These Paleo Gummies couldn’t be easier to make! The three flavors, Pomegranate, Apple Cinnamon, and Cranberry Orange, are flavored with fruit juice and made with gut-healing gelatin for a superfood boost. You can use any flavor of fruit juice you’d like to customize these to your tastes, too! This post is sponsored by Vital Proteins.
I can’t deal with any chit chat today because LOOK guys, I made homemade and healthy gummy bears!!!
I love making healthier versions of my favorite candies (see my Twix Bars and Peanut Butter Cups), but until now, I haven’t ventured into fruity candies. That’s a shame because fruity candies are some of my favorites.
Luckily, these homemade paleo gummies are way easier to make than I ever imagined. So many flavors of gummy candy are in my future, and I have a bag of citric acid on order from Amazon to figure out to make some sour candies too.
But first, let’s stick with the classic fruit gummies! These are so easy to make, I could barely believe it. For the basic fruit gummy, you really just need two things: fruit juice and gelatin. If you want them a little flavor boost, maybe you’ll add some sweetener or extracts, too, but first let’s talk about the basics. Because they’re so simple, you need the best quality of both ingredients.
I used all 100% pure juices with no sugar added or anything, and I used Vital Proteins Grass-Fed Beef Gelatin. I adore Vital Proteins products because I know they are the highest quality! The gelatin comes from pasture-raised, grass-fed beef, and it is SO good for you. Gelatin is a total superfood – it’s very healing for our immune systems and gut health, and it’s 100% pure collagen, which is wonderful for making our hair, skin, and nails look shiny and beautiful.
To make the gummies, the juice is heated until almost boiling along with the sweetener – I used honey for the pomegranate and cranberry orange gummies, and maple syrup for the apple cinnamon gummy. As soon as the juice is steaming hot, the heat is turned to the lowest setting and any extracts are stirred in. Out of the flavors I made, only the apple cinnamon uses an extract – cinnamon extract for that spicy cinnamon flavor.
Then, whisk in the gelatin one tablespoon at a time, letting it dissolve, before dividing the liquid into the molds. I made these into cute little gummy bears, obviously, using this gummy bear mold. It came with a dropper, which made things super quick and easy.
You can use whatever kind of candy mold you’d like, but I’d recommend silicone so they pop out easily. If you don’t care about cute shapes, you can also just pour them into a loaf pan or 8×8″ pan and cut them into gummy cubes once set.
These cute paleo gummies couldn’t be easier – just three to four ingredients, and they’re a candy with health benefits! They’re super delicious, too – the fruit flavor is super pure, and they’re infinitely customizable to suit your tastes. My favorite was the tart pomegranate, but the spice of the apple cinnamon was also irresistible, and the cranberry orange combo is a holiday classic.
The recipe for each flavor makes 200 gummy bears, for a total of 600 gummies. That’s based on the size of my gummy bear mold – your yield might vary a bit. You can keep them all for yourself, or wrap them up in cute jars and give them to your favorite people. Enjoy!
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Paleo Gummies (Three Flavors: Apple Cinnamon, Pomegranate + Cranberry Orange)
Ingredients
Apple Cinnamon
- 1 cup pure apple juice
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon extract*
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 4 tablespoons Vital Proteins Grass-Fed Gelatin
Pomegranate
- 1 cup pure pomegranate juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 4 tablespoons Vital Proteins Grass-Fed Gelatin
Cranberry Orange
- ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons pure orange juice
- 2 tablespoons pure cranberry juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 4 tablespoons Vital Proteins Grass-Fed Gelatin
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the juice and the maple syrup or honey and heat over medium heat until steaming hot (just before boiling).
- Lower the heat to the lowest setting and if using, stir in the cinnamon extract. Whisk in the gelatin one tablespoon at a time, making sure each tablespoon is fully dissolved in the liquid before adding the next.
- Once the gelatin is fully dissolved, remove from the heat and use a dropper to put in your gummy molds.
- Put in the refrigerator to firm up completely - if your molds are small like my gummy bears, it should only take about 10 to 15 minutes for them to firm up enough to pop out.
- If you don’t have enough molds to use all the gummy mixture at once, you can pour the extra into a small pan and cut them into squares, OR you can gently reheat/melt the mixture over low heat when your molds are empty and ready to be used again (I did the second option).
- Store the gummies in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Repeat for other flavors!
Recipe Notes
*Different brands of cinnamon extract can vary in strength. This amount of the extract I used provided a slightly spicy cinnamon flavor. I'd recommend starting with about 3/4 tablespoon, tasting it, and then adding more to your tastes. If you're using pure cinnamon oil, it will be a lot stronger - start with just 1 teaspoon and add to taste.
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
These are awesome! I love the addition of collagen too. I use vital proteins everyday!
Rachel says
Me too! I love their products :) thanks so much, Megan.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
These are absolutely GORGEOUS, Rachel! And so fun! I love your pictures! I couldn’t wait to see the recipe after seeing your Insta-story about them. Such a great idea to make homemade gummy bears. I have a serious addiction to the store bought kind (which is why I never buy them) so this healthier version was made for me!
