Have you ever tried making your own homemade vegan gummy bears? You won’t believe how simple and quick it is! Once you’ve tasted these sweet, fruity treats made with just three ingredients, you’ll never want to go back to store-bought gummies again.
Looking for a fun and easy snack that’s fully customizable? Look no further than homemade vegan gummy bears!
Made with just 3 ingredients: fruit juice, agar agar, and your favorite sweetener, these treats are perfect for anyone looking for a tasty snack without any animal products.
Plus, with endless flavor possibilities, you can customize them completely to your tastes!
I started making these for my husband who loves gummy bears but was diagnosed with Alpha-gal and can’t have any mammalian products. On the hunt for a vegan version, I decided to try making them myself.
Turns out, it’s so fun and he freaking loves them!
You can also decide both the amount and type of sweetener that you put in this vegan gummy bear recipe!
I have made them with white sugar, agave, and maple syrup so far and I’ve also made a batch with no extra sweetener at all!
With these homemade gelatin-free gummy bears, you can indulge in a delicious and guilt-free treat any time of day!
These gummies are the perfect snack for anyone who wants a healthier, plant-based alternative to traditional gummy bears.
The Best Part: they’re super easy to make, so you can whip up a batch in no time.
Are Traditional Gummy Bears Vegan?
No. Traditional gummy bears and even kid’s fruit snacks are not typically vegan-friendly.
They often contain gelatin, which is derived from animal collagen and therefore not suitable for a vegan diet.
However, some health food stores now offer vegan gummy bears made with alternative ingredients like agar agar or pectin. So if you’re looking for a vegan option, be sure to check the label or choose homemade gummy bears made with vegan-friendly ingredients.
Gummy Snack & GERD
Traditional gummy bears may cause acid reflux or worsen symptoms of GERD due to their high sugar content and acidity.
Gummy bears typically contain citric acid, which can increase the production of stomach acid and lead to heartburn or acid reflux. In addition, consuming high amounts of sugar can also trigger GERD symptoms.
Looking for a gummy bear snack that won’t upset your acid reflux or GERD symptoms?
Our 3 ingredient vegan gummy bears are a great alternative.
Without all the preservatives, food coloring, and unreadable ingredients that are in traditional gummy bears were keeping it real with all-natural ingredients, making them a tasty and healthier treat option.
Where to Find Gummy Bear Molds
To make your own vegan gummy bears, you’ll need a gummy bear mold, which can be found on Amazon for around $7-$12.
The molds usually come with a small dropper, making it easy to fill each tiny bear with your liquid mixture.
One popular option, that I especially love, is this Gummy Bear Mold, which includes four molds and two droppers, so you can have a helper or keep a spare on hand in case one gets misplaced.
Ingredients for Vegan Gummy Bears
Fruit Juice – Pick any juice you want here! Apple, pear, cherry, or even strawberry. That’s the fun part: finding all the flavors you love and exploring new and unique choices as well. For instance: watermelon juice was wild but so good or even trying something more fresh like cucumber and aloe for a real gut punch!
Agar Agar – Agar agar is a natural plant-based ingredient commonly used as a vegan substitute for gelatin. It works as a thickening agent in the vegan gummy bear recipe by binding together the fruit juice and sweetener to create a jelly-like texture when cooled.
Sweetener – This is just based on preference really. White sugar, agave, and maple syrup all work great, or leave it out entirely and just use the natural sugar from the juice as your sweet agent.
How to Make 3 Ingredient Vegan Gummy Bears
First, place your Gummy Bear Mold on a large plate and set it aside.
Then, in a small saucepan, combine your fruit juice, sweetener, and agar agar powder, and bring it to a boil. I’ve found it takes around 5 minutes.
Once, the mixture has come to a boil, remove it from the heat and let cool for about 5-10 minutes. You can transfer it to another bowl if you want to cool it down faster. Be careful not to let it cool too much, as it may start to harden.
Next, use the dropper that comes with your gummy bear mold to fill each little bear with the mixture until the mold is filled up.
Now, transfer the large plate with the filled mold to the fridge and let it harden for 10-20 minutes.
Finally, when the vegan gummy bears are hardened, take the mold out of the fridge and pop them out onto a plate or container.
Repeat the process with each flavor you want to make!
How to Store Vegan Gummy Bears
To keep your vegan gummy bears fresh and chewy, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
You can also store them in the fridge for a firmer texture, but be sure to let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before eating to allow them to soften up.
Properly stored, homemade vegan gummy bears can last up to two weeks.
Tips for Making Homemade Vegan Gummy Bears
You can make a lot of vegan gummy bears with just one cup of juice or liquid!
If you’re only using one tray, you’ll likely only use around 1/3 of the liquid and have plenty left over.
To avoid waste, you can halve the recipe if you only have one mold and want to make multiple flavors.
Alternatively, you can reserve the remaining gelled mixture for another dessert.
This recipe yields 200 bears (each mold makes 50 bears), but don’t worry – they’re small, so 200 bears only amount to about 1.5 to 2 cups of gummy bears.
If you’re planning to snack on them frequently, you may want to make multiple batches of 200.
If you make this vegan gummy bear recipe, post a picture and tag @thegerdchef & use the hashtag #thegerdchef on Instagram. I love seeing your guys’ creations!
Get ready for a fun and fruity treat that’s easy to make! With just three simple ingredients, these homemade vegan gummy bears are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.
Place your Gummy Bear Mold on a large plate and set it aside.
In a small saucepan, combine your fruit juice, sweetener, and agar agar powder, and bring it to a boil. This usually takes about 5 minutes.
After boiling for 1 minute, remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool for about 5-10 minutes. You can transfer it to another bowl to cool it down faster. Be careful not to let it cool too much, as it may start to harden.
Use the dropper that comes with your gummy bear mold to fill each little bear with the mixture until the mold is filled up.
Transfer the large plate with the filled mold to the fridge and let it harden for 10-20 minutes.
Once the vegan gummy bears are hardened, take the mold out of the fridge and pop them out onto a plate or container.
Repeat the process with each flavor you want to make.
Notes
You can make a lot of vegan gummy bears with just one cup of juice or liquid! If you’re only using one tray, you’ll likely only use 1/3 of the liquid and have plenty left over. To avoid waste, you can halve the recipe if you only have one mold and want to make multiple flavors.
This recipe yields 200 bears (each mold makes 50 bears), but don’t worry – they’re small, so 200 bears only amount to about 1.5 to 2 cups of gummy bears. If you’re planning to snack on them frequently, you may want to make multiple batches of 200.
