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 rowHowever, this amount of sugar means that gummy bears' health benefits are minimal. Consuming more than 3.5 servings of gummy bears per day would contribute to an unhealthy diet. Even in moderation, products that use ingredients like wheat syrup and corn syrup aren't particularly healthy for you.
What is the sugar substitute in gummy bears? ›
Sourced from the agave plant, agave syrup is a sweet, viscous liquid used as a natural sweetener, including in gummy candies.
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.
How long do homemade gummies last? ›
Gelatin gummies will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Make sure they are kept in an air-tight storage container. Since they are made with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives, be careful as they get close to 2 weeks as they could get some mold on them.
What makes gummy bears so gummy? ›
Despite all the changes and developments in the gummy candy world, the basic recipe has remained largely the same: sugar, glucose syrup, starch, flavoring, food coloring, citric acid, and gelatin. The last ingredient, gelatin, is what gives gummy candy its signature chewy texture.
How often should you eat gummy bears? ›
Eating more than 3.5 servings of gummy bears per day would lead to an unhealthy and unbalanced diet. Products with corn syrup are considered to be healthy there for it is recommended that you check for corn syrup before selecting your gummy bears.
Is eating too many gummies bad for you? ›
Overconsumption of gummy vitamins can lead to excessive intake of certain nutrients, especially if you're already consuming fortified foods. Fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, can build up in the body and reach toxic levels when taken in excess.
What are the disadvantages of gummies? ›
The risks of overconsumption:
Unlike regular candies, excessive consumption of these gummies can lead to excessive intake of certain nutrients, which could have negative health consequences. For children, who may not understand the difference between regular gummies and fortified gummies, the risk is even higher.
Can diabetics have gummy bears? ›
The main ingredients in gummy bears are sugar, corn syrup, and gelatin. The body quickly absorbs all these ingredients, leading to a rapid spike in blood sugar levels. Sure, they also contain some protein, but their overall consumption can harm you with the risk of diabetes due to high glucose and sucrose levels.
Best Sugar for Coating Gummies
Granulated sugar, with its fine texture, is often preferred.
Why did Haribo discontinue sugar-free gummy bears? ›
For what it's worth, Haribo included a warning on their sugar-free bears that some people might experience unpleasant side effects. After stories of the candies' effects went viral, the company stopped selling them. The moral of this tale is everything in moderation.
Are Welch's gummies healthy? ›
Many believe that Welch's fruit snacks are a healthy option. However, even though it contains added vitamins, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E, they also contain corn syrup, sugar, modified corn starch, and gelatin. When it comes to fruit snacks, there are MUCH better and healthier options than Welch.
Can I eat gummy bears and still lose weight? ›
The gummy bear diet is not very effective in helping you lose weight. It is unlikely to slim you down and some people experience bloating because of the side effects of maltitol. What you may experience is an empty stomach and loss of water which can make you appear to have lost weight.
Why do I crave gummy bears? ›
You're not eating enough
“If you go too long without eating, your body will crave the fastest fuel it can think of — refined grains and simple sugars.” These are also known as empty carbs such as chips, as well as candy and cookies.
What are the ingredients in most gummies? ›
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 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.
What is the gross ingredient in gummy bears? ›
Gelatin, the star ingredient in Jell-O and other wobbling desserts, is made from pigskin, cattle bones and cattle hide, Kantha Shelke, a food scientist and Institute of Food Technologists expert, said in an email.
What are the raw materials in gummies? ›
Raw Materials Used for Gummies
- Gelatin: Gelatin is a key ingredient that provides gummies with their characteristic chewy texture. ...
- Sugar and Corn Syrup: These sweeteners give the gummies delightful sweetness. ...
- Flavoring: Natural and artificial flavors are added to create the desired taste of gummies.
