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 rowWhile these fruity treats may not be the healthiest option for a snack, they do offer some surprising health benefits for children. Gummy bears are a great snack for those who want something sweet and satisfying — they don't contain any added sugar, and they're a good source of fibre to keep you feeling full.
What is the sugar substitute in gummy bears? ›
Rather than being made with sugar, the gummy bears are made with Lycasin, a hydrogenated glucose and sugar replacement. Lycasin is a maltitol syrup with properties of taste and sweetness ideal for the preparation of sugar-free syrups, lozenges or jellies, according to manufacturer Roquette.com.
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? ›
The very first ingredient in the Harbio sugar free gummy bears is Lycasin. It is a syrup that consists almost entirely of maltitol, which is a polyol, aka, sugar alcohol. There are many other polyols too, which you have surely seen on labels, like sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and so on.
Can I make gummies without a mold? ›
You can use fun and fancy shaped little molds, but you don't have to! I have used the smaller shapes, but I also love using a regular ice cube silicone mold too. If you don't have trays like this, don't worry! You can use a glass dish with sides and cut out the gummies into squares.
What are the disadvantages of eating gummies? ›
"Although convenient and tasty, gummy vitamins may contain added sugars and calories, which can contribute to weight gain and dental issues if consumed excessively," says Prude.
Is it OK to eat gummy bears everyday? ›
Can you eat gummy bears every day? 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.
What are the side effects of eating too many gummy bears? ›
Upset stomach: Consuming a large amount of gummies at once can cause digestive discomfort such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Blood sugar fluctuations: Gummies that contain a lot of sugar can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels, which can lead to feelings of fatigue, weakness, and dizziness.
How do you get sugar to stick to homemade gummies? ›
Begin by dissolving a mixture of citric acid and sugar in water. Once it coats a spoon, it's ready to be used. Next, dip each gummy bear into the coating mixture, ensuring it's evenly coated. Then, let them sit out for a day to dry properly.
Gummy candies contain carbohydrates, which have a large impact on blood sugar levels. “Simple sugar-based foods absorb rapidly into the bloodstream after you eat them and can raise your blood sugar within five to 15 minutes,” says Norton.
Are gummy bears good for diabetes? ›
Cutting down on the portion sizes of gummies can help reduce sugar intake. Consider making smaller gummies or using mini moulds to make bite-sized treats. Gummy bears are high in sugar, which makes them have a high glycemic index.
What do gummy bears do for your body? ›
They help build the immune system with vitamin C and maintain eye health with vitamin A. Vitamins regulate a number of body functions, and since we can't produce them ourselves, we need to find an alternative way of getting them in our body. Gummy bears can also be beneficial for your hair, skin, and nails health.
What to eat when you're craving gummy bears? ›
17 Healthy and Delicious Alternatives to Candy
- Fresh fruit. Fresh fruit is naturally sweet and packed with nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. ...
- Dried fruit. ...
- Homemade popsicles. ...
- 'Nice cream' ...
- Frozen fruit. ...
- Fruit and veggie chips. ...
- Homemade fruit leather. ...
- Energy balls.
Welch's® are America's Favorite Fruit Snacks®, made with Real Fruit delivering delicious taste the whole family loves. Welch's® Fruit Snacks feature "Fruit is our 1st Ingredient! ™," are gluten-free and fat-free.
What are the main ingredients in gummies? ›
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 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 is the first ingredient in gummy bears? ›
The first base ingredient Riegel used was gum arabic, which led to the name gummy bears. Today, the base ingredient of gummy candies is edible gelatin. It's also found in licorice, soft caramels, and marshmallows. Edible gelatin gives gummy bears their chewy texture and long shelf life.
