Homemade Gummy Snacks are so simple to make you’ll wonder why you haven’t made them yet!
The Benefits of Healthy Homemade Gummy Snacks
Before we dive in, let’s take a quick moment and address something: These healthy homemade gummy snacks are not the same as candy. They’re low in sugar and have no added sugar other than what’s naturally found in the fruit juice. If you expect them to taste like gummy bears, well, you’ll probably be disappointed!
But if you’re trying to transition your kids or yourself to eating less sugar, these homemade gummy snacks may just work to bridge that gap.
Not only are they nutritious with gut-soothing, joint-strengthening and skin-boosting grass-fed gelatin, if you make these in fun shapes – like these Lego men (find the molds I used here) – they’re bound to be irresistible to kids of all ages.
This recipe uses 100% juice with no added sugar, but the same concept can applied to any liquid. In fact, check out my very popular Homemade Kombucha Gummies for an added probiotic benefit.
Must-follow Tips for Making These Homemade Gummy Snacks:
- If you want to use a mold, you’ll need to use more gelatin than the container of gelatin calls for. If you use less, the shapes won’t pop out of the molds cleanly. (However, if you’re using a square or rectangular baking dish to make your gummy snacks and cutting them into squares, you can get away with using less.)
- Do not use pineapple, mango or papaya juice unless you have boiled it first. These fruits all contain bromelain, an enzyme that denatures the gelatin protein. It won’t set.
- When you’re heating the juice, heat until very warm but not boiling. If the liquid is too hot, it could denature the gelatin protein and your gummies may not set.
- For the smoothest result, you’ll want to bloom the gelatin first.
How to Bloom Gelatin
Pouring gelatin into hot liquid can make it clump up, so be sure to bloom the gelatin first. Pour about 1/4 cup of cold or room temperature fruit juice into a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin powder on top, and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
Then pour a little bit of the warmed juice into this and whisk until smooth. Pour the dissolved gelatin mixture into the rest of the juice and you’re good to go.
I made this batch with beet juice to get that super dark red color!
You can also get creative as time goes on and add pureed fruit. Experiment to see which combinations you like.
Homemade Gummy Snacks Recipe (No Added Sugar)
This simple Homemade Gummy Snacks Recipe is an easy and fun way to sneak more gut-healing gelatin in to your routine! Use 100% fruit juice for best results. Learn how in this post.
Ingredients
- 1 cup beet juice 100% juice, no sugar added
- 2 tbsp gelatin grass-fed is best
- Silicone candy molds or an 8″ x 8″ glass baking dish
Instructions
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Pour the juice into small saucepan. Heat gently until the juice is very warm but not boiling.
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Turn off the heat, and slowly pour the gelatin into the juice while whisking until it’s incorporated. Repeat with the other tablespoon of gelatin.
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Pour the mixture into silicone molds or an 8-inch by 8-inch glass baking dish that’s been very lightly greased with coconut oil. You don’t have to grease the silicone molds if you decide to use those. How many gummy snacks you’ll end up with depends on how big your molds are. These Lego brick molds hold 1 tablespoon of gelatin per brick while the Lego men molds hold 1 teaspoon each. I usually make a couple trays of gummy snacks and then pour the extra into a glass dish, cutting it into squares.
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Refrigerate the Homemade Gummy Snacks for at least 2 hours, then pop them out of the molds. You may want to freeze them for 15 minutes before you try to unmold.
Recipe Notes
Keep these gummy snacks refrigerated in a covered container. They keep for 3 to 5 days.
What juice do you want to try in these Homemade Gummy Snacks?
Pin this Homemade Gummy Snacks Recipe for later!
Do you have more insight as to why my gummies NEVER come clean out of my molds? They end up tearing and ripping, then they look ugly. I haven’t used your recipe yet, but it makes me wonder, is your key 1 c liquid, 2 T gelatin?
How do your Lego men look so perfect?!
You basically have to double the gelatin 🙂
I have a problem with doubling the gelatin. Any insight on how to get 4 T of gelatin to bloom in 1/4 cup of water? Also if you bloom the gelatin then do you reduce the amount of juice? Or keep it 1 cup of hot juice?
I stir mine in with a chopstick after I sprinkle it on top!
It’s 1 cup total liquid.
Try spraying the pan with oil first. I used to have that problem too.