Rachel says
You’ve got to try them, Gayle! I was shocked at how easy it was :) and you can make SO many different flavors. Wish I could give you a jar :)
natalia20041989 says
Yum, those are just too beautiful! I would love to try them all:)
Rachel says
Thanks so much, Natalia!
Wendy says
These photos are gorgeous and the gummie bears are adorable! I understand that the whole point here is the Vital Proteins Gelatin, but do you have any idea whether these gummies can be made with vegetarian gelatin? (Lots of vegetarians at my house ;) )
Rachel says
Hi Wendy! I haven’t tried it, but I think you could substitute agar agar powder in equal amounts for the gelatin. Be sure to report back if you try it! :)
Roxy says
Hi I Tried Agar Agar but it did not work for me, what am i doing wrong!! ;(
Rachel says
Hi Roxy, this recipe is not meant to be made with agar agar. Agar agar performs slightly differently than gelatin. I suggested trying it at their own risk to another user who wanted a vegetarian version, but can’t guarantee it’ll work since I never tested it that way.
Elizabeth Clark says
I made the cranberry ones as described and they are still liquidy after coming out of the fridge. I gave them even more time to solidify and no luck. Any suggestions? I was so excited about this recipe!
Rachel says
Hi Elizabeth, is it possible anything was mismeasured? Or did you use gelatin packets from the store? I’ve heard those can be less gelatinous than the Vital Proteins one I used.
Britteny says
I had the same problem with the cran-orange gummies. Been in the fridge over an hour and still liquid.
Rachel says
Hi Britteny, after looking over the recipe I think the issue may be that there are 2 extra tablespoons of liquid in that version…I’m going to adjust it to total 1 cup. They worked for me many times, so not sure exactly what’s going on, but I’ll retest since it’s a repeated issue! Sorry you had that trouble. If they never end up solidifying, you can try adding an extra teaspoon or two of gelatin to the mix and resetting – I know that’s annoying though! So sorry they didn’t turn out for you!
Annie says
Not only do these look perfect, but the fact that they are THAT easy to make AND healthy makes me want to get to the store and get the stuff to make them right now!
Rachel says
Aww thanks so much Annie! They seriously are so easy!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
I can’t believe you made gummy bears! They are so colorful and beautiful!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
I am so making these Rachel!! They are absolutely adorable and I love how they are actually a healthier version! My son who’s 24 LOVES gummy bears! He doesn’t eat chocolate, so fruit candy are his fave. And at the rate he eats them, he totally needs something healthier than store-bought sugar filled gummies! Can’t wait to try!!
Rachel says
Oh you’ve got to make him some in his favorite flavors!! He’d love it :) thanks so much, Mary Ann!
[email protected] says
oh wow, these loo beyond perfect Rachel! You did a great job!
Trish PInes says
OMG I love these! My girls will go crazy over these!!!!
[email protected] says
Where I tend to go for the chocolate and my hubby, the gummy bears…you’ve made a fan out of me! I cannot get over their beauty! I mean, it’s a bear! You rock, my friend!!
Kevin | Keviniscooking says
These are awesome, fell for them on your IG from yesterday. Love these and to think a batch makes 600, just enough for some Netflix binge watching… :)
Rachel says
Haha most definitely!! Thanks so much, Kevin.
Beth @ bethcakes says
These are so dang cute, Rachel! I about died when I saw them on instagram. I had no idea they were so easy to make! :)
marcie says
You are incredible — I can’t believe you made healthy gummy bears, and they’re so cute! I haven’t tried Vital Proteins and need to give that a try — I love that they’re from grass-fed beef!
Jenny says
These are soo fun! I would eat the pomegranate ones by the handful :-)
Rachel says
The pomegranate ones are my favorite :) thanks so much, Jenny!
Trish PInes says
What kind of dropper do you use? Thanks!
Rachel says
Hi Trish, it came with the gummy bear mold I used!
Mona says
Where did you get your molds? I’m struggling finding some really small ones. Thank you!
Rachel says
Hi Mona – mine are from Amazon! Here’s an affiliate link for the ones I used: http://amzn.to/2jvVuYk
Mona says
Thank you! I ordered them and now I can’t wait to make those cuties! I tried a bigger mold before and while it works there’s just something odd about taking a bite from a gummy ☺️
Rachel says
Haha I agree!! Hopefully this size is perfect for your gummy snacking needs :) enjoy!
Lori says
Can these be made without the extra sugar? Just pure juice? Thank you!
Rachel says
They definitely can be, they just obviously won’t be as sweet. Enjoy!
Kim clendenin says
Cant wait to try this.The gelatin would i find this in any grocery store?
Rachel says
Hi Kim – I don’t think you can find Vital Proteins gelatin specifically in any stores, but you should be able to find gelatin in stores, usually in the baking aisle. I ordered mine on Amazon!
Lori says
I found it at New Seasons Market locally. Try whole foods if you have one around?
