How To Make Gummies: Tips and Recipes - Meghan Telpner (2024)

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It doesn’t get much easier than a two-ingredient recipe – and it’s incredible how much therapeutic nutrition you can receive from two simple ingredients. Homemade gummies (or homemade gelatin) are delicious, versatile, family-friendly and fun to make and eat. We have a full guide to help you learn how to make gummies. From what kind of gelatin to use, to flavour options, to how to pull off the best consistency, we’ve got you covered.

How to Make Gummies: Best Tips and Recipes

Culinary Nutrition Benefits of Homemade Gummies

Why make your own gummies in the first place?

Many conventional gummy candy brands contain highly refined and processed sugars like glucose syrup, which can negatively impact our health. They have natural and artificial flavours, which in most cases are synthetically produced, as well as food dyes that are associated with cancer and hypersensitivity. Lastly, they typically contain unhealthy or unsustainable oils. Despite their claims of containing ‘real fruit’, most brands are well-removed from any whole food source.

On the other hand, homemade gummies:

As whole fruit juice is naturally sweet on its own, you typically don’t need to add any extra sugar to it, either.

What Is Gelatin: Health Benefits and Why It’s Important for Gummy Recipes

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A key ingredient in homemade gummies is gelatin. It helps them ‘gel’, and is also rich in culinary nutrition benefits.

Gelatin is an incredible source of protein, which is vital for:

Gelatin is derived from animal bones. Specific amino acids in animal bones include glycine, glucosamine and chondroitin, which can aid with tissue repair, sleep, mobility and skin health.

Gelatin Vs. Collagen: What’s the Difference?

Gelatin is extracted from collagen – it’s actually a broken-down form of collagen. Gelatin has a shorter chain of amino acids, which is what makes it simpler for us to digest than collagen.

Nutritionally, gelatin and collagen are similar but their consistencies are very different. Collagen completely dissolves in liquid, for example, if you add it to a smoothie or an elixir. Gelatin binds to liquids to form a gelatinous, firm or jiggly texture depending on how much you use.

Curious to learn more about restorative nutrients? The Culinary Nutrition Expert Program has an entire module devoted to Therapeutic Foods, which empowers you to determine key therapeutic foods for yourself, your family or your clients. You’ll learn that with certain foods and specific nutrients, food can play a powerful role in healing, or simply in restoring and maintaining optimal health.

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Best Gelatin Brands

Gelatin brands are typically made from either beef or pork. As with any other type of animal product, we recommend sourcing gelatin that comes from organic, grass-fed animals. This yields a gelatin product that is better for your health and the planet.

Some of the gelatin brands we like are:

Visit your local health food store, grocery store, or online shop to see what is available near you. The only ingredient on the label should be ‘beef gelatin’ or ‘pork gelatin’. (These may be written as ‘bovine’ or ‘porcine’).

Can You Make Gummies Vegan?

You can substitute agar-agar powder for gelatin (you’ll need to use 1/8th of the amount of gelatin called for). Note that you won’t receive the health benefits of the gelatin (but there are other benefits to seaweeds like agar).

How to Get The Best Consistency When You Make Gummies

This can be tricky! If you’ve tried homemade gummies before and weren’t happy with the consistency, these tips can help you troubleshoot.

There are three main factors that affect gummy consistency.

The liquid-to-gelatin ratio.

Using more gelatin and less liquid will yield a firmer gummy; less gelatin and more liquid will have a softer consistency.

The amount of pectin in the fruit you’re using.

Pectin is a fibre found in fruits. It also acts as a binder, for example in jam recipes or baking. If you’re using a low-pectin fruit, you may need to add more gelatin if you’re aiming for a thick, candy-like consistency.

Citrus fruits, apples, quinces and plums are some examples of high-pectin fruits; cherries and a number of berries like strawberries and blueberries are low-pectin. Find a full list of pectin fruit amounts here.

The amount of protease enzymes in the fruit that you’re using.

