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    Home » Recipes » Homemade Candy

    How to Make Gummy Candy - Bears, Worms, Fish & More with Video Tutorial

    Modified: Mar 4, '24 · Published: Dec 13, '17 · By: Beth Klosterboer · Commission earned on paid or sponsored links.

    Jump to Recipe

    It's fun and easy to make homemade gummy candy. Your kids can safely make their own gummy bears, gummy worms, and gummy fish at home using a Nostalgia Electrics Gummy Candy Maker.

    It's easy and fun to make homemade gummy candy and they can be customized for any holiday or occasion. Make red and green gummy bears, worms and fish for Christmas.

    How fun would it be to make your own homemade gummy candy? I think you will be surprised at just how easy gummy candy is to make at home. It's so easy in fact that your kids can make their own gummy worms, gummy bears, gummy fish, and more.

    In this tutorial, I'll show you how to use a quick and easy gummy candy recipe to make all sorts of gummy candy shapes like Mickey Mousse and Snoopy. I'll even show you how to make a giant gummy bear and tiny little gummy animals.

    I had so much fun making a whole batch of gummy candy and I know you will too! I originally shared this recipe during the Christmas holiday season and I made red and green Christmas gummies, pictured above, but today I'll show you that homemade gummies can be made in so many different colors and flavors.

    It's so easy to make homemade gummy candy. See how you can make gummy bears, worms, fish, Mickey Mouse, Snoopy and more.

    Gummy Candy

    The gummy candy recipe is simple. You blend together flavored gelatin with plain gelatin (to give your gummy candies that distinctive chew) and some liquid. You can use water, juice, and even soda.

    It took me a bit of experimenting before I got the exact quantities to make the perfect gummy candies just right. I prefer my gummies to be soft, yet firm, not rubbery. You can adjust the recipe to your liking, but I think you'll enjoy the texture of the gummies that this recipe will create.

    I started out using the recipe that came with the Nostalgia Electrics Gummy Candy Maker that I purchased from Amazon.com recently. When I saw this fun toy, I just had to get one to try. The basic recipe created rubbery gummies, so I adjusted it to my tastes.

    The resulting candies in the recipe at the end of this post are perfectly chewy and flavorful.

    Kids will have a blast making homemade gummy candy. See how to make gummy bears, worms, and fish using the Nostalgia Gummy Candy Maker.

    Instructions

    The candy maker comes with 4 silicone trays that make gummy bears, worms, and fish, as well as, a giant gummy bear. I love that this toy is actually kid friendly. Nothing gets too hot for a kid to handle.

    • to assemble the gummy candy maker you put the four base pieces together, fill them with ice, and set the silicone molds on top
    • heat your flavored gelatin, unflavored gelatin, and liquid in the melting pot
    • pour the warm liquid into the molds
    • to make multicolored gummy candy pour two liquids into the silicone mold at the same time
    • let the candies harden
    • peel them from the molds

    It's that easy but you may be saying, "I don't have the gummy candy maker..."

    How can I make gummy candy on the stove?

    • heat the gelatin mixture in a saucepan set over medium-low heat on the stovetop
    • pour the gelatin into the saucepan and add the liquid
    • stir often until melted
    • pour into the silicone gummy candy molds
    • chill in the refrigerator until hardened
    • peel the candies from the mold
    Homemade gummy bears, worms, fish, Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Monkeys, Lions, Penguins, and more.

    Look at all those fun gummy candy shapes.

    Since I originally wrote this post in December of 2015, companies have come out with a Peanuts Gummy Candy Maker, that has silicone molds with Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Woodstock, and Snoopy's dog house. There's also a Disney Mickey Mouse Gummy Candy Maker that makes several different styles of Mickey Mouse Gummy Candies.

    You can also just use any silicone mold to make your gummies. I found a mold that makes the most adorable, tiny little, penguins, lions, monkeys, and bears. It also makes cool-looking segmented gummy worms.

    Gummy Candy Makers create Mickey Mouse Gummies, Peanuts Gang (Snoopy, Charlie Brown & Woodstock) Gummies and more.

    How to color homemade gummy candies?

    You can make your gummy candies using one color and flavor of the gelatin or a mixture of colors and flavors.

    To make red and green gummy candies for Christmas, you just pour two colors into one mold at the same time. I found it easier to pour the liquid candy into squeeze bottles or eye droppers for this task. But, the bowl that comes with the machine does have pour spots, so you can just use that if you prefer.

