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Homemade Healthy Gummies Recipe

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If you are concerned about giving your kids healthy food options, Homemade Healthy Gummies are the way to go. Real fruits, veggies, and no refined sugars! You can also add supplements and make these little chewable snacks super nutritious. Make these little fun fruit and veggie snacks that your kids will absolutely love!

healthy gummy candy

Homemade Healthy Gummies

These little chewable snacks are made with real fruits and veggies, full of vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients! You don’t have to worry about high fructose corn syrup or dangerous artificial dyes anymore. Isn’t it great? Just whole fresh fruits and veggies. You can also get creative and add superfoods like chia seeds, ginger, probiotics, cod liver oil, or kale to your blends.

We’ll get to the recipe in a minute. First, though, let’s look at why they’re so much better than store-bought gummy snacks. Then, I’ll share some tips for upgrading them into even healthier gummies.

What’s Wrong with Store-Bought Gummies & Fruit Snacks

Did you know store-bought gummy snacks are full of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial dyes?  There’s very little- if any- actually fruit in them! Don’t believe me? Check out the labels! Here, I’ll even do it for you.

Gummy Candy Ingredients

This is what you’ll find in the most popular gummy candies by Haribo:

GLUCOSE SYRUP (FROM WHEAT OR CORN), SUGAR, GELATIN, DEXTROSE (FROM WHEAT OR CORN), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: CITRIC ACID, ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL FLAVORS, PALM OIL, PALM KERNEL OIL, CARNAUBA WAX, WHITE BEESWAX, YELLOW BEESWAX, YELLOW 5, RED 40, BLUE 1. MAY CONTAIN: WHEAT, TRACES OF MILK.

Three of the four main ingredients are just sugars in different forms. We don’t even need to go beyond that to know these are not healthy snacks.

Fruit Snack Ingredients

Don’t even get me started on so-called “fruit” snacks! Or should I say, “fruit-flavored  snacks?” Whenever anything is followed by the word “flavored,” there’s so little of the real ingredient in it that the brand legally has to toss in that word as a disclaimer. Again, let’s look at the ingredients of one of the most popular brands, Kellogg’s (they make the fruity snacks shaped like popular characters from kids’ shows):

CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, APPLE PUREE CONCENTRATE, WATER, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, GELATIN, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF CITRIC ACID, VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, YELLOW 5, RED 40, SODIUM CITRATE, BLUE 1.

Aside from a bit of fruit puree concentrate (which is not the same thing as actual fruit), their ingredients look almost identical to gummy candies. I think that’s actually worse. Haribo doesn’t hide the fact that they’re a candy brand behind healthy-sounding words like “fruit.” FYI, many dentists also blame fruit snacks as the number one cause of cavities in children!

If you make your own homemade gummy snacks, YOU control the ingredients. Keep it simple by following my recipe below, or make next-level healthy gummies just by adding a few extra simple ingredients. Let’s look at some ideas to try.

Heads up The rest of this post contains affiliate links to my recommended ingredients. If you make a purchase through them, your cost will be the same but I receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Make Your Own Natural Remedy Gummies

Turning these snacks into gummy vitamins is the easiest way to elevate them to next-level snacks. I’ve shared recipes on how to do just that in my Homemade Real Non-GMO Vitamin C Gummies and How To Make Your Own Gummy Multivitamins posts. So, rather than rehashing them here, I’m sharing some of my favorite ways to use things like food-grade essential oils, herbs, and spices to turn your gummies into natural remedies.

  • Make peppermint gummies with food-safe peppermint oil to soothe upset tummies. If your kids aren’t into minty flavors, ginger is another great “tummy rescue” ingredient.
  • Add some turmeric for natural orange coloring AND for natural pain relief (it’s an amazing anti-inflammatory).
  • Add probiotics to support overall gut health (and maybe prevent those upset stomachs in the first place). I like these for kids. You can also make some for yourself using these for adults.
  • It sounds weird, but you can add food-safe lavender oil to make a “calm down gummy.” Lavender candies are actually pretty popular in some countries, so maybe it’s not as weird as it sounds after all.
  • Mix in a bit of elderberry syrup to make a natural remedy for congestion & coughs (perfect for both cold and allergy seasons).
Elderberry syrup in a bottle, front view of ready to take-in syrup with raw ripe elderberrie

Get creative! If there’s a spice that you turn to for a home remedy yourself but your kids won’t go near it, try it in the gummies. The good thing about food-based remedies is that the vast majority of them are actually safe for kids (but always talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have, of course).