Certain fruits contain protease enzymes. Bromelain (found in pineapple) and papain (found in papaya), are two such kinds of these enzymes. They can be incredibly beneficial for digestion as they help us break down our food.

Unfortunately, they will also break down the gelatin in your gummies, which will prevent them from forming and gelling beautifully.

Fruits that are high in proteases include pineapple, papaya, figs and kiwis.

Do You Need to Sweeten Your Gummies?

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Fruit juices are highly concentrated, so we find we don’t need to add extra sweetener to them to make gummies. However, if you’re using a tart juice or simply for personal preference, you can add a natural sweetener of your choice.

Learn more:

Nutrition Enhancers

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There are a few ways you can pack even more nutrition into your gummy making!

  • Add herbal tea
  • Stir in collagen powder for additional protein
  • Use cinnamon, dried ginger or turmeric for flavour and anti-inflammatory benefit
  • Try an adaptogen or mushroom powder
  • If using a larger mold, add finely chopped fresh fruit
  • Drop in some Vitamin D
  • Try CBD oil for homemade CBD gummies

Best Gummy Molds

The best molds to use are the ones you already own! Try:

  • Candy molds or chocolate molds
  • Silicone muffin trays
  • Ice cube trays
  • Regular muffin trays lined with paper liners
  • A large glass dish or container – then cut gummies into squares or use cookie cutters after they set

The gummy bear shaped molds are adorable, but we aren’t a fan of single-use items unless you know they’ll become a staple tool or appliance in your kitchen.

how to make gummies: Recipes

We have two options for you to try: soft gummies and gummy candy!

Soft Gelatin (Jiggly Gummies)

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How To Make Gummies: Tips and Recipes - Meghan Telpner (5)

Blueberry Jelly Squares

  • Author: Academy of Culinary Nutrition
  • Total Time: 8 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 cups blueberry juice, or fruit juice of choice
  • 23 Tbsp organic, unflavoured gelatin (3 Tbsp for squares, 2 Tbsp for serving in cups or bowls)

Instructions

  1. Warm the juice in a pot on the stove until warm, but not boiling. You should be able to touch it comfortably.
  2. Measure out 2-3 Tbsp of gelatin and place in small bowl.
  3. Transfer juice to a bowl and slowly pour in the gelatin while whisking vigorously to ensure no gelatin clumps form.
  4. Pour mixture into a 9 inch baking dish or individual molds – however you want to set/serve your jello.
  5. Place in the fridge for 30-60 minutes or until solid. The larger the mold used, the longer it will take to set.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes

Keywords: jello, gelatin, jello squares, gummies, homemade gummies, gummy, blueberry gummies

Firm Gelatin (Gummy Candy)

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How To Make Gummies: Tips and Recipes - Meghan Telpner (6)

Gummy Candy

  • Author: Academy of Culinary Nutrition
  • Total Time: 8 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 cup pomegranate juice (or juice of choice)
  • 3 heaping Tbsp gelatin

Instructions

  1. Warm the juice in a pot on the stove until warm, but not boiling. You should be able to touch it comfortably.
  2. 3 Tbsp of gelatin and place in a small bowl.
  3. Transfer juice to a bowl and slowly pour in the gelatin while whisking vigorously to ensure no gelatin clumps form.
  4. Pour the juice into a 9-inch baking dish or individual molds.
  5. Place in the fridge for 30-60 minutes or until solid. The larger the mold used, the longer it will take to set.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes

Keywords: gummies, healthy gummies, natural gummies, gummy candy

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How To Make Gummies: Tips and Recipes - Meghan Telpner (2024)

FAQs

How to harden homemade gummies? ›

Dry the gummies (I do this at room temp on a baking sheet covered with a silicone sheet, what they call a “silpat” in the biz) for a few days until they develop a thick “skin.” Roll them in a 3:1 mixture of confectioner's sugar and corn starch. Store in a sealed container at room temperature.

What is the ratio of liquid to gelatin for gummies? ›

The basic ratio is 1 TBSP gelatin : 100ml liquid.

