemade gummy bears recipe, I like to use a natural sweetener like honey, gelatin that’s derived from cows raised on pasture, and colorings/flavors that come directly from fresh fruit juices!
Also, I’m getting my gelatin in the form of a delightful nostalgic snack when I make homemade gummy bears! (Read my thoughts here on the benefits of including gelatin in your diet.)
Note: For a vegetarian/vegan alternative to gelatin, you can try agar agar powder (found here). We have not tried this ingredient, so we cannot guarantee the same results when using it. If you try it be sure to share your results in the comments – you may need to play a bit to find the proper amounts.
Homemade Gummy Bears Recipe
5 from 1 vote
This homemade gummy bears recipe is a delicious, healthy snack! They're simple to make and they contain no unhealthy chemical ingredients.
- Prep Time
- 5 minutes
- Active Time
- 15 minutes
- Cooling Time
- 25 minutes
- Total Time
- 45 minutes
- Servings
- 30 servings
- Course
- Snack
- Cuisine
- American
- Estimated Cost
- $3
Equipment
Ingredients
Orange Homemade Gummy Bears Recipe
- 1cupfreshly squeezed orange juice
- 1tablespoonfresh lemon juice
- 2tablespoonsraw honey
- 3tablespoonsunflavored gelatin
Strawberry Homemade Gummy Bears Recipe
- ⅔cuppureed strawberries(make sure they’re thawed to room temp if using frozen)
- ⅓cupfiltered water
- 1tablespoonfresh lemon juice
- 2tablespoonsraw honey
- 3tablespoonsunflavored gelatin
Blueberry Homemade Gummy Bears Recipe
- ½cuppureed blueberries(allow to thaw to room temp if using frozen)
- ½cupfiltered water
- 1tablespoonfresh lemon juice
- 3tablespoonshoney
- 3tablespoonsunflavored gelatin
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
Combine all ingredients except gelatin in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir with a whisk.
Gradually whisk gelatin into the mixture, stirring constantly. (Avoid dumping gelatin into the pan all at once, which will cause big globs of gelatin to remain in the finished product.)
Continue heating over medium-low heat until all ingredients are well combined and gelatin is completely melted. (The mixture will change from a grainy, jelly-like consistency to a more glassy, smooth consistency when gelatin is all melted.)
Place gummy bear mold on a cookie sheet (which makes it easier to move without spilling once filled). Pour mixture into silicone mold and place in freezer for about 20-30 minutes.
Pop homemade gummy bears out of mold and store them in an airtight container. They will keep in the refrigerator for a few weeks.
Notes
You can also pour the mixture into a baking dish greased with coconut oil if you don’t have silicone molds. After the mixture is set up, cut with a knife or use cookie cutters to make any shape you like.
Nutrition:
Serving: 4gummy bears | Calories: 28kcal | Carbohydrates: 8.3g | Protein: 1.5g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 17.9mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Made this recipe?
Mention @diynatural or tag it #diynatural!
Next Recipe: Try our cinnamon roasted almonds recipe!
Homemade Gummy Bear Tips
You can make this gummy bears recipe in almost any flavor, using different combinations of freshly squeezed juices or pureed fruits.
NOTE: Do not use pineapple; itcontains enzymes that break down gelatin so itwill not set properly. The three recipes above are my favorites. So feel free to adjust ingredients and sweetness to your liking.
Each of the recipes below will yield about 120 homemade gummy bears.
Have you ever tried a homemade gummy bears recipe? What flavor combinations will you try?
*******
About Betsy Jabs
Betsy holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Counseling, and for nearly a decade worked as an elementary counselor. In 2011 she left her counseling career to pursue healthy living. She loves using DIY Natural as a way to educate people to depend on themselves to nourish their bodies and live happier healthier lives. Connect with Betsy on Facebookand Twitter.
PAID ENDORsem*nT DISCLOSURE: In order for us to support our website activities, we may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for our endorsem*nt, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this website.
DISCLAIMER: Information on DIY Natural™ is not reviewed or endorsed by the FDA and is NOT intended to be substituted for the advice of your health care professional. If you rely solely upon this advice you do so at your own risk. Read full Disclaimer & Disclosure statements here. Make this dutch baby pancake recipe (or pannekoeken) and use it to feed your family for breakfast, brunch, or even as a yummy dessert treat! Ranch dressing is a little slice of heaven! This homemade ranch dressing is delicious and the ingredients are healthy so the dressing is too! Let’s consider the Chaga mushroom! What it is, the benefits of Chaga mushrooms, how to forage it, 3 good ways to use it, and its side effects.Recommended Recipes
Make This Dutch Baby Pancake Recipe for Breakfast or Dessert
Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe: Healthy, Delicious, and Simple
Chaga Mushroom: Benefits and How to Forage and Use Chaga
Comments
MaxW says I did this using nicotine water I got from crock potting farm-direct tobacco leaves. DIY NRTs! (nicotine replacement therapy pills)
Lotta calculations, and google has widely varying figures for mg of nic per cig and lethal levels, but 4oz of tobacco has about 4000mg of nicotine.
