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
Ingredients and production
The traditional gummy bear is made from a mixture of sugar, glucose syrup, starch, flavoring, food coloring, citric acid and gelatin. However, recipes vary, such as organic candy, those suitable for vegetarians or those following religious dietary laws.
Can gummy bears be healthy? ›
While 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.
Is gelatin in gummy bears good for you? ›
Gelatin is notable for its low nutritional value and poor protein quality, and is one of the few foods that has a negative protein efficiency ratio, according to the FDA. “Despite its low nutritional value, gelatin is not considered hazardous by applicable government regulations,” according to the FDA.
Is it OK to eat gummy bears everyday? ›
Yes, a daily 10 ounce packet of gummy bears can affect your health and your weight. Women should not eat more than 24 grammes of sugar a day and men should not eat more than 36 grammes. 10 ounces of gummy bears provide 130 grammes of sugar: more than 5 times the limit fo...
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.
What are the disadvantages of gummies? ›
The first notable disadvantage of gummies is the risk of overconsumption, due in part to their attractive appearance and delicious taste. This overconsumption can be particularly problematic in the case of gummies enriched with vitamins and minerals.
Are there gummies without sugar? ›
Yes. Nature Made® Zero Sugar gummies‡ have the same benefits and great taste as regular gummies but instead have zero grams of sugar per serving.
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.
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.
Are Welch's made with real fruit? ›
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.
Why do I crave gummy bears? ›
The chewy texture of gummy candy can be a factor in why some people find it addictive. Our brains are wired to enjoy foods that are soft, chewy, and easy to swallow because they signal to our brains that the food is safe to eat and easy to digest.
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? ›
The gelatin in gummies are made from animal bones, and/or tendons. But no fat. Beef bones and tendons are the most commonly used to make gelatin, for obvious reasons (the bones are bigger, and more plentiful, so are easier to obtain.) However, pork bones are sometimes used as well.
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.
