Make Gummy Bears

Gummy bears are some of the simplest candies to make at home. At their core, they are just 4 ingredients: water, sugar, gelatin, and flavoring. Water and gelatin, when blended, heated, and cooled, naturally form a chewy candy, so no expensive equipment or odd ingredients are needed. To get bear shapes, you may need a candy mold.

  • Prep time: 20-25 minutes (active prep: 5-10 minutes)
  • Cook time: 10-15 minutes
  • Total time: 30-40 minutes

Steps

Making Quick and Easy Gummies

  1. Place 1/2 cup of cold water in a saucepan on the stove. Don't start the stove yet. It is simply easier to mix the ingredients right in the pan since the gummy mixture will stick slightly if you try and transfer it.
  2. Add 20 grams, or 2 tablespoons, of unflavored gelatin to the water. You can find this at most grocery stores in the baking aisle.
    • For a vegan substitute, try agar powder, found online.
  3. Add 1 packet (85g) of flavored gelatin and mix well. The most common brand is Jell-O. The flavor you use will determine the color and flavor of the final gummies.
  4. Heat up the mixture on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes. Just keep stirring occasionally so that all the gelatin is completely dissolved in into the water. Go slowly so that none of the candy burns.
  5. Turn the heat off and pour the mixture into a mixing cup. Any cup that is easily poured is fine. You can also use an eyedropper or a candy pump for more intricate designs.
  6. Pour the mixture into your molds and chill for 15-20 minutes. Simply pour the warm gelatin mixture into your candy mold and freeze until they are set. They are now ready to eat.[1]
    • If you don't have a mold, you can make gummy drops on some parchment paper as well.

Making Classic Gummy Bears

  1. Know that the world-famous "Gold Bears" take a little extra work to make. Making candy is as much science as art. To get perfect, store-boat texture and taste in your gummies you'll need a few harder-to-find ingredients as well as high-end gelatin (known as 250 bloom). Most ingredients are weighed out to prevent measurement errors instead of being scooped. Weigh them out in advance and have them on hand to be quickly mixed in -- timing in candy making is key.
    • 70g Gelatin, 250 bloom
    • 140g Water
    • 225g Sugar
    • 22.5g Sorbitol Powder
    • 245g Glucose syrup
    • 15g Tartaric acid, or citric
    • 12g Essential Oil, any flavor
  2. Mix your gelatin and water. You can mix them together with a whisk or, like classic candy makers, in a water bath. To do the second, warm a large bowl of water up so that it is hot, but not boiling. Mix the 70g gelatin and 140g water in a Ziplock bag and let it rest in the water bath for 30 minutes.
    • The bag should be free of lumps or streaks when it is fully mixed.
  3. Blend your sugar, sorbitol, and glucose syrup the stove at medium heat. Stir the ingredients well so that they're properly mixed up, but not boiling or bubbling. If you have a candy thermometer, get them to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
  4. Slowly mix in your gelatin mixture. With the heat still on, mix in the gelatin and water mixture from earlier. Stir until it is all completely mixed, then turn the heat off and move quickly to the next step.
  5. Add in your flavoring. This might be essential oils, like cherry, citrus, etc, or tartaric/citric acid for sourness. You can also add 1/3 cup of well pureed-fruit like strawberries, or fresh lemon, lime, or orange juice.
    • This is also the time to add any food coloring.[2]
  6. Pour the mixture into your mold. You can use a light coating of cornstarch to prevent them final gummies from sticking, but many gummy-making pans are already non-stick. Simply pour the mixture into the mold then freeze for 4-5 hours, or until the gummies are firm and completely set.[3]

Flavoring without Packets

  1. Sprinkle lightly with citric acid to get a sour coating. Citric acid is a preservative, and it is not great for your teeth, so go lightly. A small amount is enough for a nice sour kick.
  2. Use lemon and honey for citrus gummy bears. To make citrus gummy bears you simply need to use some orange and lemon juice instead of a processed Jell-O packet. To do so, mix the following ingredients in the saucepan, turn on the heat, then add 3 tablespoons of gelatin. Continue like normal after the gelatin is added:
    • 1 cup orange juice
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons honey
  3. Try pureed strawberries or berries in your gummies. This incredible, fruity gummy is a big hit. Make sure the berries are thawed before adding. Simply mix the following ingredients, then add 3tb gelatin slowly as you heat up the mixture like normal.
    • ⅔ cup pureed strawberries/blueberries/raspberries
    • ⅓ cup water
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons honey[4]
  4. Try replacing the water with milk. For creamy, mouth water gummies, consider ditching water for something more flavorful. Even almond, soy, rice, coconut or oat milks works well and imparts a distinct creamy texture and feel to the common gummy. To make them, whisk half the milk in with the gelatin. Then heat it up like normal, whisking in the other half right at the end before it comes off the heat.[5]
    • Adding a touch of vanilla or almond extract, or even some cinnamon, to the mixture can take it to new heights.
    • This substitute works with basic gummies as well as the pureed fruit versions.



Tips

  • You can use 1 tsp of Kool-Aid instead of flavored jello.
  • A very light coating of non-stick cooking spray can be used to line the plastic mold to make it easier for the candy to release when it is ready. Some recipes use cornstarch as well.
  • The candy might stick to flimsy plastic molds, so try to get sturdy ones.
  • Try using fruit purée mixed with water to thin it down then it might thicken up and give you an awesome burst of fruity flavor.

Warnings

  • Not all gelatin is vegan, kosher, or halal. Check the ingredients carefully before purchasing.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.food.com/recipe/gummy-bears-15145
  2. ↑ http://www.chefsteps.com/activities/gummy-bears
  3. ↑ http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/808735/how-to-make-gummi-candies-at-home
  4. ↑ http://www.diynatural.com/healthy-snack-ideas-homemade-gummy-bears/
  5. ↑ http://wholesome-cook.com/2014/03/31/homemade-gummy-bears-with-no-added-sugar-plus-10-tips-for-making-them-at-home/

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