Healthy Homemade Gummies Recipe & Tips

Whether you go with the simple recipe below or add in some extra healthy ingredients, I do have a few tips for success before we get to the tutorial.

healthy gummies

Healthy Gummy Snacks Are Full Of Collagen, So Use a Good Source

A good quality Gelatin is very important. This is why I recommend one made from 100% Pasture-Raised Beef. The collagen in this type of gelatin along with the many amino acids helps regulate our metabolisms, has anti-inflammatory properties, strengthens hair and nails, and regulates hormones.

Gelatin is also known to improve digestion. If you want to learn more about gelatin and its benefits, click HERE. You can also get this great quality grass-fed gelatin from Amazon.

Perfect Bovine Gelatin 100% Grass Fed Beef Gelatin Powder (Cooked Collagen), Brazilian Pasture Raised ~ Large 23.3oz. 60 Serving Container ~ No Fillers, GMOs or Pesticides
Perfect Bovine Gelatin 100% Grass Fed Beef Gelatin...
$34.95
Buy on Amazon

Try Fun Molds to Make Your Own Healthy Gummy Bears

A friend of mine recently tried my recipe and found the cutest Gummy Bear Molds. They are smaller than the ones I used for this recipe, but they come with a dropper, so you can easily fill them. They are made of 100% food-grade silicone, non-stick, and are BPA-free. I find them absolutely adorable. I need to get these ASAP!

Lizber Newest Generation - 3 Packs Silicone Gummy Bear Candy Molds with 53 Cavities, 3 Bonus Droppers Perfect for Mints Chocolates Molds Fudge Ice Cubes, BPA Free ( Blue, Green, Orange)
Lizber Newest Generation - 3 Packs Silicone Gummy...
$7.99
Buy on Amazon

Please check out also my Blueberry Gelatin recipes for more fruit snack ideas and how to make your own vitamins at home.

This recipe will make a big batch of healthy gummies snacks that you can keep refrigerated in a closed container for about a week or two approximately.

FAQs about Making Homemade Gummies

How do you store homemade gummies to keep them fresh?

Since homemade gummies don’t have added preservatives, store them in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to two weeks.

Do I need to refrigerate homemade gummies?

You don’t have to keep them refrigerated if you’re planning to eat them within a few days. Refrigerating them does make them last longer, though (up to 2-3 weeks). Either way, make sure you store them in an airtight container.

Where should I store my gummies if I’m not putting them in the fridge?

Keep them someplace dry and relatively cool. Your pantry or cabinet is fine. Avoid hot and sunny places. For example, a counter where the sun shines constantly is NOT a good place to store them. Keep in mind that unrefrigerated gummies usually only last for about 5 days even if you store them in an airtight container away from heat and sunlight.

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homemade-healthy-gummies

Homemade Healthy Gummies

★★★★★

4.3 from 6 reviews

  • Author: Ursula Herrera
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 5 mins
  • Total Time: 3 hours 15 mins
  • Yield: 50 gummies 1x
Print Recipe

Description

The perfect healthy snack for kids. Real fruits, veggies, and lots and lots of nutrition.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups fruit and/or vegetable juice, freshly made with a Juicer (cold press -best choice) or store-bought (making sure it is 100% juice and preferably not from concentrate). Smoothie blends are great too!
  • 4 tablespoons gelatin (I prefer a grass fed gelatin but you can find plain gelatin near the flavored Jello at your local grocery store. A tablespoons is usually one gelatin packet, but just to be sure, empty the packets into a bowl and use a measure spoon.
  • 2–4 tablespoons Raw Honey depending on your preference and how sweet your juice is. You can also use maple syrup or stevia. If your juice has lots of veggies you will need more but it is up to your personal taste.
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, I recommend Organic Pure Vanilla Extract – optional for extra flavor
  • Optional: Any other ingredients you would like to incorporate like probiotics or elderberry syrup (to prevent or fight a cold), or cod liver oil (immune system booster). Remember you can make these gummies your natural multivitamins.

