Here’s a healthy gummy bear recipe that uses just fruit, honey, gelatin, and love. A tasty take on the classic (but kinda junky) kid’s candy.
Healthy Gummy Bear Recipe? Really?! Yes!
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Now that my kids are entering the real world and learning aboutpixie sticks and cotton candy (gasp!), they have stumbled upon the adorable Haribo Gummy Bear package in the checkout line. I remember munching on these as a kid myself. But, when I recently looked at the package’s ingredients, I knew there had to be a better way!
Haribo Gummy Bear Ingredients in U.S.
Glucose syrup (from wheat or corn), sugar, gelatin, dextrose (from wheat or corn), citric acid, corn starch, artificial and natural flavors, palm kernel oil, carnauba wax, white beeswax, yellow beeswax, yellow 5, red 40, and blue 1
But if you break it down,it’s really about:
- some form of sugar (not all are bad)
- some type of fruit flavoring (could use the real thing)
- and gelatin.
I’ve talked about the manybenefits of gelatin before.So, in the scheme of things, these gummy bears could actually be a healthy “treat” when compared with others.
Haribo Gummy Bear Ingredients in Germany
Interesting to note: in Germany, where Haribo isheadquartered, they don’t use food dyes for color. Instead they use plant and herbal extracts. (Europeans always get the food right!) Here’s a list of their ingredients:
Glucose syrup; sugar; gelatin; dextrose; fruit juice from concentrate: apple, strawberry, raspberry, orange, lemon, pineapple; citric acid, lemon, pineapple; citric acid; fruit and plant concentrates: nettle, apple, spinach, kiwi, orange, elderberry, lemon, mango, passionfruit, blackcurrant, aronia, grape; flavorings; glazing agents: white and yellow beeswax; carnauba wax; elderberry extract; fruit extract from carob; invert sugar syrup
So, my recipe takesthe more German approach: fruit concentrates (juice), gelatin, and sugar (in the form of honey.)
Note: This is a slightly “highermaintenance” recipe than most of the ones you’ll find on this site. I had a fun timemaking these with mykids, but I certainly wouldn’t be making these on a regular basis. Too much work! 🙂 But, for a road trip, Halloween, a birthday party, or just a fun activity to do with the family, this gummy bear recipe isgreat.
Healthy Gummy Bear Recipe using fruit and honey small handful by Mama Natural
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Healthy Gummy Bear Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup organic juice for each color
- For the red gummy bear: pomegranate or cherry juice (100% juice not diluted with sugar and water)
- For the orange gummy bear: I used peach/carrot juice combo. You can also use apricot nectar juice. I also added in 4-5 drops of Orange essential oil before adding to molds. This gives them a great flavor!
- For the yellow gummy bear: I used a combo of orange and pineapple juices. You can add Lemon essential oil before adding to mold for an authentic lemon-y flavor.
- For the clear gummy bear: I used a mix of pineapple juice andlemonade.
- 1/3 cup Vital Proteins beef gelatin
- 2 TB lemon juice
- 1/2 raw cup honey
- Gummy bear molds with droppers (where to buy)
Healthy Gummy Bear Recipe using fruit and honey platefull
Directions:
- Put your cold juice into a sauce pan.
- Add your 1/3 cup of gelatin.
- Let it sit for a minute or two so the gelatin can “bloom”. (This will help prevent a clumpy or gritty finished product!)
- Turn on the heat to low to medium till the gelatin dissolves.
- Turn off heat and let sit for a few minutesto cool down.
- Add your lemon juice and raw honey. Stir well.
- Use a syringe and suck up your juice concoction and push out into your gummy bear mold.
- Let sit for 5 minutes so it sets and then put in fridge for one hour. Remove bears and enjoy!
Final notes:
This gummy bear recipe will make at least 100 bears of each color and last in the fridge for at least one week. You can also leave out in room temperature for a few days (just don’t let them get above, say, 85° For you’ll have a big bear meltdown.)
How about you?
Do you like gummy bears? Would you ever make a treat like this for your kids? Share with us in the comments below.
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FAQs
Gummy bear
| Gummy bears produced by Haribo, the first company to manufacture gummy bears |
|---|
| Type | Gummy candy |
|---|
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Created by | Hans Riegel Sr. |
| Main ingredients | Gelatin, sugar, glucose syrup, starch, flavoring, food coloring, citric acid |
1 more rowA functional gummy is a gummy candy that's healthier than regular candy. Functional candy is often made with higher quality ingredients, like healthier sugars, and often has vitamins, minerals, and other health-boosting ingredients. There are many types of functional candy gummy bears.
