Homemade Fruit Punch Gummies

These homemade gummies are naturally sweetened, fun to make with kids, and much healthier than store-bought candy. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a chewy, colorful snack that’s free from artificial junk! (Although I did use food coloring but you don't have to)

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Fruit Punch Honest Juice: Link to Amazon

Super cute gummy molds: Link to Amazon

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Recipe

Servings: About 40 small gummies

Calories per serving: ~10 kcal

Total Time: 15 minutes prep + 2 hours chilling

Homemade Fruit Punch Gummies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Honest Kids Fruit Punch

• 5 tbsp unflavored gelatin

• 6–8 tbsp honey (adjust to taste)

• Optional: 2 tsp lemon juice (for a slight tart contrast)

• Optional: Natural food coloring (beet juice for red, turmeric for yellow, spirulina for blue)

Instructions:

1. Bloom the gelatin – Pour the fruit punch into a saucepan and sprinkle gelatin evenly over the top. Let it sit for 2–3 minutes to bloom.

2. Dissolve the gelatin – Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin fully dissolves. Do not boil.

3. Sweeten & color – Stir in honey (and lemon juice if using). Add food coloring for a fun touch! Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.

4. Mold & chill – Pour into silicone molds or a parchment-lined dish. Refrigerate for 1–2 hours until firm.

5. Enjoy! – Pop the gummies out of the molds and serve.

Nutritional Value (Per Gummy):

• Calories: ~10 kcal

• Carbs: 2g

• Protein: 1g

• Sugar: 1.5g

Storage Instructions:

• Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to one week.

• Room Temperature (Optional): If dehydrated in a low-temp oven, they can last longer without refrigeration.

Ingredients

Bloom the gelatin

Bloom the Gelatin

Dissolve the gelatin

Dissolve the gelatin

Sweeten & color

Mold & chill

Mold & chill

Mold & chill

Mold & chill

Enjoy!

Enjoy!

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Prompt

I saw this video on Facebook about making homemade gummies. My kids love gummies but Io don't let them eat any because I am so not a fan of dentist bills.

So I asked ChatGPT:

Homemade gummies? I have gelatin. Looking for something potentially not very unhealthy

And it responded:

You can make homemade gummies with just a few ingredients, and they can be much healthier than store-bought ones. Here’s a simple recipe using fruit juice and honey instead of refined sugar:

Simple Homemade Gummies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup 100% fruit juice (apple, grape, or a mix—avoid pineapple, kiwi, or papaya, as they affect gelatin setting)

• 2 ½ tbsp unflavored gelatin

• 1–2 tbsp honey (adjust to taste)

• Optional: ½ tsp lemon juice for a little tartness

Instructions:

1. Pour the fruit juice into a small saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over the juice and let it sit for a couple of minutes to bloom.

2. Gently heat the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin fully dissolves (do not boil).

3. Remove from heat and stir in honey (and lemon juice if using).

4. Pour the mixture into silicone molds or a parchment-lined dish.

5. Refrigerate for about 1–2 hours until firm.

6. Pop them out of the molds (or cut into squares if using a dish) and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Would you want to add any extras like vitamin C powder or a different flavor twist?

I was going to try and use homemade juice:

Can I use clementines and lemons juice?

ChatGPT said I could:

Yes, you can use clementine and lemon juice, but you'll need to make a small adjustment since citrus juices can be more acidic and might affect how well the gelatin sets. Here’s how to do it:

Clementine-Lemon Gummies

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup fresh clementine juice (about 4–5 clementines)

• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)

• 2 ½ tbsp unflavored gelatin

• 2–3 tbsp honey (adjust to taste)

Instructions:

1. Juice the fruit and strain out any pulp for a smooth texture.

2. Bloom the gelatin: Pour the juice into a saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over the top, and let it sit for 2–3 minutes.

3. Gently heat over low heat, stirring constantly until the gelatin fully dissolves. Avoid boiling.

4. Stir in honey, mix well, and remove from heat.

5. Pour into molds or a lined dish.

6. Chill in the fridge for 1–2 hours until set.

Since lemon is tart, you might want to taste the juice mixture before adding gelatin and adjust the honey if needed. Let me know if you want to tweak anything!

