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Vegan gummy bears are a fun, fruity treat that’s surprisingly easy to make at home! With bright flavors and chewy texture, they’re the perfect plant-based snack for kids and adults alike.
Craving more vegan sweet snacks? We have so many you’ll love! Try my peanut butter bars, date bark and almond joy stuffed dates next!
One bite of these vegan gummy bears will take you right back to your childhood! They have quickly become a favorite in our house, especially with my daughter! She had so much fun helping make them, and now she asks for them all the time. Luckily, they’re quick and easy and only require 3 ingredients. Change up the fruit flavor depending on what you like best. I’ve tried pomegranate juice, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, and orange juice so far, but the options are endless!
Reasons You’ll Love These Gummies
- Wholesome & Fun: Made with simple, plant-based ingredients you can feel good about—no weird additives here!
- Kid-Approved: These are a huge hit with little ones (and grown-ups too!).
- Customizable Flavors: Switch up the juice for endless fruity combos and colors.
- Perfect Snack Anytime: Store in the fridge and enjoy a refreshing sweet bite whenever cravings hit!
Ingredients You’ll Need
These simple ingredients are all you need to make chewy, fruity vegan gummy bears at home! Each one plays an important role in getting that perfect texture and flavor just right.
- Pure Fruit Juice: Choose a juice with no added sugar for the best natural flavor—anything from apple to cherry works great.
- Agar Agar Powder: This plant-based alternative to gelatin gives the gummies their chewy texture. At the grocery store, agar-agar is typically found in the near baking ingredients like gelatin and baking powder. You can also buy it online.
- Liquid Sweetener: Optional, but adds a tasty boost of sweetness. Maple syrup, agave, or honey (if not vegan) are all great picks.
New Variations to Try
Here are some fun and easy variations to experiment with:
- Fruit combos: Mix juices like strawberry-orange or pineapple-mango for a tropical twist.
- Sour gummies: Add a bit of lemon or lime juice and dust the finished gummies with a mix of citric acid and sugar for a tangy kick.
- Vitamin boost: Stir in a powdered vitamin C supplement (as long as it’s heat-safe) for an extra health boost.
- Different sizes: You can make these in small candy molds (like pictured) or larger molds (like in the video).
How to Make Vegan Gummy Bears
These vegan gummy bears are surprisingly easy to make with just a few ingredients and a little patience. Once you’ve picked your juice, they come together in minutes. Let’s get started!
STEP #1. Simmer the ingredients – Add the juice, agar agar, and maple syrup to a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from heat. Let cool briefly, before it starts to set.
STEP #2. Add to molds – Quickly fill gummy bear molds using a dropper before the mixture sets. Chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes until firm.
STEP #3. Remove from molds – Pop gummies out of molds and store in an airtight container. For longer freshness, keep them in the fridge.
Helpful Tips
Here are some handy tips for making perfect vegan gummy bears every time:
- Work quickly: Agar agar sets fast, so pour the mixture into the molds right after cooking to avoid it hardening in the pan.
- Use a dropper: A dropper or small squeeze bottle makes it easy to fill the molds neatly and efficiently.
- Consistency: Keep in mind, the texture of this vegan version does not turn out quite as bouncy as traditional gummy bears. They’re a bit denser but still delicious and super fun!
If you try this vegan gummy bear recipe or any other recipe on Food with Feeling, don’t forget to leave a comment and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below to let others know how much you loved it. Happy cooking! And don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @foodwithfeeling!
Vegan Gummy Bears
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup pure fruit juice, get juice with no added sugar*
- 1 tablespoon agar agar powder
- ¼ cup liquid sweetener, optional but recommended, I used maple syrup but agave syrup or honey would also work well if not vegan
Instructions
- Add the juice, agar agar, and maple syrup to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Let cool for just a minute, but no longer, as it hardens quickly.
- Drip the liquid into gummy bear molds using a dropper, working quickly so the liquid doesn’t harden. Place the molds into the fridge to chill until hardened, about 20 minutes.
- Pop out of the molds and store in an air-tight container. These can be stored at room temperature, but I suggest storing them in the fridge so they stay fresh longer.
Notes
Texture: I want to stress that the texture of these gummy bears does not turn out quite as bouncy as traditional gummy bears. They’re a bit denser but still delicious and super fun!
I got about 150 traditional-sized gummy bears out of this recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