I haven’t made these yet, but I am VERY excited to try them out. I love snacking on gummies (yes, I’m an adult) and this is going to be a great alternative to store-bought stuff. Thank you for posting this!
Us adults have to have some fun with our food too, right?! 🙂
Well if it makes you feel any better gelatin contains collagen which help prevents wrinkles, tighten loose skin, helps your hair and nails grow, help remove cellulite. (Side note: collagen can’t actually be absorbed through the skin has to be taken internally). Gelatin is extremely good for your bones, can help joint recovery and arthritis! So honestly it’s a grown up candy!! It has so many health benefits for you, you don’t even need an excuse!!
Hmm. This is ALMOST what I was looking for, but I was looking for a simple “jello” recipe involving fruit juice and gelatin. Don’t suppose you’ve got such a thing?
Hi Staci,
To do just “jello,” follow the gelling directions on the package of gelatin you use. It’s usually 1 tbsp gelatin to 2 cups liquid.
No “jello” instructions on Great Lakes gelatin! Thanks for the proportions, I’ll probably make a batch soon, an easy way to get more gelatin and also just a tiny bit of “sweet treat”. 🙂
Hmmm that’s strange! Mine lists the simple formula that to gel 2 cups (1 pint) of liquid, you want to use 1 tbsp gelatin.
Have fun with different combinations!
I think you might have the the Collagen Hydrolysate bottle of gelatin. Is it a green label? I have the same one and there aren’t any measurement instructions.
I tried making these twice this weekend and just realized I was using the kind of gelatin that won’t gel. :/
I just ordered the red label Great Lakes Gelatin, and am hoping I’ll get better results.
Hope that helps!
Yes, if you’re using Great Lakes you need the red canister.
I use 2 cups liquid (juice) to 1 T. of the Great Lakes Gelatin. I take 1/4 cup out of the 2 cups put 1 T. gelatin powder into the 1/4 c. and mix well. Let it sit till it blooms. It will swell and be extremely thick. Almost a solid mass. Boil the rest of juice or to almost boiling. (I’ve done both) Mix the bloomed mass into the hot juice until it’s all dissolved. I let it sit till it’s cooled a bit then refrigerate. I love lemon so I use water, lemon juice and stevia. Make it to taste the sweetness you like. I have to watch my carbs so this is a healthy dessert I can eat a lot of.
Hi Anna, Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I’m sure you’ll find more valuable information exploring the site. Have fun!
I’m afraid if I made these in the shape of Lego guys, they would end up being only played with and never eaten!
I have to admit though, I’m curious if gummy legos could actually be used to build things. I’m guessing no, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to try!
There’s only one way to find out, Matt!
No, they won’t work unless you create indentations on the back side. You can do that by lightly brushing or spraying a base plate with oil and then pressing against the back of the candies before they set. There’s a great video on youtube about how to do it.
What’s the difference between the red label and the orange label of the gelatin?
The source. Red = beef; orange = pork.
I make mine with unsweetened organic apple juice concentrate. Makes for a very flavorful gummy. I add ginger or cinnamon as my mood dictates. 🙂 I also place the warmed juice concentrate and gelatin mixture into a blender for 15-30 seconds. Makes for a great foamy top to the gummies when poured into a flat container (will not work for molds).
you add ground ginger? sounds good
If the juice is pasteurized, do I still need to boil it? I want to use R.W. Knudsen Mango Peach juice. Also, if I dont have silicone molds but plastic, should I grease them to prevent sticking? The molds are gumdrops shaped. I found the at a thrift store and thought it be fun to make healthy gummies for my grandkids. Since they won’t be in the molds long I wasn’t too worried about the plastic. May have to invest in silicone though. Thank you!
Hi Corinne,
The reason you’re heating the juice is so that it’s warm enough to dissolve the gelatin, not so you can make sure it’s pasteurized. You want to heat it so the gelatin will incorporate.
I’ve never used plastic molds so I’m not sure but I think you’d want to grease them to be safe 🙂
Hi, I am so excited to make gummies for my family. I see in your instructions that you say if using certain juice to “boil” it but then later not to boil, so I just want to clarify, with pineapple, mango and papaya you actually do boil? Thank you!
