Homemade Honey Gummy Bears
These homemade honey gummy bears are a fun treat made with only 3 simple ingredients: fruit juice, honey and unflavored gelatin. They are easy to make, naturally sweetened with honey and you can change the flavor simply by using a different juice. They are easy and fun to make. Making your own gummies also lets you know exactly what goes into them.
Of course, this is only one example of many delicious honey recipes you can enjoy. But, the kids are sure to love these in an extra special way.
Homemade Gummies Sweetened with Honey
Let’s be real, honey is sugar. It has a small number of calories (about 64 in a tablespoon). But,it is a natural sugar with trace amounts of vitamins and minerals along with antioxidant properties.
Commercial varieties of these fruit snacks usually contain starch, coloring, glucose syrup and other not so healthy ingredients. Why not make your own gummy bears so you know for sure what your family is eating?
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Fruit juice
- Gelatin
- Honey
Fruit Juice
The type of fruit juice to use for this recipe is totally your call. Apple, grape, mango, cherry, cranberry and pomegranate are popular.
Be advised that cherry juice can be a bit tart – while apple or grape tends to be sweeter.
Pineapple juice doesn’t seem to work as well – I would avoid the strong citrus flavors. Look for 100% juice – not a juice cocktail with added sugar.
Unflavored Gelatin
Unflavored gelatin is the product of choice for making homemade gummy bears. It has no color or flavor that might conflict with your fruit juice.
Gelatin is a protein that may provide some benefits to bones, skin and gut health. The protein and amino acids present are consider good for skin of all ages.
Honey
What kind of honey can you use to make gummies? I always look for raw unprocessed honey – it is my favorite. And, as a beekeeper – I usually have some on hand.
You may be surprised to learn that there are many different varieties or types of honey. Honestly, for this gummy recipe – variety really doesn’t matter.
Remember that raw honey (or any raw food) for that matter is not suitable for babies. Never give honey to very young kids without permission from your doctor. Besides, gummies are suitable for older kids not babies.
I do still prefer raw honey vs regular honey – even though we are heating it in this recipe. But, you can certainly use pasteurized honey if you prefer and your gummies will be just fine.
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Choosing a Gummy Mold
Of course, you can use any small candy mold with success. But, part of the fun of gummy bears is the bear shape.
This is the one I used and it came with a dropper. It will last a long time and make hundreds of honey gummies.
You are not tied to the idea of the bear shape though – I have made gummies in several different shapes.
How to Make Honey Gummies
The steps involved are really very simple. It is a simple process of combining, melting, molding and then – eating! Here we go.
1.Gently warm your ingredients in a medium sized saucepan on the stove. Watch it carefully and stir frequently to prevent burning.
You do not have to reach a boil – we are only warming the juices and honey enough to dissolve the gelatin powder.
2. Now it is time to fill your gummy bear mold. Of course you can use any silicone candy mold but if you do get the one designed for gummy bears – they usually include a dropper!
It is a great idea to place your mold on a pan before filling. This helps avoid spills.
3. Refrigerate for several hours until your gummies are set. They should be very easy to remove from the silicone molds.
Best Fruit Juice for Gummies
As few more tips about fruit juice selection. One of the fun things about making gummies at home is experimenting with different flavors.
The fruit juice you choose provides most of the flavor and color, so use one that you enjoy drinking.
Apple and grape juice are good choices if you prefer a sweeter, milder gummy. Cherry, cranberry and pomegranate juice have a stronger, more tart flavor.
Depending on the juice you choose, you may want to adjust the amount of honey slightly to suit your taste.
For the best results, choose a juice without a lot of pulp. This helps create gummies with a smoother texture.
A Note About Fresh Pineapple
Fresh pineapple juice can be troublesome when making gelatin-based gummies. Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain that breaks down proteins and can prevent gelatin from setting properly.
This doesn’t mean pineapple gummies are off the menu. Canned or heat-treated pineapple juice is a better option because heating deactivates the enzyme.
Other fresh fruits, including kiwi and papaya, contain similar enzymes and may also interfere with gelatin. If you want to experiment with these flavors, use juice that has been commercially pasteurized or heated.
And remember, there is no rule that says gummy bears have to be one flavor. Trying different juices is half the fun—and gives you a perfectly reasonable excuse to make another batch.
Getting the Texture Just Right
When you make homemade gummies you will notice that they have a different texture than the chewy gummy bears you buy at the store.
They are generally softer and more tender, but they should still be firm enough to pop out of the mold and hold their shape.
Gelatin is what gives the gummies their structure, so the amount used makes a big difference. Too little gelatin can leave you with very soft gummies that are difficult to remove from the mold. Too much can make them firmer than you might like.
Be sure the gelatin dissolves completely as you gently warm the mixture. There is no need to bring it to a boil.
Once the molds are filled, give the gummies plenty of time to chill and become firm before trying to remove them.
