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Oh gummy bears…how I love you but wish you were healthier. Thankfully, these berry vegan gummies can sub in! They are tasty, simple to make, and absolutely kid-friendly.
Berry Delicious Vegan Gummies
I am sure I’m not alone, but my toddler goes through snack phases. Last month, all he wanted to eat was apples. (Green apples, to be specific, and I was that awful mother who accidentally bought red apples. Eeek.) Not just for a snack, though. For every single meal.
Last week, it was chocolate. Boy, was that a battle. He knows I hide chocolate in the fridge so whenever I told him we didn’t have any (total lie) he would open the fridge doors, pull up a chair, and start rifling around. Luckily, his arms only extend so far haha.
Thankfully, this week it’s gummies. I say “thankfully” because my homemade gummies are healthy!
While Yummy Earth Organic Gummy Bears are slightly better than other brands (no artificial ingredients and non-GMO), they are made with fruit juice instead of the whole fruit so they’re definitely not “healthy”. Fine for a rare treat, like on Halloween or Easter, but with the way my child has been eating gummies?! Not gonna cut it.
How to Make Healthy, Vegan Gummies
These homemade gummies are also vegan, which is great if you follow that diet or if you are just cutting back on animal products in your home. Thank you, agar powder, for being our gummy savior.
Note that homemade gummies aren’t the same “stretchy” texture as store-bought gummy bears – perhaps because these contain blended, whole fruits instead of just fruit juice. But they’re still delicious and toddler-approved.
For the gummy molds, I used these Silly Molds (it’s a 3-pack with hearts, stars, and sea shells.) This recipe fills up two complete molds. My son thinks they also work wonderfully as hats. I got to watch my husband cook breakfast with a gummy mold on his head this morning and it was glorious.
The most difficult (but really not difficult) part of making these is the process of blending the berries and then straining out the skins and seeds. I take a spatula or spoon and push down on the mixture in the strainer to make sure I’m getting as much liquid as possible out. It only takes a few minutes, though, so no hard feelings, right? Including the fruit “pulp” into these gummies instead of simply using fruit juice makes them healthier because of the fiber content. The fiber helps our bodies properly process the sugar.
After you strain, you simply bring the “juice” to a simmer with the agar powder and pour into the molds. Let set in the fridge and 30 minutes later (or less), you have a yummy treat on your hands.
Hey – if you love healthy berry recipes, check out this recipe for Very Berry Vegan Cheesecake!
Ingredients
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 tablespoon agar powder NOT agar flakes
Instructions
- Blend together the blueberries, blackberries, and water until there are no chunks.
- Strain out the berry juice from the skin and seeds using a mesh strainer. Use a spoon to press and move the mixture around to make sure you're getting all the liquid out.
- Add the juice to a pot with the agar powder on medium heat.
- Bring to a simmer for 30 seconds and remove from heat.
- Spoon into molds and place in the fridge and let set, about 30 minutes.
- Remove from molds. Store in a container in the fridge (if you don't eat them all right away!)
B. Brown
Followed recipe and used agar powder but they did not solidify.
Priscilla Calderon
You may not have dissolved the agar enough. I followed a different recipe the other day and was making such small batches that I tried to make it in the microwave. It wasn’t enough time at boiling temp to set up. Made it again on the stove this time simmering about two minutes, and they set up without refrigeration in like 15 minutes. Hope this helps.,
Hope
I dont know why but mine didnt set up. I followed the recipe so I dont know why
Elizabeth
2nd attempt I got them to gel. I had to put the water and agar flakes together separately before adding the blended berries. They look shiny but taste super boring.
Karissa
Hi Elizabeth. Unfortunately, agar flakes aren’t the same product as agar powder. The powder is much more concentrated so it makes sense that they wouldn’t set up with the flakes. If you want a little more sweetness in the gummies, you could try adding some sugar/agave/maple syrup.
May
These look wonderful! But I LOVE Cinnamon candy & would like to try a gummy that’s gelatin free. I really don’t want a fruity flavor in it as there’s some cinnamon gummy bears out there made with apple juice & it tastes weird. Anyway, any suggestions. I’ve been googling & haven’t found anything.