I put 48oz of water in the pot and after 2.5hrs on high and squeezing thru a nut bag, had about 36oz of water. I’m figuring one day’s dosage is between 2-4oz of the liquid.
I plan on tapering it down after a while by adding more plain water to my resultant brew.
Was sorta hoping to find a way to make it not melt in heat. I live in TN, drive a diesel van w no A/C or rear windows. Gets to roastin…- Kathy says
Did not find these to have the elasticity chew a gummy usually has:(
- Laura Oei says
Love these
- Vireen says
I plan to try this for my neice and nephews, but I want to know if I can substitute Agagar for the geletain?
- Sim says
Hello is there something you can recommend to substitute for gelatin ? Suitable for vegetarians
- Kim says
what kind of gelatin could i get from the local grocery store? jello gelatin?
- Betsy Jabs says
If buying from the local grocery store, look for Knox unflavored gelatin.
- Kirsten says
Hi, I am getting ready to make these…they look like a wonderful treat, and great way to use healing gelatin. I have a recipe for home made elderberry syrup…any idea what quantity I could use to make them into gummies? It’s just elderberries soaked and cooked, strained and raw honey added…it’s about a 50/50 ratio. Thanks!
- Betsy Jabs says
Definitely leave out the honey in the recipe if your syrup already includes it. Depending on how sweet your syrup is, you may want to dilute it with a little water or just use it straight. (About 1 cup total liquid, and maybe add the 1 TBSP lemon juice if desired.) You can always taste during the heating/stirring stage to see how you like it and add more sweetener or water at that point. Hope they turn out well!
- Andresa says
That’s a great idea! I also make elderberry syrup each fall to boost the immune system and ward off colds and flu. But at some point the bottle gets pushed to the back of the frig and I forget to take my daily spoonful. turning it into gummies would make it more fun to take and I’d get the healthy gelatin as well.
- Delphia Brewer says
Andresa
I was just thank about doing that I have a granddaughter last winter she had runny nose and that will help her and it does not have the process sugar in it.
- Rhoda Edwards says
Hi guys! you gummy bears look very yummy a must do for me. Thanks for all the goodness your site provides. Blessings.
- Betsy Jabs says
Our pleasure Rhoda! Hope you enjoy making these. 🙂
- Jayne says
Love this idea! I’ve never been a gummy bear person, but I know many moms who are wanting to find healthy snacks their children will eat. This sounds perfect!
- Katy says
I’ve made these before, and while the texture was great, the flavor was not. But that is because none of the fruit here was in season, so it was very bland.
I think next time I will use 100 % fruit juices and some fruit for texture, until the fruit is in season here and full of flavor.- Matt Jabs says
Let us know how it turns out Katy, the fruit we used was delicious – we picked bulk amounts in season and freeze it so we have it available all year. Blessings.
- Marge says
Wow, great stuff here and all your posts. You are a force of nature! Thank you for sharing your wonderful and vast knowledge!
- Betsy Jabs says
Thanks for the kind words Marge! You’re too sweet. 🙂
- Laurie says
What fun! I didn’t realize they make gummy bear molds!
I have been making my own natural jello for 3-4 years now, for much the same reasons, + I want no sugar – I use stevia (bit pricey, could use xylitol if you can tolerate it). I use a strong flavored/herbal tea for my base/flavoring. Peppermint, ginger, and a combo of the two are all grand (I us Organic India Tulsi teas, Celestial Seasonings Holiday and flavored teas), as well as apple/cinnamon, or other fruit flavors. I use 2 teabags/cup serving, and steep for at least 20-30 min. Of course, if you find it stronger/weaker than you like, you can change that up easily.
- Betsy Jabs says
Great idea! I think I’ll try using tea in place of the water in the blueberry & strawberry recipes next time!
- Natasha Schofield says
I trust that you have looked into the pros and cons of Stevia? While the pros are good, the cons are downright scary.
- ELAINE D SMITH says
What are the cons of using stevia? I haven’t heard of any.
 - Which law would you use to simplify the expression mc^(006)-1.jpg?... (1 Answer) | Transtutors)