Hi Suzy…if using the fruits you listed, boil the juice for 5 minutes then let it cool. Then, add the gelatin. 🙂
Hi, I finally tried making these fruit gummies, with grape juice. They tasted like gobs of Jell-O. I did not have molds so used a glass pan. I did find the good beef gelatin and following your directions, wonder what happened? I LOVE gummies and yet I HATE Jell-O. It odd.
Hi Jude…that’s because gelatin does have a flavor and there’s gelatin in both this recipe and in Jell-O. Maybe you are sensitive to the smell / taste? We call them gummies because they are firmer than jello but please don’t mistake that these are supposed to be like gummy candy. That would be a disappointment!
Hi Steph – I just suffered that exact disappointment… my kids love gummy candies and I’d like to make a healthier version of that. They are refusing to eat these jello gummies. Any tips or other recipes?
I mentioned this elsewhere but you can try cutting down the gelatin to 1 tbsp per 2 cups liquid and pouring into an 8×8″ or 9×9″ glass dish then cutting into squares. Won’t be cute shapes but are still healthy. For kids that are used to gummy bears, these are obviously not gonna fly haha! If you can’t convince them then maybe it isn’t worth the fight, you know?
I have read in other recipes for healthy gummy treats (not gummy candy) that you can use essential oils of fruits (like mandarin, sweet orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, etc.) to enhance the flavor. I tried making ones with orange juice the first time I ever tried homemade gummies and was disappointed with how bland the flavor was. I haven’t made orange ones again but I intend to try with mandarin essential oil the next time. I can’t recall the exact measurements for the EO but it was only a drop or two. I’m sure you could search for it on the web though and probably find a few recipes. I’ve run across several (I recall seeing one for coconut milk, vanilla bean powder and lavender EO that I thought sounded interesting). Hope this helps!
Please be very cautious when taking essential oils internally!
Hi I have this in the fridge right now, but I used No sugar added Pomogranate Juice, the kind you mix with water to make a juice but I didn’t add water I just used the Concentrate. Is that ok?? I hope so, I was down to my last 2 Tbls of Gelatin.
The juice sounds fine!
I am going to try this.
I did this with 2 cups juice to 5 tbsp of gelatin and they came out AMAZING I was also able to add some acidophilous to them to make them probiotic. POM Blueberry is by far the best juice I’ve used for them. Spendy, but worth it
Sounds like you’ve got it dialed, Ben! High five!
Helpful Tip to easily dissolve the gelatin: Pour all the gelatin into the cold juice (I used Cranberry Juice) and whisk it together. Let stand about 10 minutes. The gelatin will change to a jelled texture. Heat the juice in the microwave for about 1 minute. (Once warmed I add a little honey.) Stir it well and pour into molds.
That’s called “blooming” 🙂
I make “bedtime” gummies for my kids with tart cherry juice. I sweeten with a little organic apple juice. They love them! Tart cherry juice is high in antioxidants and it helps with melatonin production.
Cool combination! We love tart cherry juice.
Best gummy recipe EVER!!! Ty, ty, ty for sharing it!!! I used 100% grape juice, nothing added, and it tastes like a mild grape jello. Finally the proper measurements to create delicious gummies that come-out of the dish. Thank you again. 😀
Angela, I’m excited to hear that you enjoyed it!
I just made my first batch using the liquid to gelatin ratios in the recipe. I just did them in a flat tray, they have set beautifully and I’ve cut them into squares. But I am almost gagging with the gelatine taste! I can’t eat them. I used strained blended blackberries and blueberries, and added quite a bit of coconut sugar. Do you try to get rid of the gelatine taste or do you like it?!
In order to get the gummies to be sturdy enough to pop them out of molds, you have to add more gelatin than normal. If you wish to make them in a flat tray because you don’t have molds, you can decrease the amount of gelatin to what it says on the package. Gelatin does have a flavor, and I’m okay with it, but if you’re not then you can always decrease it. They won’t be as firm though.
Curious. ..how would one store these if there are leftovers or if you wanted them made ahead of time for a later use? I am guessing refrigeration is needed but am hopeful for plastic bag or sealed container.
Hi Amber,
They really do best when refrigerated. If it’s warm out, they’ll melt.
To delete the gelatin flavor could you increase the recipe with regular jell-o? I know it may not be as healthy but they would still be better than store bought. Also, what about using sure-jel that is used to set jam? Would that make gummies hummus? I’ve never made jam or jelly but I keep thinking about it. I know these questions may be dumb, but I’ve just started trying the paleo diet and cooking. Big change from boxed meals LOL.