Instructions

  1. Pour juice into a small-medium saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let sit for just a few minutes until it starts to “bloom” (it will get wrinkly looking on the surface and all of the white powder from the gelatin will absorb into the liquid). When all the gelatin is absorbed, mix it well.
  2. Then place the saucepan over medium heat on the stove. Let the liquid warm, but don’t let it boil. You want all of the gelatin to dissolve and turn thin and runny (it will be grainy at the beginning but after a couple of minutes in the heat it should dissolve completely).Add the honey, vanilla extract,and any other ingredients you will be using.
  3. Put the liquid in a little jar (I use my measuring cup) into a Loaf Pan or your fun gummy molds and refrigerate for about 2-3 hours.  Some of my favorite molds are the Freshware 30-Cavity Silicone Mold, the Toy, Car, Block and Bear Chocolate, Gummy Mold and the kilofly Silicone Mold, Robot & Dinosaur
  4. Remove from molds. They pop right out. If you used the loaf pan, cut your gelatin into small squares.
  5. Keep your homemade healthy gummies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks. If you leave them outside they will last but I recommend storing them in the refrigerator.

Notes

*Update. If you want to make smaller gummies, these are fantastic mini Gummy Bear Molds. They even come with a dropper for easy filling.

Ideas For Juice Combinations:

Red: Beets, strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, red apples.

Orange: Carrots, oranges, clementines, tangerines, mangoes, papaya, peaches.

Yellow: Yellow pear, yellow apple, grapes (DO NOT use pineapple juice, your gelatin will not set up due to the enzyme bromelain that’s found in pineapple).

Green:Kale, spinach, green grapes,  cucumbers, celery, green apple (DO NOT use kiwi, your gelatin will not set up).

Purple: Purple cabbage, blackberries, blueberries, concord grapes.

If you want to change the colors and lighten up your homemade healthy gummies, you can also substitute some milk (dairy or non-dairy) for some of the juice in the recipe. I like using almond milk.

  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Simmer
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: healthy, snack, kid friendly,

Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

If you are interested in reading more about my blog, please take a look at my latest articles. I am a mom blogger who loves to share creative and healthy fun food ideas, family activities, natural remedies, parenting advice, and tips for living a healthy lifestyle.

Last update on 2022-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Does it always have to be a silicone mold? Would the gummies have a hard time coming out of glass or plastic? I was just gonna pour the mixture into a glass pan but then I remembered I have ice cube trays that make ice sticks that fit through a water bottle and thought I could maybe use that? It’s hard plastic tho…

    Reply

    • Hi Doris, I recommend silicone molds because they are very easy to handle but you can also use any type of baking dish or glass container (oiled). You can just cut the fruit snacks once they gel. Make sure you grease your molds or glass pan with cooking oil (or oil spray) to prevent sticking. I really haven’t tried using plastic. Hope this helps!

      Reply

      • Thanks for the quick reply. Made our first batch and they’re pretty good. Came out great in the glass pan and we cut little squares. Today we used a cranberry/apple juice mix. They tasted slightly citrus like, which was yummy, but I would prefer them to be more flavorful (not neccessarily sweeter.) Any suggestions on how to get more flavor into them? How could we make the fruit juice part of it more “potent”? Have you ever pureed frozen mixed berries and used them?

        Reply

        • I am glad you enjoyed the recipe! I haven’t tried to puree frozen berries yet but I don’t see why not if you want to try it. A friend of mine told me she made this recipe using apple sauce and the gummies came out great so I am thinking pureed fruit will be ok too. I think it will make the gummies more flavorful like you said because the fruit is more concentrated. I would blend it with a little water just like when making a smoothie. If you try it, please let me know how the gummies came out. Thank you!

          Reply

  2. I was a little short on gelatin, but tried it anyway. They came our a little more firm than jello, but not really anything like a gummy fruit snack. If I added more gelatin would they be gummy, or is jello like normal?

    Reply

  3. Hello all. Beware of ginger. It can digest the proteins in the gluten making the jellies, not jell. A little bit (half thumb) in a juice that also contained a whole lemon (pectin) worked out. The Red Peppers, Carrots, and three thumbs of ginger did not set at all. Even after another reheat and 4 more scoops of gelatin.

    Reply

  4. In an effort to batch many things in my life, I was wondering if these freeze well at all? ANyone try or know?

    Reply

    • If use a Mold Inhibitor they will last a lot longer. You would not have to freeze them. I think freezing them would break them down a bit or they would be real sticky.

      Reply

  5. thank you for this, just what I was looking for, but was wondering before I make a ton, can these be frozen ?

    Reply

  7. I noticed that in one of your comments you mentioned spraying the molds. Do you spray your silicone ones too? I’ve made these before (slightly different ratio of gelatin to juice) and they didn’t stick but the batch I just made stuck horribly. It was a strawberry lemonade, a juice and brand I had not used before. I still have green, carrot and ginger lemonade juices to use. Is spraying necessary? I really don’t like buying cans of cooking spray.
    Thank you!