I then decided I don't want to waste my precious clementines on juice, so I bought honest kids juice which makes me feel a little less guilty because of how little it is sweet:

Ok I bought honest kids apple juice. Update recipe. It's not very sweet so maybe more honey? What do you think?

It made the necessary adjustments:

Yes, Honest Kids apple juice is less sweet than regular apple juice, so you might want to add a bit more honey. Here’s the updated recipe:

Apple-Citrus Gummies

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup Honest Kids apple juice

• ¼ cup fresh clementine juice (about 2–3 clementines)

• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about ½ a large lemon)

• 2 ½ tbsp unflavored gelatin

• 3–4 tbsp honey (adjust to taste)

Instructions:

1. Juice the fruit and strain out any pulp for a smooth texture.

2. Bloom the gelatin: Pour the apple juice and citrus juices into a saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin over the top, and let it sit for 2–3 minutes.

3. Gently heat over low heat, stirring constantly until the gelatin fully dissolves (don’t boil).

4. Stir in honey, mix well, and taste. Adjust sweetness if needed.

5. Pour into molds or a parchment-lined dish.

6. Chill in the fridge for 1–2 hours until set.

Since citrus can make the flavor more tart, you might want to taste the juice before adding gelatin to see if you prefer more honey. Let me know how they turn out!

I forgot to tell it to drop the clementines:

No no, no clementine or lemons. Just honest juice. I mean lemon juice is ok, but not required unless it makes the recipe better

It adjusted:

Got it! Here’s a simple gummy recipe using just Honest Kids apple juice:

Apple Juice Gummies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Honest Kids apple juice

• 2 ½ tbsp unflavored gelatin

• 3–4 tbsp honey (adjust to taste)

• Optional: 1 tsp lemon juice (for a slight tart balance)

Instructions:

1. Pour the apple juice into a saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over the juice and let it sit for 2–3 minutes to bloom.

2. Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin fully dissolves. Do not boil.

3. Stir in the honey (and lemon juice if using). Mix well and taste to adjust sweetness.

4. Pour into silicone molds or a lined dish.

5. Refrigerate for 1–2 hours until firm.

6. Pop out of the molds (or cut into squares) and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Since Honest Kids apple juice is lightly sweetened, the extra honey helps bring out more flavor. Let me know if you want to tweak anything!

I then saw a deal on Amazon for the fruit punch flavor:

Can I use honest "fruit punch"?

It adjusted:

Yes, you can use Honest Kids Fruit Punch! The process is the same, but since fruit punch has a mix of flavors, you might want to taste the mixture before adding honey.

Fruit Punch Gummies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Honest Kids Fruit Punch

• 2 ½ tbsp unflavored gelatin

• 2–4 tbsp honey (adjust to taste)

• Optional: 1 tsp lemon juice (to brighten flavors)

Instructions:

1. Pour the fruit punch into a saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let it sit for 2–3 minutes to bloom.

2. Heat gently over low heat, stirring until the gelatin fully dissolves. Do not boil.

3. Stir in the honey (and lemon juice if using), mix well, and taste. Adjust sweetness if needed.

4. Pour into molds or a lined dish.

5. Refrigerate for 1–2 hours until set.

6. Remove from molds (or cut into squares) and store in the fridge for up to a week.

Since fruit punch has a different flavor balance, the lemon juice is optional but could add a nice contrast. Let me know how they turn out!

I then started a more philosophical discussion with it:

Out of curiosity (not asking for recipe) is there a version that doesn't need refrigeration?

It replied:

Yes, but it requires a different approach. Traditional gelatin-based gummies need refrigeration because they can soften at room temperature. However, if you want shelf-stable gummies, you’d need to:

1. Use a dehydrator – Drying out gummies at a low temperature (around 135°F) removes moisture, making them firmer and more shelf-stable.

2. Increase gelatin or add pectin – A higher ratio of gelatin or the addition of pectin (like in fruit snacks) can make them hold up better at room temperature.

3. Use a sugar syrup method – Classic gummy candies (like Haribo-style) use glucose or corn syrup, which helps maintain texture without refrigeration.

If you're just curious, it mostly comes down to moisture content and the type of gelling agent used!