How long do homemade gummy bears last? ›
Let the gummy bears set for 1~2 hours in the refrigerator. Pop out the gummy bears from the mold. Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 7 days. You can pack the gummies to-go or in lunch boxes at room temperature for a few hours without them becoming too soft.
Are gummy bears healthier than fruit snacks? ›
It is important to understand that fruit snacks are not a fruit substitute and have been classified by nutritionists as being slightly better than gummies. Many fruit snacks are artificially flavored and packed with added sugars and artificial colors and have little to no vitamin content.
What are sugar free gummy bears made of? ›
Vegan Formula: Maltitol | Soluble Tapioca Syrup | Purified Water | Organic Erythritol | Xylitol | Pectin | Citric Acid | Natural Strawberry Flavor | Sodium Citrate | Magnesium Citrate | Tricalcium Phosphate | Black Carrot Juice Color | Organic Stevia Leaf Extract | Evaporated Coconut Water | and Organic Sunflower Oil.
What part of the pig is in gummy bears? ›
Two of the major ingredients in gummy candies are gelatin and carnauba wax. Gelatin is made from the cartilage, bones, hooves, or skin of slaughtered pigs, and sometimes other animals. “Carnauba wax, a key ingredient in car wax that produces a brilliant shine, is also found in gummy bears and fruit-flavored snacks.
What are the disadvantages of eating gummies? ›
Overconsumption of sugar alcohols can lead to diarrhea, nausea, bloating, and other unwanted digestive symptoms in some people ( 13 , 14 ). Lastly, gummy vitamins may contain artificial food colorings. While the research is mixed, some studies link food dyes to behavioral issues in children ( 15 , 16 ).
Are gummies really good for you? ›
Gummies can contain half a teaspoon to two teaspoons of added sugar (2 to 8 grams) per serving. While this might not seem like a lot of sugar, gummies can contribute to overall excessive sugar intake, especially when one or more gummies are consumed daily.
Is gelatin in gummy bears good for you? ›
Gelatin is also commonly used to support digestive health, in particular, for maintaining good integrity of the cells that line the digestive tract. This can useful for kids, who naturally have a more open gut lining, by supporting these cells to close and tighten as they grow.
Why did my homemade gummies get moldy? ›
High humectant content, low polish level, degraded gelatin and insufficient drying may contribute to this problem as well. The best hack is to dip the gummies in ethanol, dry them and then coat them with citric acid before any sugar dusting.
Ingredients: Carnauba wax, flavorless oil (like vegetable, canola, or peanut oil). Application: Dissolve carnauba wax 1 part to 20 parts heated oil (about 175°F). Apply a small amount to the gummies and distribute evenly by tossing them.
Is it OK to eat gummy bears everyday? ›
It is not recommended to eat gummy bears every day because they are high in sugar and calories. Eating too much of them can cause gaining weight, tooth decay and other health problems.
Are there any benefits to eating gummy bears? ›
With all these health benefits, gummy bears make a great alternative to other sugary snacks and desserts. Gummy bears are a great way to ensure children get the essential vitamins they need, such as vitamins A, B-12, and D. Plus, they provide important minerals like zinc and iron that are important for healthy growth.
Which is better, Motts or Welch's fruit snacks? ›
Even though Welch's uses more natural ingredients, they're not all that more healthy due to the 7 grams of added sugars. Mott's may have 10 grams, but they also have added vitamins. And if you're vegan, you're in luck. Mott's are vegan, according to shoppingfoodie.com.
What ingredient is in gummies? ›
Gummy bears are typically made of gelatin, citric acid, sugar, fruit juice, corn syrup, flavoring and starch. These ingredients combine to give gummy bears their chewy texture and sweet taste.
What are gummies usually made of? ›
Ingredients. Gummy candies are made mostly of corn syrup, sucrose, gelatin, starch and water. In addition, minor amounts of coloring and flavoring agents are used. Food acids such as citric acid and malic acid are also added in order to give a tart flavor to gummies.
What is the gross ingredient in gummy bears? ›
Gelatin. Added to a variety of yogurts, Jell-O products and confections such as gummy bears, fruit snacks and jelly babies, gelatin is about 50 percent boiled pig skin and 25 percent cow bones.
What is the main ingredient in Haribo gummy bears? ›
GLUCOSE SYRUP (FROM WHEAT OR CORN), SUGAR, GELATIN, DEXTROSE (FROM WHEAT OR CORN), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: CITRIC ACID, ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL FLAVORS, PALM OIL, PALM KERNEL OIL, CARNAUBA WAX, WHITE BEESWAX, YELLOW BEESWAX, YELLOW 5, RED 40, BLUE 1. MAY CONTAIN: WHEAT, TRACES OF MILK.