    Reply

  8. Could you make these with 100% maple syrup? My little one doesn’t do well with honey. I imagine the honey works better though because it’s stickier 🙁

    Reply

  10. What probiotic brand/type do you recommend for these gummies? Any other specific additives that you have had success with? Thanks!

    Reply

  12. I love your recipies! Just made gummibears, and they turned out great! I used cold pressed beet and apple pure juice, ricemalt syrup and vanilla extract and of course the gelatin powder. So good and soo cute! Thank you! Im planning on trying lots more recipies.

    Reply

  13. Just fyi. I’ve made this with kiwi’s many times. It works quite well! Just throw a little bit of lemon juice in there. Its really good.

    Reply

  14. I liked these! The toddler, not so much. He’s not a jello consistency fan and these were not as chewy as he expected! He spit it back out ????Lol
    But any idea on what makes the original candy ‘chewy’?

    Reply

    • Hi Steph, Thank you for your message. I am glad you enjoyed my recipe. What you can do is play around a little with the gelatin amount. Try using a little more for more “chewy” textures. I guess the original candy gummies have a lot more ingredients and preservatives. Maybe that is why they can achieve the chewy texture.

      Reply

      • Thanks! I’ll try that with next batch. I did not use honey with the first batch because I used organic pear juice, and I thought it might be sweet enough. I think I’m definitely going to use the honey next time. And I wonder if it’s the corn syrup that makes the “gummy” texture. I guess it’s one of those give-and-take things when you want to try to do healthier. Worth it tho!

        Reply

  15. Hi

    I tried this recipe. It was bit hard to get the gummies out of the silicon moulds, they teared here and there. And at room temperature they become just like jello. Not like gummies. I dont know what went wrong.

    Reply

    • Hi, so sorry the recipe didn’t come out good. These gummies need to be refrigerated or they will melt. Also not all the silicone molds are the same. Try putting a little oil (I use coconut oil) before to prevent sticking. Hope this helps!

      Reply

  16. Hi.Thank you so much for all your effort to share your wonderful recepies with us!
    I was wondering if you’d know the answer. I made this recepy twice with the Gelatin that u have link to (but mine was not orange but green package) and it doesn’t turned out well. Doesn’t set. That’s the name of what i used:
    (Great Lakes Gelatin Co., Collagen Hydrolysate, Collagen Joint Care, Beef) Should i use some different gelatin ??

    Reply

    • Hi, thank you for your message. I have used the green gelatin you are describing without any problems.
      Are you sure you are using the right amount and leaving it in the fridge for a few hours before? I am
      thinking it could be that. You should not have this problem if using the right amounts. Hope this helps.

      Reply

      • Hi Ursula.thank u for your reply. Im not gonna give up they just look too good for my todler!I made it one more time Ill let you know later if its turned out. I notesed you said its needs to be dissolved on the heat. Mine dissolves right the way i can’t even see the wrinkles “/.

        Reply

        • Hi Tamara. Oh no! It’s not supposed to be that way!! This is why it is not coming out the right way I think. What you can do is buy plain gelatin at the supermarket and try to make the gummies with it. It is not really the best type of gelatin but so you can see the difference. Then I would recommend getting one of the gelatins I link in the recipe. A good grass-fed gelatin is really the best! Maybe the green one is an instant gelatin. In that case it won’t work for gummies but you could use it for smoothies to get some extra collagen 😉 hope this helps.

          Reply

  17. Hi again. You re so right it was instant gelatin I shouldve check the label before. I live in South Korea we don’t have big selection here. Anyways now will be looking for the right one “))

    Reply

  21. Hello,

    I am very interested in trying this out. I am a lover of gummie bears and also someone who has a hard time getting their recommended vegetable servings into their diet.

    I am in the market for a cold press juicer and intend on making juices. I thought this would also be a great idea for a snack plan.

    I was curious if you knew how long the nutrients last in the gummie form? I know the rule of thumb with juices is about 3 days after the juice is created. Do you believe this would hold true for the juice in gummie form? Also, what is the life expectancy of the gummies once made?

    Any information would be much appreciated thank you for the amazing idea!!!

    Reply

    • Hi, a cold press juicer is the best to preserve all the nutrients. It is always better to drink the juices right away! I make these gummies for my kids and add supplements all the time. It really works because they enjoy them as a snack and I can include some important supplements like probiotics, chia seeds, coconut oil, and other things in my blends. Hope this helps!