    Watch this video tutorial to see how easy all this gummy candy is to make.
    [adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="SQEuRY0t" upload-date="2018-01-22T20:20:38.000Z" name="Homemade Gummy Candies" description="How to make homemade gummy candies including bears, worms, fish, and more." player-type="default" override-embed="default"]
    Looks pretty easy right?

    It's easy to make giant gummy bears at home using a plastic bear mold and a simple gummy candy recipe.

    Giant Gummy Bears

    If you buy the original gummy candy maker it comes with a giant gummy bear mold. As a kid, I would have been ridiculously excited if someone had given me a giant gummy bear as a gift. I gave the candy bears, pictured above, to my friend's kids and they went nuts.

    To make the giant gummy bears

    • make 4 recipes of the gummy candy
    • pour into the giant gummy bear mold
    • chill in the refrigerator until firm
    • peel out of the mold

    I attempted to make a layered, red, and green Christmas gummy bear, but it got really dark. You can see the layers on the side of the bear but the top looks a bit brown. Red and green blended together to make brown, so I should have known this would happen. It would have been better to simultaneously pour the red and green mixture into the mold to get a cool swirled look.

    The single color, bright green, giant gummy bear turned out better.

    You can find products you need to create this homemade gummy candy at Amazon.com (commission earned for sales).

     Knox Original Unflavored Ge...Shop on Amazon Jell-O Cherry Gelatin Mix (...Shop on AmazonSmart Planet PGM-1M Peanuts...Shop on Amazon5 pack droppers 5mlShop on AmazonCK Products Squeeze Bottle ...Shop on Amazon
    It's easy and fun to make homemade gummy candy and they can be customized for any holiday or occasion. Make red and green gummy bears, worms and fish for Christmas.
    Print
    Homemade Gummy Candy for Christmas
    Prep Time
    20 mins
    Cook Time
    10 mins
    Total Time
    30 mins
     

    Homemade Gummy Worms and Candies made with jello

    Course: Candy
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: gummy candies, gummy worms, homemade gummies
    Servings: 36 pieces
    Author: Beth Klosterboer
    Ingredients
    • 1 (3 ounce) box flavored gelatin*
    • 2 packets unflavored gelatin
    • ½ cup water or juice
    • *To make red and green gummy candies make one batch of red and another green. You can melt one then remove it from the warmer to melt the other. Set the first one back in the warmer if needed, then pour the two colors into each mold at the same time.
    Instructions
    1. Fill the bottom trays of your gummy candy maker with ice.
    2. Set the silicone bear, worm, and fish molds over top.
    3. Stir together the flavored and unflavored gelatin in the Candy Maker mixing bowl.
    4. Pour in the water, as you continue to stir.
    5. Allow the mixture to melt and become warm.
    6. Pour into the molds.
    7. Allow the candy to harden, about 10 minutes.
    8. Remove the molds from the trays and peel the candies out.

    NOTES about making gummy candy:

    • If you don't have a Gummy Candy Maker, you can heat the ingredients on the stove and pour into silicone molds then pop them in the refrigerator for a little while until they are firm enough to remove from the mold.
    • Use juice to make your gummy candies a bit sweeter.
    • Grape gelatin will look pretty black.
    • Do not over mix the gummy candy mixture.
      • A foam will form on the top of the melted gelatin if it's mixed too much.
      • It's best to remove the foam.
      • Take a spoon and skim the foam off the surface of the melted gelatin.
    • Use eye droppers or squeeze bottles to easily get the candy into the small gummy candy molds.
    • You can also make your gummy candies using soda (pop). See my recipe for Star Wars Gummy Candies for the recipe.
    • Store the gummies for up to a week in a plastic zip top bag or airtight container set at room temperature.
    • Store for up to a few weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
    Homemade giant gummy bears are easy to make and look so cool.

    Giant Gummy Bears

    If your kids are making the giant gummy bears, they can make one recipe at a time in the gummy candy maker, pour it in the mold, then make another, pour it in, make another, pour it in, and make the final one and pour in just enough to fill up the fill line in the mold.

    The warmth of the second, third, and fourth layers will melt the layer underneath just enough that they will stick together.

    This post is not sponsored. I just bought the gummy candy maker because I wanted to try it and I do think it would make a great Christmas gift for any kid who likes candy or likes to cook.

    If you liked this Kid's Recipe, then you need to check out these other fascinating recipes that your little ones will love!
    It's fun and easy to make homemade gummy candy and gumdrops for holidays, special occasions, and any day.

