Healthy Homemade Lemon Gummy Bears
Today, I bring to you these chewy and delicious Lemon Gummy Bears!
These healthy homemade Lemon Gummy Bears are way better than the storebought version – they’re chewy and gummy, tart and sweet, and totally guilt-free.
Best of all, this super fun and easy recipe is made without the corn syrup, white sugar, artificial flavors, and artificial food dyes.
Instead of corn syrup and sugar, we use applesauce and stevia.
Instead of artificial flavors, we use natural flavors.
Instead of artificial food dyes, we use turmeric.
Whether you’re a newbie or a maven to the healthy-eating world, you’ll fall in love with these adorable, tart but sweet treats.
If you’ve read My Story, then you know what a sugar-addict I was as a kid. Over the years I’ve grown and learned a lot, but one thing remains: my sweet tooth.
Dessert cravings hit me daily, so I am constantly making healthy dessert recipes to satisfy my sweet tooth without overindulging in excess sugar and calories. That’s truly my only secret to being healthy and happy.
Who needs storebought ice cream when you’ve got homemade ice cream that tastes just as good?
Who would crave candy bars when you can make ’em at home?
Who would buy gummy bears when you can whip up a batch in your own kitchen?
Healthy Homemade Lemon Gummy Bears
Ingredients
- 1½ cups Lemon Juice (I used bottled lemon juice)
- ¾ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- ½ tsp Ground Turmeric
- 60g (6 tbs) Unflavored Gelatin
- 1 tsp Liquid Stevia Extract
- ½ tsp Lemon Flavor
Instructions
- In a nonstick saucepan, whisk together the lemon juice, applesauce, and turmeric.
- Sprinkle the gelatin on top and let sit for 5 minutes. It should absorb most of the liquid.
- Place the pan over medium-high heat. Whisk occasionally until the mixture is smooth. When the gelatin is completely melted and the mixture is hot, remove from the heat.
- Whisk in the stevia extract and lemon flavor.
- Place your gummy bear molds on a cookie sheet and then fill the molds with the gummy bear mixture. Let cool on the counter for about an hour, then place the pan in the fridge. Refrigerate until firm (I leave them overnight). Refrigerate to store. Keeps for ~3 days.
Recipe Notes
I have the same sweet tooth today as a 24-year-old as I did as a 10-year-old. I gotta eat sweets on the daily. If you’re the same way, you’ll ADORE these Healthy Homemade Lemon Gummy Bears. It’ll squash your sweet cravings without the extra calories and sugar. Now THAT is a match made in heaven for easy summer living.
Enjoy!
.
With love and good eats,
.
– Jess
.
Indulge − no strings attached!
Love the gummy bears! Love the dancing!
So cool!!
With the applesauce would this still be a Fuel Pull candy according to THM Guidelines?
I love that you used turmeric in these gummy bears to give them their color. Superfoods (super-seasonings?…) united with a tasty treat = happiness.
Hi! This looks like a cute recipe! Not sure what “Lemon Flavor” is though. Where would I find that?
Lemon flavor is like vanilla extract, only lemon! 🙂
This is the lemon flavor I used: http://amzn.to/2sbUaBg
Hey, due to an apple-allergy I have to swipe the applesauce with something else. Any suggestions?
x
I haven’t tried subbing the applesauce here but I guess you can use whatever fruit puree you like — pear sauce or peach puree could work well! 🙂
Hello, I have been trying different recipes and still trying to find one that produces a chewy / gummy consistency. So far mine have come out either too much like jello or too much of a mushy texture. How would you describe the consistency of these gummies? Any advice on making them more chewy and less like jello? Thank you!!!
Are you having issues with the jello texture with other recipes or my recipe? Because these shouldn’t be soft like jello… they obviously aren’t as gummy as the storebought kinds because those are dried and coated in wax, but I think mine are as close as you can get. The more gelatin you have, the gummier your gummies will be 🙂
Hi, Jessica! I know the Lemon Flavoring is cheap, but I was wondering if Lemon Extract might work? Thank you!
I haven’t tried it but I don’t see why not! Lemon extract is slightly stronger in flavor than lemon flavor (or at least it is to me), so I would recommend using less. Maybe 1/4 tsp? You can give the final mixture a taste and add more if you like though 🙂
Yay! I made these yesterday and ate them today. I tweaked the recipe a bit – I used hand-squeezed lemon juice and a bit less than 1/4 teaspoon because fresh lemons are very lemon-y!
They are tasty (very lemony, just a warning) and totally have the texture of a gummy! Impressive…
This makes me so happy! I’m glad you liked the dummies 🙂
Loved this recipe, and so did my 3.5 year old! Thank you!!!!
Awww thank you SO so much for making the recipe! Glad you guys liked the bears 🙂
Girl how much gelatin ? You didn’t even add that to the ingredients? What’s that measurement???
It literally says “60g (6 tbs)” in the recipe…
Pingback: 18 Healthy Back To School Recipes | Sugar Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Mine always end up with a jello texture, not gummies??? What am I doing wrong?
Thanks!
These aren’t as gummy as the storebought kinds because those are made with different ingredients, they’re dried, and coated in wax… but these definitely shouldn’t be as soft as jello. Are you using plain, unflavored gelatin? And are you cooking the stovetop mixture long enough so that the gelatin is totally absorbed?
PS: The more gelatin you have, the gummier your gummies will be… so if you want a slightly gummier texture, try adding a ½ tbs of extra gelatin 🙂
Hello, I was just wondering if you can use powdered stevia instead of liquid.
I’ve never used powdered stevia but as long as it sweetens like liquid, it should work just fine!
1 tsp of the stevia I use sweetens like 1 cup of sugar.
Hope you like the gummy bears! 🙂
Making these again … the 100th time over the last two years. Love them FOREVER!
Awwww you just made my day!! SO so glad you love the gummy bears!! You’ve officially made more batches than me and I didn’t think that was possible 😉
Pingback: 30 Minute Desserts | 30 Recipes You Can Make in 30 Minutes OR LESS!
Can’t wait to try… do you think food grade lemon essential oil could be used instead of the lemon flavouring?
Of course!! Lemon flavor is basically just lemon oil, so that would work just fine 🙂
Can I use regular applesauce instead of the unsweetened one?
Of course! 🙂
Healthy and lemony recipe! Only change I would make is to add slightly less turmeric as I thought it was a bit overpowering.