Lori says
I made these last night and they were super hard. Not soft like fresh gummies. I made Apple Cinnamon and the Apple didn’t come through to much either. I will not let them go to waste. Any suggestions for the next batch?
Rachel says
Hi Lori, sorry they weren’t how you expected! You could try reducing the gelatin amount a bit for a softer gummy – I’d try reducing it by 1/2 or 1 tablespoon. They also are firmer when refrigerated – they’ll get a bit softer at room temperature. As for the flavor, it depends on the kind of apple juice you used! I used a super flavorful one that almost tasted like a cider on it’s own. Make sure you get 100% pure apple juice (or whatever kind of juice you want), as high quality as possible, to make sure you get the best flavor. A little extra sweetener can also help bring out the flavor a bit more. If you want, you could also try reducing the juice a bit to make it more concentrated. Hope these suggestions help!!
Courtney says
Apologies in advance if I missed it but I couldn’t find a shelf life on these. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect them to last long :) I’m planning to make them for my daughter’s birthday party and hope to make them about 5 days in advance. How long do they last? Refrigerated or room temperature? What’s the best for maintaining texture, flavor, etc.? Thanks!! They’re beautiful.
Rachel says
Hi Courtney – they’ll definitely be fine for five days! Mine stayed good for about 2 months in the fridge. I’d recommend storing them in the fridge to keep them freshest, but they can be stored at room temperature if you must. I do think they taste best at room temperature, though. Hope you, your daughter, and all of her friends enjoy them!
Marzena Anna says
I tried them twice already and they didn’t firm in the fridge. How big a cup did you use? Maybe mine was too big? I made the second batch with 5 tablespoons gelatine and they still didn’t come out gelatinous :-( I used a different brand of gelatine, as we don’t have the one you used in Austria. Any advice? I really love your result and am determined to make these healthy snacks for my two kids. Thank you in advance!
Rachel says
Hi Marzena – I use a standard 1 cup measure (8 oz.), and using that, they should set up. What size cup were you using? You may also need to add extra gelatin if the brand doesn’t set up as well, but the listed measurements are what worked for me.
Cheryl says
Hi, I just found this recipe and it’s very good for someone cutting down on sugar (like me). However, is there a way to get them less rubbery? I’ve left them at room temperature and it helps, but I’m concerned about spoilage. I haven’t tried Stevia yet, but I don’t think that will help with the texture. Tks.
Rachel says
Hi Cheryl, you could use less gelatin to help them be a little bit softer. Enjoy!
Michelle says
Hi do you have to keep these in the fridge or once they’ve cooled in the fridge can you keep them out?
Rachel says
They’ll keep fresh the longest in the fridge, but you can keep them at cool room temp. Enjoy!
Lori says
Hi. What would you describe the consistency of these gummies as? For example, Jello jigglers, Knox blocks, store bought fruit snacks?
Rachel says
Hi Lori, I’ve never had a knox block but I’d say they’re sort of like a firmer, chewier jello – not quite as chewy as a fruit snack, but a little chewier than regular jello.
Mr Loto says
Beautiful and delicious!
Rachel says
So glad you’re enjoying them!
Lisa Hempel says
This looks very tasty.
I will try it soon. :)
Rachel says
Hope you love them! Thanks Lisa.
Leslie says
I want to make these for my daughter’s preschool class with all of the colors of the rainbow. But curious if I could freeze these and have them defrost later so I can make ahead.
Ike says
For quicker filling of molds; transfer mixture into squeeze bottle.
Rachel says
Brilliant tip – thanks for sharing!
Paige says
Oh my god why didn’t I think of this
Kimberly says
These look amazing! One question: what is the texture like? I tried making gummies from someone else’s recipe and it was more gritty and jello-like as compared to the traditional gummy CHEW. Do these have the latter texture that resembles store bought candies’ chewiness?? So excited to try!
Rachel says
Hi Kimberly, I wouldn’t say they’re quite as chewy as a store bought gummy, I’d imagine you’d have to cook down some sugar as part of the mix to replicate that texture. They are chewy though and finish off with a fruity, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Not exactly the same, but still very delicious! And not gritty at all, as long as you let the gelatin fully dissolve! Enjoy :)
Riya says
I just love gummies
Will try it for sure
Rachel says
Hope you love them, Riya!
Vicky says
Agar Agar is not a 1:1 substitute for gelatin. Additionally, it has very different properties and mouth feel. The positive is that agar agar stays firm at room temperature. You can also use fruits like pineapple in agar agar that you cannot use in gelatin, You need to research conversion for gelatin to agar agar POWDER (not leaves or flakes). There is plenty of information available.
Rachel says
Hi Vicky, thanks for your comment! I am aware that agar does not have the same properties as gelatin does and this recipe wasn’t intended to be made with agar since as you mentioned, it uses different amounts and has different properties!
Melissa says
Do you make these with the vital protein collagen peptides or the beef gelatin?
Rachel says
Hi Melissa, they’re made with the gelatin, as stated in the recipe.