Easy Homemade Gummy Candies, with NO Added Sugar

In my quest to create reduced sugar or sugar-free desserts and snacks - you know, when I'm not inhaling pumpkin spice s'mores - I stumbled across the wild and wonderful world of homemade gummies!  Did you know you can make your own gummy candy and keep it as sugar-free as you want?  Look at the adorable, gold-dusted gem gummies I made:

Almost too pretty to eat!  Almost.

Here's what you need:

• 1 cup fruit juice - I used blueberry (I accidentally photographed the French side! Merde)*
• 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin (I used Great Lakes brand)
• 1 tsp stevia - optional (I buy Truvia)
• Silicone mold - optional (this is the gem mold I used)
• Edible gold dust - totally optional

*When choosing a fruit juice, just skim the ingredients to make sure there isn't any pineapple, mango or papaya juice because these juices will prevent the gelatin from setting unless the juice has been boiled.   Also watch fruit juice labels for added sugar and artificial color, if that's a concern for you.


How to make gummy candy:

Warm up the juice on the stove in a pot and once it's warm - not boiling - stir in the tablespoon of the gelain and whisk until it's dissolved.  Add the stevia and whisk until it dissolves, then pour into a silicone mold.  I used a small brush to dust mine with gold first.  I also put my silicone mold on a cutting board so it's easier to maneuver.  (Alternatively, you can double the recipe and pour into small glass bowls - it's the perfect consistency for that as well.)

Pop into the fridge for a few hours and, voila!  Gorgeous gems!  Perfect for a rock hound like me.

I've been experimenting with different liquids, methods and flavor combinations - including an orange chocolate gummy that is so delicious - but my homemade gummies keep getting eaten before I can properly photograph them!  I got about five minutes with these.  They're looooong gone.

I wanted to share because this easy homemade gummy candy is a good starting off point for anyone wanting to experiment; this "recipe" is foolproof. 



Have you made your own gummy candy before?  Any delicious recipes I should try?  Next time I'll share a few of my favorite concoctions  in one post - seriously, you'll need to try that chocolate and orange one.