It’s no secret that I am a gummy candy fanatic. We usually have at least a couple types of gummies in our pantry. Being the baking enthusiast I am, I got the bright idea to try to make my own gummy candies. However, I decided to put a bit of a healthy spin on the recipe and make healthy gummies!

These gummies are made with just four ingredients, and the recipe can be made with different types of fruit juice to make different flavors!

The fruit juice in these healthy gummies also naturally give them a beautiful color. This recipe doesn’t include any food coloring or artificial ingredients.

Substitutions and Swaps

While I love this healthy gummy bears recipe just the way it is, I know some of you might not have all these ingredients on hand!

Below are some swaps and substitutions that can be made in this recipe.

• Fruit Juice – I like using a bunch of different types of juice to create colorful gummies, including apple juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice, pomegranate juice, and black cherry juice. Other juices that would work great are limeade, lemonade, or grape juice!
• Honey – If you don’t have honey on hand, you can use an additional Tbsp of granulated sugar or stevia sweetener in its place. You can also use maple syrup!
• Stevia / granulated sugar – Adding additional sweetener or sugar is optional, but I find these gummies taste better with more than just the honey. You can add another Tbsp of honey in place of the stevia / granulated sugar if you don’t want to add sugar. You can also use other types of natural sugar like coconut sugar.
• Unflavored Gelatin – I used packets made by Knox (each packet has about 1 Tbsp of gelatin), but you can also use gelatin from a larger container like this. Most large grocery stores carry unflavored gelatin, or you can order it online! To make vegetarian/vegan gummies, use 1 tsp of 100% agar agar powder like this. However, they won’t set quite the same as they do with gelatin.

Using The Right Mold To Make These Healthy Gummies

Most small silicone molds will work with this recipe, so you can get creative with the shape of these healthy gummies too!

There are some awesome sea shell and dinosaur molds that would be so fun to use. I am a fan of the classic gummy bear mold, but don’t feel limited to that! But do keep in mind that different sized molds can change the total number of gummies a batch makes.

Most silicone molds come with an eye dropper that makes them easy to fill. If you don’t get one, I highly recommend ordering an eye dropper. Filling these molds would be a nightmare without them!

Filling These Molds Properly

It’s important to fill your molds up to the very brim to give your gummy bears a proper shape.

If you don’t, the back of each gummy bear will be quite flat, and it will be noticeably thinner than a traditional gummy bear.

Fill each cavity to the very brim, so that you can see the surface tension holding the juice in place. I like to do this slowly, so that the molds don’t overflow.

As you fill the molds, take care not to squeeze air bubbles into the juice!

They will set inside or on top of the gelatin and make your gummies look a bit odd when you pop them out.

Since we are filling these molds so full, I suggest placing the silicone molds on a baking sheet to make them easier to move into the fridge.

Making Different Flavors of Gummies

Feel free to use different juices to create different flavors of gummies!

I used apple juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice, pomegranate juice, and black cherry juice to make these gummies.

I love these juices because they create a beautiful spectrum of colors.

Other juices that taste great are lemonade, limeade, watermelon juice and grape juice.

Just be sure to avoid pineapple, kiwi, mango, ginger root, papaya, figs, or guava juice. They contain an enzyme (protease) which can prevent gelatin from setting firmly.

Tips for Making the Best Healthy Gummies:

• Get creative with the type of fruit juice you use to make a fun variety of flavors!
• Place your silicone molds on a baking pan to make them easy to move around without spilling.
• Clear out an area in your fridge to allow you to set the trays flat as they chill.
• After bringing your fruit juice mixture to a boil, let the juice mixture cool for about 3 minutes. This will help the gelatin set more firmly.
• Immediately add the bloomed gelatin (gelatin powder mixed with water) to your juice mixture, or else it will set firmly and be harder to mix in.
• Be sure to stir the fruit mixture and gelatin with a spoon or small spatula and not a whisk! A whisk will incorporate air bubbles into the mixture and make them harder to pipe into the silicone mold.
• Adjust the amount of sweeteners in these gummies to match your preference! You can add up to 1 additional Tbsp of granulated sugar or honey, or by omitting the honey and sugar or stevia all together.

Storing These Healthy Gummies

Leftover gummies can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. I recommend keeping them in the fridge to prevent molding!

Let Me Know What You Think!

If you try this recipe for healthy gummies, I’d love to hear what you think of it! Please leave a rating and comment below.

And don’t forget to tag me @chelsweets and use the #chelsweets so that I can see your amazing creations on social media!

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For a walk down memory lane, check out the photos below from the first time I tried to make my own healthy gummy bears back in 2013!!