What is the formulation of gummies? ›

basic ingredients required for the preparation of gummies include agar, sugar, and water. The ingredients (sugar and water) were cooked to a soft ball stage, followed by the addition of agar, citric acid, and natural colours and flavours.

How much pectin to use for gummies? ›

Fruit Gummies with High Methoxyl Pectin

1/2 cup sugar. 2 tablespoons High Methoxyl Pectin. 1 tablespoon lemon juice (or citric acid) Optional: Natural food coloring.

Does more gelatin make gummies harder? ›

Tips for making gelatin gummies

For extra firm gummies like gummy bears, add an extra 1 to 2 tablespoons of gelatin per 1 cup of juice.

Why won't my gummies harden? ›

Failure of gelatin to set properly may be caused by protease enzyme, so avoid using fresh fruits such as kiwi, pineapple, mango and papaya. The premature setting of gelatin may occur due to insufficient processing temperature, 150°F is recommended to keep the gelatin warm.

Does adding more gelatin make it firmer? ›

The more gelatin in the mixture, the more firm or solid your finished product will become. Pre-made mixtures, like Jell-O, are made to set soft as spoonable dessert. For gummy candy, more gelatin means a firmer gummy! Experiment with different amounts of gelatin to find what texture and level of firmness you prefer.

What are the thickening agents for gummies? ›

Gelatin & pectin are the two most-common ingredients used for thickening and gelling gummies along with starch.

What is the best oil for gummies? ›

Unsure of what oil to use for your gummies? Opt for MCT oil or coconut oil. Why? MCT oil is tasteless and remains liquid at room temperature, giving your gummies a more jiggly consistency.

How are gummies made step by step? ›

Forming Candy
  1. Depositing: The gummy syrup is deposited into molds using a gummy depositing machine, which shapes the candy into the desired forms.
  2. Cooling: The molds pass through a cooling tunnel to solidify the gummies and set their shape.
  3. Demolding: Gummies are removed from the molds by a demolding machine.

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.

Why is corn syrup used in gummies? ›

Provides Smooth Texture: Corn syrup helps to create a smooth and glossy texture in candies, ensuring that they are not grainy or gritty. 3. Adds Moisture and Shine: Beyond candy making, corn syrup can be used to add moisture and a glossy finish to dessert sauces and frostings.

What happens if you use too much pectin in a recipe? ›

You will need approximately half the amount of pectin that is indicated by your recipe. Please be careful when adding pectin as too much will leave you with a set that is too solid and it is not possible to rectify this so always add less than you think is necessary and test the set and then add more if required.

How many mg of pectin is too much? ›

It is available in capsule and powder forms. It's also found naturally in many fruits, including apples, pears and oranges. Although there's no standard dose for pectin, research shows that doses ranging from 10-60 grams per day is safe and effective.

What is the ratio of sugar to citric acid for gummies? ›

The real power with this coating is in the citric acid, it can provide enough tartness to accentuate flavor or enough sour kick to make you pucker your lips. The balance is entirely up to you, but a good ratio to start with is 1:4 acid to sugar.

How do you fix runny gummies? ›

The most common thing that is done with gummies is open air drying. This basically means to leave them in a dry place to dry out for a few days. Gums made from gelatin will benefit from this as it is the easiest to control.

How do you keep gummies firm? ›

Coconut oil is pleasant-tasting and remains solid at room temperature, making your gummies more firm. It has strong natural antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which extends the shelf life of your gummies.

How long does it take for gummies to harden? ›

Mixture will continually get thicker and thicker as the gelatin sets, so you only have a few minutes to fill the molds. Once the mixture is used up, place the molds in the freezer or refrigerator for the gummies to harden, about 20 minutes to an hour.

How do you solidify melted gummies? ›

Firstly, remove the gummies from their packaging and place them in a bowl. It's important not to touch or move them around too much. Next, put the bowl of melted gummies in the fridge for about an hour. That will help solidify the gummies and make it easier to separate any clumps that may have formed during melting.

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