      Reply

  23. I just mixed this up but I had trouble getting 4 T of gelatin. I used Knox and each envelope was noticeably less than 1 T. I ended up doing 5 envelopes (4 were in the box and I happened to have a spare) and still didn’t quite get 4 T. Is that normal?

    Reply

      • They turned out quite firm. I’d probably just use 4 envelopes next time so I wouldn’t have to buy two boxes. I won’t be buying grass fed gelatin online. I want my DIY to be home easy to do regularly and not require a lot of money or forethought.

        Reply

  24. Instead of gelatin can you use clear jel? I have been hearing people say they use that instead but don’t know the difference or which is better

    Reply

  25. Hi I will love to use agar agar but I tried many times and it is no working and I don’t know why whould you help me please.
    Thanks

    Reply

  26. Is it safe to say these need to remain refrigerated? I want to make them for my son’s 2nd birthday party, good knows tiny humans don’t need the sugar and junk in candy. So I wanted to out the gummies in the pinata.

    Reply

  27. Hi,

    I’m wanting to add fish oil, echinacea liquid & probiotic to my gummies. Can you please advise me as to how much of each I should add?
    Thank you!!

    Reply

  31. Hello! Not trying to be petty, as I would imagine maybe someone else added to your original post??? Or this post was confused with another recipe??? Either way, just wanted to let you know under ingredients on the initial Pinterest page it states “vegan.” Obviously these are not vegan due to the gelatin, and that is what I’m looking for my vegetarian/near vegan 11 year old daughter who treats gelatin like poison! If you have any vegan sub for gelatin I’d love to hear about it!

    Reply

  33. This is a great basic recipe, thank you! I’ve tried a lot of gummmies recipes with varying ratios of juice to gelatin. This one is the best! My favorite way to make these is using half unsweetened applesauce and half fruit juice or water, pureed together for the juice part. It gives a really nice soft bite, not rubbery or weird. My favorite combo so far – and I make these weekly! – is 3/4 c. applesauce with 3/4 c. 100% cranberry juice, 4T honey, and 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Plain applesauce and water is good too.

    Reply

  34. Hey there, I tried the recipe and added omega oils to it, but the oil separated from the gelatin mixture set. The gummies taste good but turned out slimy. Any ideas how to get the oil to mix better?

    Reply

  35. I used concentrated pineapple juice, fresh grapefruit and carrot juice before I read your post. But I didn’t have a problem with them setting up. Maybe you were talking about fresh juice

    Reply

  36. I just tried these tonight! I haven’t even given them the full set time to see how they’ve turned out, but had a question. You mention adding probiotics, but how are they not completely killed by the heat? I assume you’d have to add just after the gelatin has dissolved, but most probiotics can’t survive much heat. How do you prevent this?

    Reply

  39. I have not used that product but I have added oil or butter to gummies before. I make Keto gummies. You just incorporate oil at the end. I use an immersion blender and about 1/2 tsp guar gum then I wait a little with the stuff over warm water to keep it from going solid …until some of the bubbles dissipate before pouring into my molds. I would also use a little Mold inhibitor if you make a lot to prevent mold or anything. I can add up to 4 Tbsp melted butter or oil into a batch.

    Reply

  40. This is not healthy. Period. It’s sugar. Fruit juice and honey..devoid of the fiber it’s just like straight sugar. The suggestion to add Cod Liver Oil is absurd! That’s a fragile oil subject to rancidity, especially when exposed to air and light, along with adding it to the hot liquid! Probiotics would likely die when added to the hot liquid as well. People post these recipes with zero knowledge or regard for health. Just feed your kids real fruit for gods sake!

    ★

    Reply

    • I respect your opinion but I have to disagree on this one. These gummies are healthy. They are made with real fruits and veggies, no artificial ingredients and added benefits with the good gelatin (collagen). If your kids want a treat then these gummies are perfect! And instead of refined sugar you can use honey or maple syrup or even stevia. Probiotics and cod liver oil are optional and not added while the liquid is hot.

      Reply

  41. Very easy and very tasty. Made with chicory root to make fiber-rich. Thank you for sharing the recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  42. I can’t wait to try this! I have molds and gelatin on order 🙂 I am planning on making an immune boosting version with elderberry and mushroom powder (hoping that the flavor of the juice, elderberry and honey mask the mushroom taste). My question: do you adjust the proportion of juice when you add in something like elderberry syrup or cod liver oil like you mentioned in the recipe modifications? Thank you!

    Reply

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