    Homemade Gumdrop Ghosts • Gumdrop Brains
    Skull and Crossbones Gumdrops • Blueberry Gumdrops (with real blueberries)
    Red, White and Blue Gumdrop Stars • Sour Bunnies
    Star Wars Gummy Candy • Christmas Gummy Candy

    Be sure to check out all my fun Christmas Recipes too!

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Beth Klosterboer
    Beth Klosterboer
    Hi, I'm Beth Klosterboer, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I love sharing recipes for happy occasions here on Hungry Happenings. I also create easy fudge recipes to share at HowToMakeEasyFudge.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    Beth Klosterboer
    Latest posts by Beth Klosterboer (see all)
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Toriana says

      August 27, 2024 at 9:20 pm

      What type of juice would you recommend using?

      Reply
      • Beth Klosterboer says

        August 28, 2024 at 6:53 pm

        I actually created a gummies recipe using juice. You can get that recipe and juice recommendations here - https://hungryhappenings.com/gummies-recipe/

        Reply
    2. Jeremy "Bumpybuckethead" Roach says

      August 22, 2019 at 5:52 am

      are these like the gummy worms you buy in the store?

      Reply
      • Beth says

        August 22, 2019 at 10:42 am

        Yes, they are and the best part is that you can pick the flavors you like best.

        Reply
    3. Kristen says

      November 27, 2018 at 10:36 am

      So, you can use store bought gelatin or do you have to order refills from the manufacturer of the candy maker?

      Reply
      • Beth says

        November 27, 2018 at 11:44 am

        You can definitely use store bought gelatin. No need to order anything from the manufacturer!

        Reply
    4. michelle julian says

      January 07, 2018 at 11:15 pm

      My son loves gummys but can't do gelatin. Do you have a recipe (please) with agar or pectin or both together?

      Reply
      • Beth says

        January 08, 2018 at 11:43 am

        Hi Michelle,

        I actually do have quite a few gumdrop recipes on this blog and all contain pectin. The recipe is a bit more work but the candies taste so much better than a traditional gummy, in my opinion. They have a softer texture, which I love, and you can flavor them using any candy oil you like. My favorite it green apple. I even have a recipe where I made the gumdrops using real blueberries (https://hungryhappenings.com/tart-balsamic-blueberry-gumdrops-recipe.html/). You can find all the gumdrop recipes here - https://hungryhappenings.com/tag/gumdrops/ and a detailed tutorial here - https://hungryhappenings.com/red-white-and-blue-gumdrops-made-in.html/

        Reply
    5. Beth says

      December 19, 2017 at 10:55 am

      They are so fun to make! I hope you enjoy.

      Reply
    6. cakespy says

      December 16, 2017 at 11:47 am

      W H U T this is the best thing ever!!!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        December 16, 2017 at 12:02 pm

        I'm so happy you think so!!! Thanks. 🙂

        Reply
    7. pictaram says

      December 15, 2017 at 3:45 am

      It looks so fun to try. Thank you for sharing! My kid love gummy candy so much. This candy could be a nice idea for my kid to try and give it to her friends in Christmas.

      Reply
    8. nicole del rosario says

      January 16, 2016 at 7:56 am

      this is so cool its so fun

      thank you i sure my cousen love this!!!!!!

      Reply
    9. The partiologist says

      December 11, 2015 at 12:42 am

      What a fun gift, I think I'll put it on my Christmas list! I LOVE Gummies!!

      Reply
    10. Trisha says

      December 09, 2015 at 11:16 pm

      I needed a smile and a pick me up so I headed here and of course I love all your new fun ideas. . . you make people smile! Happy Holidays!!!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        December 10, 2015 at 8:57 am

        I'm so happy to know that I made you smile. I hope all is well with you and that you have a wonderful holiday season too!

        Reply
    11. Michelle says

      December 09, 2015 at 11:51 am

      Love this idea, need to get one for my daughter! Thanks for trying it out and your tips!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        December 10, 2015 at 9:01 am

        I can't wait to have my friend and her young kids over to make gummy candy. I personally, as an adult, would probably just use the stove, but would have thought this toy was the coolest thing ever when I was a kid. I would have been making gummy candy for everyone! I hope your daughter enjoys her gummy maker.

        Reply
    12. Christine says

      December 09, 2015 at 9:52 am

      Thank you for this information! I love Gummy Bears!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        December 10, 2015 at 9:01 am

        🙂

        Reply
    Beth Jackson Klosterboer

    Welcome to Hungry Happenings!

    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

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