Gummy bears are one of the most famous and beloved treats for kids and adults around the world — chewy, fruity, and downright addictive. Here at AdmiGram.com, we were pleasantly surprised to discover just how simple the recipe for this deliciousness really is.
If you’re a gummy bear fanatic or just craving something sweet, you can make this tasty, colorful treat right at home. It does take a bit of patience (and a short rest in the fridge), but the payoff is a batch of all-natural, homemade gummy bears by the end of the day!
For this recipe, we’ll use a method inspired by Haribo, the German confectionery company that invented the modern gummy bear. Haribo was founded in 1920 by confectioner Hans Riegel, and in 1922 he introduced the world’s first gummy bear, originally called the “Dancing Bear.” After watching a troupe of trained bears perform at a local market, Riegel decided to turn the idea into a sweet, chewy treat.
The Tastiest Homemade Gummy Bears
© Thomas Hawk / Flickr
Ingredients:
- Cold water: ¾ cup (180 ml)
- Unflavored gelatin powder: 3 tbsp (approx. 1 oz / 28 g)
- Sugar: ¼ cup (50 g)
- Glucose syrup or light corn syrup: ½ cup (160 g)
- Sorbitol (optional, for extra chewiness): 1 tbsp (15 g)
- Citric acid: ¼ tsp
- Natural fruit or vegetable juice: ¼ cup (60 ml)
Directions:
Bloom the gelatin: In a small bowl, combine the unflavored gelatin powder with ¼ cup (60 ml) of the cold water. Stir gently and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes to let it bloom into a thick gel.
Make the syrup base: In a small saucepan, combine the remaining ½ cup (120 ml) of water, sugar, glucose syrup (or corn syrup), and sorbitol (if using). Place over low heat and warm gently, stirring occasionally, until the sugar completely dissolves and the liquid is clear. Do not boil.
Combine gelatin and syrup: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the bloomed gelatin to the warm syrup and stir slowly until fully melted and smooth. Avoid whisking vigorously so you don’t create excess air bubbles.
Prepare your flavor and color: In a separate small cup, dissolve the citric acid in your natural juice.
- For red: Raspberry or cherry juice.
- For orange: Fresh carrot juice.
- For purple: Blueberry or grape juice.
- For green: Fresh spinach juice (simply blend fresh spinach leaves with a splash of water and strain through a fine mesh sieve).
Mix together: Gently stir the flavored juice mixture into the warm gelatin base until evenly combined.
Fill the molds: Using a candy dropper or a piping bag, fill your silicone gummy bear molds with the mixture.
Chill and set: Transfer the molds to the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours until the gummies are completely firm.
Unmold: Gently pop your homemade gummy bears out of the molds. For the best chewy texture, let them sit at room temperature for a few hours before serving.
Enjoy your delicious, homemade treats!
image on top: Amit Lahav / Unsplash
