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Megaera Lorenz is an Egyptologist and Writer with over 20 years of experience in public education. In 2017, she graduated with her PhD in Egyptology from The University of Chicago, where she served for several years as a content advisor and program facilitator for the Oriental Institute Museum’s Public Education office. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 945,096 times. 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 you don’t need any expensive equipment or odd ingredients to create homemade gummy bears. To get bear shapes, you will need gummy bear molds. It is easiest to mix the ingredients right in the pan since the gummy mixture will stick slightly if you try and transfer it from another container. You can find this at most grocery stores in the baking aisle. For a vegan substitute, try agar agar powder, which you can buy online or from a health food store. You can substitute agar agar for gelatin in the same amounts, so there’s no need to adjust your measurements for this recipe. The most common brand is Jell-O.
The flavor you use will determine the color and flavor of the final gummies. Flavored gelatin comes in many flavors and colors, so you can make a whole rainbow of gummy bears. For example, you could get strawberry, orange, lime, and blue raspberry. 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 the water. Go slowly so that none of the candy burns. 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. Pour the mixture into your molds and put them in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. Simply pour the warm gelatin mixture into your candy mold and freeze it until it is set.
The gummy bears are now ready to eat. If you don’t have a mold, you can make gummy drops on some parchment paper instead. You can leave the gummies in the freezer longer, if you like. Frozen gummy bears are chewier and taste juicier than refrigerated or room-temperature gummies. If you put them in an airtight container, they’ll keep for up to a year in the freezer before their quality starts to decline.
Measure your ingredients by weight instead of by volume for more accurate results. Weigh them out in advance and have them on hand to be quickly mixed in—timing in candy making is key. You can mix them together with a whisk or, like classic candy makers, in a water bath. If you’re mixing with a whisk, combine the water and gelatin directly in the saucepan over low heat until the gelatin dissolves. To do a water bath, warm a large bowl of water up so that it is hot, but not boiling. 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.
Blend your sugar, sorbitol, and glucose syrup on the stove at medium heat. Stir the ingredients well so that they’re properly mixed up, but not boiling or bubbling. Mix in your gelatin mixture slowly. 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. For instance, lime, lemon, or orange juice are all good choices if you want to add a burst of citrus flavor. For a more unusual flavor, try a flavoring oil or extract, such as vanilla extract, orange rind oil, or cherry extract. This is also the time to add any food coloring.
Pour the mixture into your mold. You can use a light coating of cornstarch to prevent the final gummies from sticking, but many gummy-making pans are already non-stick. Simply pour the mixture into the mold then freeze it for 4-5 hours, or until the gummies are firm and completely set. Sprinkle your gummies 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. 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. Honey also makes a healthier alternative to the corn syrup used in many store-bought gummies. Try pureed strawberries or berries in your gummies. This incredible, fruity gummy is a big hit.