If your first batch isn’t exactly the texture you prefer, don’t give up. You can make small adjustments to the amount of gelatin the next time. After all, taste-testing another batch of gummy bears isn’t exactly a hardship.
Storing Healthy Gummies
Because these homemade gummies are made with fruit juice and do not contain commercial preservatives, I prefer to store them in the refrigerator.
Once the gummies are completely set and removed from the molds, place them in an airtight container. Keeping them chilled also helps them maintain a firmer texture, especially during warm weather.
For the best flavor and texture, enjoy your honey gummies within 10-14 days. If they develop an unusual smell, appearance or texture, it is best to discard them.
Be advised that these honey gummy bears are tiny (if you use the mold pictured). Kids love them but it does take some time to make them.
They are so cute that it is worth the effort. I think you can also reuse to mold to make small chocolate bears.
Expert Tips
If you, like me, are not blessed with a steady hand – don’t panic. The silicone mold makes cleanup a breeze. No one will know in the end if you make a small mess.
One trick is to actually lay the end of the dropper into the bear cavity. This eliminates having to manipulate the dropper and aim while filling.
To prevent air bubbles, refill the dipper before it runs completely out. I was able to fill 3 cavities on a full dropper.
If your gelatin has foam appear on the top as the honey gummies cool – no worries – just wipe or spoon it off.
FAQs
Homemade gummies can become sticky when they contain too much moisture or get too warm. Be sure they are completely set before removing them from the molds and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If they are especially sticky, letting them air-dry for a short time before storing may help.
The recipe ingredients should be heated until very warm but not boiling hot. If it gets too hot the heat will denature the gelatin protein and prevent setting up.
Yes, honey gummies can be frozen for longer storage. Place them in a freezer-safe airtight container, using parchment or wax paper between layers if necessary. Freezing may change the texture slightly, so I suggest freezing a small batch first. Thaw them in the refrigerator before serving.
Fresh pineapple juice is not a good choice for gelatin gummies. It contains bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down proteins and can prevent the gelatin from setting properly. Canned or heat-treated pineapple juice is a better choice because heating deactivates the enzyme.
Yes. The amount of honey can be adjusted to suit your taste, especially since some fruit juices are naturally sweeter than others. Reducing the honey may slightly change the flavor and texture, so make small adjustments rather than leaving it out completely. Taste the mixture and adjust the sweetness before filling the molds.
More Ideas for Using Honey
Don’t let this be your last experience of using honey as an ingredient in tasty food. Many home chefs know the delight of baking with honey.
Try some Crispy Honey Bee Cookies for a special event. This recipe for Honey Scones is delicious.
If you really want to show off – what about this honey bee cake! It is great with coffee.
And for the kids – cake pops are always a hit – try these honey bee cake pops. Let the kids help – they don’t have to look perfect – that’s what Starbucks is for.
If you need a healthy portable snack – learn how to dehydrate pineapple with a light honey glaze.
And, for the adults you may try your hand a making Fire Cider. All good remedies to have nearby.
Final Thoughts
Have fun making these natural honey gummies for and with the kids. You can experiment with different types of fruit juice until you have the taste you like.
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DIY Honey Gummy Bear Recipe
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Read my disclosure.Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple juice – no sugar added (other juices ok)
- 2 tbsp Honey
- 2 1/2 tbsp unflavored gelatin powder
Instructions
- Measure honey, juice and gelatin into a small sauce pan (or pot). Heat on stove, stirring constantly ( or lightly whisk) until the gelatin is melted. Do not get it boiling hot – just very warm.
- Remove from heat and pour into your molds. Most gummy bear molds come with a special dropper to make this task easier. Of course, these snacks can be any shape – you do not have to use the bear mold.
- Prior to filling place your mold on a flat pan. Silicon molds are soft and you need to be able to transfer the filled mold to the refrigerator.
- Leave in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. This gives the gelatin mixture time to cool and set up into a firm state. Then, they will pop out of the silicone mold with ease.After removing from the mold, I suggest storing your honey gummy bears in the refrigerator. These are a lot of fun.
Notes
- Use any unsweetened juice of your choice
- Be sure to completely melt the gelation or the mix will not set
Thank you for the nice recipe!
I made a mistake when making the recipe — I used 2tbl of gelatine instead of 2 1/2, however it worked out well because the gelatine I used was pork gelatine with 240 bloom which yields a firmer product.
I suspect that the gelatine the previous poster used was of lower bloom value so maybe use a little more gelatine for firmer bears.
I also bloomed the gelatine in water first for 5 minutes. In my case, 4 tblsp of water were needed, which I then subtracted from the apple juice.
The gummis can also be dried for a bit (dehydrator, or just put under a regular fan) to keep a little longer.
Wow how interesting…
Thank you for posting this. I’ve been trying to find genuine honey gummy bears since my source was discontinued in 1996. I made this recipe four times in order to get a good strong honey taste. I would call these honey jello bears since the consistency is that of jello, not gummy bears.
I agree they are not quite as firm as traditional gummy bears due to a lack of additives to make them so.