If you are a fan of honey, citrus, and the thrill of a new recipe, then these Homemade Gummy Bears are for you! Producing just shy of 2 jars, these gummies are as fun to prepare as they are to enjoy.
Citrus Gummy Bear Mason Jars are little bite-sized morsels of heaven. Simply heaven.
With enough Vitamin C and D to pack a power punch, these small bears are the perfect treat to get in extra nutrients without buying extra supplements.
The adult versions of these gummies are filled with vodka and tequila mixtures that tout the allure of keeping a few in your purse.
However, I feel that the non-alcoholic version is just as enticing to keep on hand and pop out when needed.
And that’s exactly what I do when I whip up a big batch of these.
Citrus Gummy Bears Are Perfect For
- Quick Kids Snacks
- School Lunches
- Easy Kids Desserts
- Picnics
- Cold and Flu
- Sore throat
Citrus Gummy Bears are made of a clear, gelatinous substance that contains the citrus flavor on the inside.
And up until recently, we didn’t know that the gelatin casing was made out of collagen.
So not only do you get the added benefit of vitamin A and C but also the necessary anti-aging components to fight against wrinkles and sagging skin.
Needless to say, there are many reasons to give these gummy bears a try. With less than an hour of prep and set time, you can create your own anti-aging arsenal with less than 6 ingredients!
What Do I Need To Buy To Make Homemade Gummy Bears?
Looking for the ingredients to give these a try? Here’s what you’ll need:
How To Create Citrus Gummy Bear Mason Jars
- With a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of water, the orange juice, 2 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of gelatin together over medium heat.
- Bring the mixture to a boil then remove from heat.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes and then transfer to molds for filling.
- Let molds set for 20 minutes to solidify.
- While the first batch set, repeat steps 1-3, this time using the lemon juice.
- Mixture will make approximately 200 gummy bears.
Citrus Nutritional Benefits
For this recipe, you have the option of using either freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice, or the canned version. There will be a noticeable taste difference, however, but not enough to draw concern.
Citrus can last a long time if stored in the refrigerator or inside a crisper. You can also opt to leave in the pulp if you’re going the freshly squeezed route but this is optional.
Because of its gelatin casing, you can also freeze these gummy bears, but be sure to use fresh juice if you choose to freeze them so that they do not lose their flavor once they unthaw.
Finally, adding in additional flavors like lime and strawberry gives you more variety and an even more appealing end result.
Citrus Gummy Bear Tips & Tricks
- Even if you’re using a nonstick mold, we recommend giving your mold a quick spritz of nonstick spray or grapeseed oil or something of that nature.
- Making your own gummy bears with gelatin can be messy when trying to fill the molds, so we recommend using a dropper to fill each of the small holes in the mold.
- If your gelatin has foam on the top as you’re letting it cool, make sure to scoop it off with a spoon.
Homemade Citrus Gummy Bear Variations
- Instead of making the mixture on the stovetop, you can make the gelatin mix in the microwave.
- You can easily change the flavors of these bears by using different flavored juices.
- If you like sour gummy bears, add a 1/4 teaspoon citric acid to your gelatin mixture before you mix it.
- Trade out your canned or bottled orange or lemon juice for fresh pressed juice.
- If using fresh pressed OJ, you can choose to include or exclude the pulp.
- If changing up the flavors, you can also experiment with candy flavoring oils instead of just juices.
FAQ
How Do I Make Homemade Gummy Bears That Don’t Melt?
If you find that your Citrus Bears are melting, we recommend letting them sit out for 2-3 days to get firmer. You’ll notice that store-bought gummies tend not to melt due to preservatives and different synthetic and unhealthy ingredients.
Heat and humidity also play into the consistency and feel of your bears. Since these homemade gummies are preservative-free, they have a higher risk of melting in high heat or high humidity areas. In these instances, it’s smarter to store them in your mason jar in the refrigerator.
How Long Do Homemade Gummies Last?
DIY Gummy Bears can sit at room temperature for up to 5 days and be safe to eat.
We also recommend storing them in a dry place in a mason jar (duh!) or an airtight container.
How Do You Make Gummies Firmer?
Letting them sit out at room temperature will help them firm up.
Do Homemade Gummy Bears Need To Be Refrigerated?
You don’t need to refrigerate them, however, if you want to keep your gummy bears longer than 5 days, you can store them properly, in the refrigerator for a few weeks.
Why Are My Homemade Gummy Bears Wet?
DIY Gummy bears may feel or appear wet if you used too much sugar. When you use too much sugar, the bears tend to sweat or feel sticky or slippery to the touch. Also, homemade gummies tend to have a slightly slippery texture.
Where Can I Get A Gummy Bear Mold?
Our favorite Gummy Bear mold comes in a two pack and you can grab them on Amazon.
Can You Add Alcohol To The Gummies?
You sure can add alcohol to make these ADULTS ONLY gummy bears.
Just substitute the water for your alcohol of choice. We recommend tequila or vodka with this citrus flavoring. Just make sure to keep them out of kids reach.
Other Mason Jar Recipes To Try Out
- Lemon Blueberry Infused Water Mason Jars | Hydrating and refreshing, ditch the tap, grab a pitcher and give this recipe a try!
- Frozen Mint Lemonade Mason Jars | The perfect treat to beat the sweltering heat.
- 36 Mason Jar Cocktails and Drinks for Summer | These drinks are great for the warm weather but perfect all year long.
- Try out these Pineapple Gummy Bears for a fresh take on this recipe with another fruity flavor!
Citrus Gummy Bear Mason Jars
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoon unflavored Gelatin, divided
- 1/2 cup juice from Lemon
- 1/2 cup juice of Orange
- 4 Tablespoon Honey, divided
- 1 cup Water, divided
Gummy Bear Molds
- 2 pack 50 Cavity Silicone Gummy Bear Candy Chocolate Mold With a Dropper
Instructions
- Add 1/2 cup of water, one of the fruit juices, 2 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of gelatin to a saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil then remove from heat. Let cool for 5 minutes and fill the molds.
- Let molds set for 20 minutes to solidify. Mixture will make 200 gummy bears.
- Repeat for another flavor.
Notes
Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Pinterest to keep up with all our new recipes. Tag us if you make the recipe on IG or share your thoughts by commenting on the pin on Pinterest.
Keep On Sippin’ On Something Sweet
Pin It For Later
