Simple Gummy Candies

By
Elizabeth LaBau
Sweet Book of Candy Making Elizabeth LaBau
Elizabeth LaBau
A professional pastry chef, cookbook author, and writer, Elizabeth LaBau has published more than 600 articles on baking and candy making.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/30/21
Gummy Candies
The Spruce
Prep: 1 mins
Cook: 4 mins
Chill : 20 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 20 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
17 Calories
0g Fat
4g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 20
Amount per serving
Calories 17
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 21mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 0mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 0mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

There's just no need to rely on old bags of stale gummies to get you through a craving. Our simple recipe will have all gummy lovers asking for more. Recreate that soft, chewy magic right in your home kitchen with very few, easy-to-find ingredients. Why buy processed gummies filled with chemicals when you can make our budget-friendly version and know what's in them?

These simple gummy candies are also more flavorful than store-bought gummy candies, and the recipe requires nothing more than two kinds of gelatin, water, and a little cooking spray—you might even have everything you need in your pantry. Customize the candies by choosing your favorite flavored gelatin and using candy molds in a variety of fun shapes. The molds are easily found online, so you can re-create the classic little bear, or go with gem shapes, or use holiday-themed molds. Metal and polycarbonate molds are popular among those who regularly make candy, but inexpensive, thin plastic molds work equally well.

This recipe yields about 20 (1 1/2-inch) candies, and you’ll get more or less depending on the exact size and depth of your molds. In either case, remember that the gummies shrink a little when they're set, so fill the molds with a substantial amount, not to the rim but not halfway. Before you start, be sure to have a pitcher with a spout for easy pouring of the mixture into the molds—abstain from using the plastic pipettes that some molds come with as they incorporate air that can be trapped within each gummy.

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Ingredients

  • Cooking spray, for molds

  • 6 (1/4-ounce) packages unflavored gelatin, 1.5 ounces total

  • 1 (3-ounce) package flavored gelatin

  • 1/2 cup cold water

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for gummy candies

    The Spruce

  2. Prepare the candy molds by making sure they are clean and dry. Spray them with a very light coating of nonstick cooking spray. Place the molds on a baking sheet.

    A candy mold
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  3. Combine the unflavored gelatin, flavored gelatin, and cold water in a small saucepan. Slowly whisk everything together until well combined and the gelatin has dissolved. Although you might feel tempted to mix vigorously, the less air you incorporate the better, so the gummies set without air bubbles.

    Gelatin and flavored water mixture in a pot
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  4. Place the saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Continue to whisk occasionally while the mixture heats up and becomes a liquid.

    Cooking gelatin mixture while whisking
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  5. Once the gummy mixture is fully liquid, remove the pan from the heat and pour the gelatin into a measuring cup or a similar container with a spout.

    Liquid gummy mixture ready to pour into a mold
     The Spruce

  6. Carefully fill each cavity of the mold with gelatin. Transfer the baking sheet with the candy molds to the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes so the gummy candies can fully set. 

    Filling gummy candy molds with gelatin
     The Spruce

  7. Once the candies are set, remove the gummies by carefully pushing the sides of the candy away from the edges of the mold and toward the center, then pull them up and out of the molds.

    Popping out a gummy candy from a molds
     The Spruce

  8. Enjoy.

    Homemade gummy candies
     The Spruce

Are Gummies Vegetarian?

Gummies are a delicious candy but are not suitable for vegan or vegetarian diets as their main ingredient is gelatin, a product comprised of collagen, which is obtained from animals. Vegetarian and vegan gummies do exist, and they use agar agar, a plant-based gelatin derived from seaweed.

What If I Don't Have Gummy Molds?

Although candy molds make the gummies cuter, they taste just as good no matter how you serve them. If you don't have any molds at hand and are craving some gummies, here are a couple of options:

  • Use ice cube trays, the smaller the better. Silicone work best.
  • Pour the mixture onto a greased baking sheet. Once the mixture is set, cut it into small squares or other shapes using a sharp knife or perhaps a cookie cutter.

How to Store Homemade Gummies

These homemade gummies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four weeks, or left at room temperature for up to five days. Before storing, lightly spray with cooking oil to avoid the gummies sticking to one another, or coat with powdered sugar or cornstarch. This last method is very effective in keeping them separate but it does rob the gummies of their shine.