Vegan Gummies Using Agar Agar

Forget store-bought candy! These homemade gummy bears are vegan, tasty, and easy to make. Learn how you can make these gummies at home using all natural and plant-based ingredients.

Gummy bears may be delicious, but they tend not to be vegetarian-, vegan- or kosher-friendly. They also rely heavily on ingredients like food dyes and refined sugar. Thankfully, it’s quite easy to prepare homemade gummy bears that are completely vegan and contain only natural sweeteners and flavors – and they taste even better than store-bought varieties.

Why aren’t traditional gummies vegan? Store-bought gummies and some homemade gummies get their chewy texture from gelatin, an ingredient that is made using animal bones, sinew, and cartilage. You can make your homemade gummy bears vegan by substituting the gelatin with agar agar, a gelling agent made from red algae. Agar agar is just one of many vegan substitutes for gelatin, but it is the easiest to use when making gummies at home.

Ingredients and Equipment for Vegan Gummies

Before you start making your gummy bears, you have to make sure you have the right ingredients and equipment. For this recipe, you’ll need:

• Gummy bear molds – Gummy bear molds will give your candies the right shape. You can find them in specialty baking shops, some big box stores, or online with retailers like Amazon**. They offer molds made with BPA-free silicone that include droppers for easy filling and contain multiple shapes besides bears – you can make gummy worms, gummy monkeys, and gummy penguins too.
• Agar agar powder – Some grocery stores stock agar agar powder, but you can also purchase it on Amazon**.
• Organic fruit juice – The fruit juice will act as both a flavoring and food coloring. You can use any juice you like: orange, cranberry, apple, kiwi, guava, grape, etc. Make your gummy bears even more eco-friendly by buying locally-sourced and in-season fruit, and making your own juice at home. For example, autumn is a great time for fresh apple juice, which makes a “clear” gummy.
• Natural sweeteners (optional) – Maple syrup, agave syrup, or organic sugar are good choices for natural sweeteners.

Vegan Gummy Bears Recipe Using Agar Agar

Ingredients

• 1 cup fruit juice
• 2 tsp. agar agar powder
• 1-2 tbsp. sweetener (optional)

How to Make Homemade Gummy Bears

1. Place your gummy bear mold on a flat surface and set aside one of the droppers.
2. Whisk together fruit juice, agar agar powder, and sweetener (if using) in a small bowl.
3. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, immediately reduce to a simmer and let simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Let cool for a few minutes, then use the dropper to transfer the liquid into the molds.
5. Leave to set at room temperature or in the fridge for 20 minutes. Once they are firm you are ready to start snacking.

Yield

This recipe makes approximately 80 gummies, but the exact number will depend on the size of your mold.

Storage

The gummies can last up to 5 days when sealed and stored in a cool, dry place. You can also store them in the fridge.

Tip: The agar agar powder is what gives the gummies their firmness. For chewier gummies, add one extra teaspoon of agar agar powder.

 

Gummy Bear Flavors

Using the above recipe, you can make a variety of different flavors and colors. Here are some examples of different homemade gummy bear flavors:

Orange Gummy Bears

• 1 cup orange juice
• 2 tsp. agar agar powder
• 1-2 tbsp. sweetener (optional)

Red Gummy Bears

• 1 cup cherry juice
• 2 tsp. agar agar powder
• 1-2 tbsp. sweetener (suggested, to balance the tartness of the cherries)

Pink Gummy Bears

• 1 cup guava juice
• 2 tsp. agar agar powder
• 1-2 tbsp. sweetener (optional)

Read More:

• 5 Vegan Gummy Bear Brands – and Ones That Are Not
• Making Homemade Nutella: Vegan Nutella Recipe
• Going Vegan: 5 Simple Steps Towards Veganism

** Links to retailers marked with ** or underlined orange are partially partner links: If you buy here, you actively support Utopia.org, because we will receive a small part of the sales proceeds. More info.

Tags: Guide Kids Nutrition Recipes Vegan

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