Hi Rhonda…jell-o is still going to have gelatin in it, so you’ll just be adding more gelatin but covering it up with artificial flavors. If you want to add less gelatin, use 1 tbsp to 2 cups liquid and just pour into a glass dish to set. It won’t be as firm as it would be for the gummies but the gelatin flavor will be more mild. Just to be clear, this recipe isn’t for gummies like gummy bears…those have a ton of stabilizers to make them so firm 🙂
As for the sure-jel, I don’t think it would give a very firm result but you could test it out!
Hi Steph! I wanted to make a big batch, wondering if it’s possible to freeze the gummies?
Thanks
You could try it and let us know what happens! My gut feeling on it is that no, when they thaw they’ll just melt into mush but I’ve been wrong before.
I have frozen them and it works great. They lasted a few months. I pulled them out frozen and put them in the lunch box daily. Made them with manuka honey for cavity fighting and local honey for helping with allergies.
Wondering if these would work with vegetable juice?
I think so!
Mmmm Kid loves legos! I might have to order some of those molds, I’ve been looking at them for ice anyway! Now I want to make these in cherry and orange!
Sweet!! Super glad to hear that, Lauren!
any ideas on what stabilizers might be used to make a more candy like gummy bear?
I’d recommend doing a Google search.
My first thought on seeing these was, “Wow, I wonder if that’d work as mid-race fuel?!” What do you think? I admit, I have zero knowledge about gelatin and how it affects… well, hardly anything.
Hmmmm the type of protein in gelatin really isn’t great for muscle recovery…and they will melt if they get warm :/ I wrote more about gelatin here: https://www.stephgaudreau.com/2014/03/15/gelatin-post-workout-recovery/ Hope that helps.
Definitely helpful, thank you!
I tried to make them how you said. I warmed up the juice with the gelatin (red container) poured it into the mold. They came out like jam and won’t even mold to the silcone molding. What am I doing wrong?
What kind of juice?
I am interested in making these but I’m curious as to how many my kids can ‘safely’ consume in a sitting. Seems like a lot to make to be consumed over only 3 to 5 days. What dosage would be ok, or is this not even a concern?
If you’re concerned about quantities of collagen / gelatin for kids, I would recommend consulting your pediatrician…but nothing in here is an abnormally high amount.
Has anyone tried this with fresh squeezed juice? I have an orange tree, so I have plenty of oranges I could squeeze for these gummies…
I need to curb sugars, including fruits, so I am using Celestial Seasonings Zinger tea bags, 4 bags per 1 cup of water, and then 1 TBL of gelatin. Got a cute silicone chocolates mold and they pop out easily, making for a cute, healthy snack. I also added some rose water and a drop of orange essential oils to perk up the flavor. Works well.
Thanks for writing in to the blog, Nan. I’m sure you’ll find more valuable information exploring the site. Have fun!
I have been using the great lakes gelatin for many years as the company is not far from me.I buy straight from their store for literally half the price.The only problem that I have with it is the taste (I have been using the red one in foods and green for myself,not a fan of pork).What can I do about it so my kids will eat it?The moment they take a sniff at it,they gag and say that it smells disgusting.
All gelatin smells that way unfortunately. You could try cutting the amount of gelatin down and pouring it into small dishes to set instead of making gummy shapes.
I am only 13 and making these gummies is super easy at first I thought they probably won’t taste that good but to my suprise they were amazing and now it’s a hit at my school
Thanks for writing in to the blog, Jackson. We’re really happy to hear you liked it ?
Thanks so much for this post. Don’t know why I’ve been so intimidated by gelatin… I finally tried your recipe/instructions today and it came out great!! I used 2 cups of concentrated tart cherry juice, known to lower inflammation. What a delicious and truly health-promoting treat!
Jessireebob Thanks for trying the recipe. I’m glad that you enjoyed it!
i realized that u need to do like 4 tbsp of gelatin to keep them from falling apart
I’ve done it with 3
Hi! I have a problem of my gummies not setting, even after I turn off the heat to mix in the collagen 🙁 Please help!
You need to use gelatin to make gummies, not collagen. Collagen will never set.
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