Trying to find shortcuts:

Is corn starch possible for non refrigerated approach?

ChatGPT sort of said no:

Cornstarch alone won’t create a chewy, shelf-stable gummy. It thickens liquids into a gel-like consistency when heated, but it doesn’t have the elasticity or firmness of gelatin or pectin. However, cornstarch is sometimes used with other ingredients in gummy or jelly candies to:

1. Coat gummies – Absorbs excess moisture to prevent sticking.

2. Thicken pectin-based gummies – Some fruit-based gummies use pectin + cornstarch for a firmer texture.

3. Create jelly-like candies – Mixed with sugar and cooked, cornstarch can make a firmer jelly but not a chewy gummy.

If you’re looking for a non-refrigerated gummy, you’d need either dehydration, extra gelatin, or a sugar-based method rather than just cornstarch.

I persisted because I really wanted hard gummies:

How do I dehydrate if I don't have a dehydrator? Low temp oven, air fryer else? Or is it not possible?

It told me I might be able to:

You can dehydrate gummies without a dehydrator using a low-temperature oven or possibly an air fryer with a dehydrate setting. Here’s how:

1. Low-Temperature Oven Method

• Set your oven to the lowest temperature (ideally 135–150°F, but no higher than 170°F).

• Place the gummies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

• Prop the oven door open slightly with a wooden spoon to let moisture escape.

• Let them dry for 4–6 hours, checking for firmness.

• Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

2. Air Fryer (If It Has a Dehydrate Setting)

• Set to 135°F (or lowest setting).

• Arrange gummies in a single layer on parchment paper.

• Dehydrate for 2–4 hours, checking periodically.

• Let cool before storing.

If your air fryer doesn’t go that low, it may be too hot and could melt the gummies instead of drying them. The oven method is safer for most people. Let me know if you want to try it!

Perhaps oven turned off with oven light on?

What about oven with light on? I don't have convection however light on makes the temp be 100

It said maybe:

Yes! If your oven light keeps the temperature around 100°F, you can use it to slowly dehydrate gummies. It will take longer than a dehydrator or a low-temp oven, but it can work. Here’s how to do it:

Oven Light Dehydration Method

1. Place gummies on a wire rack (or parchment-lined baking sheet) so air can circulate.

2. Turn on the oven light and close the door.

3. Let them sit for 12–24 hours, checking periodically. Flip them halfway through if needed.

4. Test for dryness—they should feel firm and slightly leathery, not sticky.

5. Let cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

This method works best in a dry environment. If your kitchen is humid, it might take longer. You could also try cracking the oven door slightly to improve airflow. Let me know if you want to tweak the process!

I give up:

I think I'll try the standard fridge approach first time, and maybe oven next time, if it turns out delicious. Can you rewrite the recipe with double the amount? Multiply all ingredients by 2

It updated:

Got it! Here’s the doubled version of the Fruit Punch Gummies recipe:

Fruit Punch Gummies (Double Batch)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Honest Kids Fruit Punch

• 5 tbsp unflavored gelatin

• 6–8 tbsp honey (adjust to taste)

• Optional: 2 tsp lemon juice (for a slight tart contrast)

Instructions:

1. Pour the fruit punch into a saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let it sit for 2–3 minutes to bloom.

2. Heat gently over low heat, stirring constantly until the gelatin fully dissolves. Do not boil.

3. Stir in the honey (and lemon juice if using), mix well, and taste. Adjust sweetness if needed.

4. Pour into silicone molds or a lined dish.

5. Refrigerate for 1–2 hours until firm.

6. Remove from molds (or cut into squares) and store in the fridge for up to a week.

This should give you a larger batch to enjoy! Let me know how they turn out.

I also want it more colorful so I asked:

Can I add a bit of food coloring? I want to make it fun for the kids

And it gave me some natural options (which I didn't use, maybe next time):

Yes! You can add a few drops of food coloring to make the gummies more vibrant and fun. Just stir it in after the gelatin has fully dissolved but before pouring into molds.

For a natural option, you could try:

• Beet juice or powder for red/pink

• Turmeric for yellow

• Blue spirulina for blue

Let me know what colors you’re thinking!

Scroll to the top of the page for the final recipe (or click the link below to avoid scrolling).

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