Suzanne
May,
I’ll admit that I have not tried this recipe but I would try making a cinnamon tea either from bag tea or water with lots of cinnamon sticks to replace the fruit juice in the recipe. Of course, you will have to sweeten the tea in since there is no sugar from fruit in it. Try Ceylon Cinnamon. It’s spicier.
Donna
I am looking for an aid to help my 4year old with constipation. Even though you strain the pulp and berries, there is still fiber in the gummie?
Karissa
If you use something like a cheesecloth, probably not. But if you use a mesh strainer, there is still some pulp and fiber in there!
Anna
Hi
I used Agar flakes and the gummies did not solidify. the store only had flakes. What is the difference between flakes and powder?
Karissa
Hi, Anna! The powder is more concentrated. If you make them again, try 3 tbsp of the flakes.
Lauren
Hello! I am excited to try this recipe. Quick question: would I be able to use Agar liquid in place of the powder? I don’t have the powder but happen to have it in liquid form.
Karissa
Hi! I’m honestly not sure, I have never used agar liquid before!
Bella
Where can you get agar powder? Is it like gelatin
Karissa
Yes, it works like gelatin. I get mine from Amazon.
Zuzu Petals
Thank you!!! I have been looking for a vegan or vegetarian gummies recipe. Gelatin seriously grosses me out. I also appreciate that you used berries!!! These are so good for you! I’m going to give these a shot, I’ll try it out in ice cube trays first, since I don’t have a mold. Also considering doing these with coconut milk. Thanks again!!!
Ellen
Can you make this with agar flakes? It’s what I have on hand, but will make the trip to the store if powder is essential.
Karissa
Hi! I’m sure you could, but I have never tried it so I’m not sure how much you would need to use.
SJ
Question: I got your mini eBook of other gummy recipes and those recipes all call for a significantly smaller amount of agar – 1tsp to 1.5 tsp, vs the tablespoon you call for in this recipe. Is there a reason for that?
Karissa
Yes – this recipe makes more.
Glenda
Hi, quick question – how many does this make?
Karissa
Hi! It really depends on the tray/molds you use. This recipe filled up two of the trays I got from Amazon (which are shown and linked to in the post).
R
Can you use frozen fruit?
Karissa
Yep! Just make sure to thaw it out first.
Amanda
Can you blend a veggie into it like maybe spinach or kale
Karissa
Sure, that would work fine!
Rachelle
Are they sour? Just wondering without sweetener
Karissa
Nope, not sour! The berries provide natural sweetness but you can always add a tablespoon or two of maple syrup or agave if you would prefer them to be sweeter.
Megan
Would it be possible to use some kind of other thickener/stabilizer for this recipe? Specifically, I’m wondering if corn starch might work. It’s just something that’s always in my pantry, as opposed to agar or arrowroot, which I rarely use.
Thanks!
Karissa
Agar is used to gelatinize the mixture, not just to thicken it – corn starch or other thickeners won’t give you those bouncy-textured gummies or solidify like the mixture like agar does.
Sara
Do they have to stay in the fridge? Wondering if they’d work for a road trip snack.
Karissa
I’d recommend keeping them cold since they are made with fresh fruit without any type of preservative. Storing them with an ice pack in a lunchbox would work great though for the beginning of your trip!
Lauren
How long would these last in the fridge? Could you freeze them?
Karissa
They’ll last a few days – we’ve never gotten past 3 days though without eating them all so they may last longer! I’ll test them out in the freezer and get back to you. 🙂
Mirjam
And what if you use a slowjuicer?
Karissa
I’m sure that would work fine, though I haven’t personally tried it!
Lexi
How do you store these? Or do you have to eat them right away?
Karissa
You can store them in the fridge!
Kathleen barnes
Could you just put the fruit in the blender first to get it all?
Karissa
Yes – definitely blend the fruit. I find that even blending it doesn’t get out the skin and seeds though so I still like to strain it.
Joy
Could you use the same method with different fruit?
Karissa
Yes!