Gummy Bears are the most famous and beloved treat for children and adults around the world. These chewy, fruity candies are irresistibly delicious. If you’re a Gummy Bear fanatic or just craving something sweet, you can make this tasty and beautiful treat at home in just a few minutes.
For this recipe, we’ll use the original recipe from the confectionery company Haribo, dating back to 1922. This is the year the first gummy candy, “Dancing Bears,” was sold. Confectioner Hans Riegel, inspired by a performance of trained bears he saw at a local market, decided to immortalize them in sweet gummy form.
Gummy Bears: the tastiest Gummy Candy recipe
Gummy Bears
© Thomas Hawk / Flickr
Ingredients:
- Gelatin – 200 g (7 oz)
- Water – 400 g (14 oz)
- Sugar – 500 g (17 oz)
- Sorbitol – 50 g (2 oz)
- Glucose syrup – 400 g (14 oz)
- Tartaric or citric acid – 30 g (1 oz)
- Natural juice – 200 g (7 oz)
How to cook:
1. Dissolve the gelatin in water. Depending on the type of gelatin, it may take 20 to 60 minutes to swell.
2. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, sorbitol, and glucose syrup. Heat the mixture gently over low heat to 65°C (140°F), stirring occasionally. The mixture should become homogeneous.
3. Carefully pour the gelatin into the sweet mixture in a thin stream to avoid air bubbles. Let the mixture cool to 50°C (122°F).
4. Add the acid to the natural juice. Choose the color of the gummy bears based on the juice: raspberry for red, carrot for orange, currant for purple, spinach for green. In the food industry, spinach is often used as the base for green coloring. To use spinach, puree it and strain through a sieve or cheesecloth to extract the juice. For a deeper green color, reduce the spinach juice by simmering it for 30-40 minutes over low heat.
5. Add the juice to the mixture as described previously. Combine different juices (apple, pear, apricot, melon) as long as they are natural.
6. Using a pastry syringe, fill gummy bear molds with the liquid mixture. It’s best to dust the molds with cornstarch to help the gummies release more easily. Cover the molds with plastic wrap, allow to cool slightly, and refrigerate overnight.
By the next morning, your natural, homemade Gummy Bears will be ready to enjoy. Bon appétit!
image on top: Amit Lahav / Unsplash
