Looking for a fun activity to enjoy with your children? Look no further! This easy recipe uses fruit tea to create healthy sugar-free gummies that the whole family can snack on...guilt-free.
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Sugar-Free Gummy Snacks
If you have ever picked up a packet of gummy candy in the store, you'll know that the ingredients aren't exactly great. Most gummies and jelly/jello sweets are made with sugar and additives that aren't kid-friendly (IMHO).
But, kids love gummy snacks. So, after a little bit of brainstorming and trial and error, I developed my own sugar-free gummies by using fruit tea.
The beauty of using fruit tea is that there are so many varieties, you're sure to find a few flavours that your children love.
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Gummy Bears & Worms
Only 3 simple ingredients are required for these sugar-free gummy bears - your favourite fruit tea, sweetener of choice, and gelatine.
You may wish to add some extra (natural) food colouring so the sugar-free gummies truly replicate the psychedelic gummy bears and worms available in the store.
Instructions
Brew the Fruit Tea
First, you'll need to brew the fruit tea. I make mine extremely STRONG! Fruit tea is generally a gentle flavour, but that won't cut the mustard with your kids. They will be expecting a strong flavour that packs a real punch.
Depending on the fruit tea you have chosen, you may need to use 2, or even 3 tea bags. Keep them brewing for longer than you think is necessary.
Add Gelatine and Sweetener
Sugar-free gummies require a lot of gelatine so they are strong and sturdy. No one wants a floppy gummy bear or a worm that snaps in half when you take it out the gummy bear mould.
As far as the sweetener goes, add a little bit extra than you think you may need, or a little if less you are making sour gummies. And with ALL my recipes, PLEASE taste before the final touch.
So many people write to tell me a recipe wasn't sweet enough, and this is the trickiest aspect of sugar-free recipes - because your sweet tooth will be dictated by how long you have been sugar-free.
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So in the beginning, you may require a LOT more sweetener and as time goes on, the sweetener you add will become less and less.
Fill the Droppers
After much trial and error, I have perfected the art of filling the dropper.
You don't want any bubbles at the top of the dropper. If you do have bubbles, you will end up with bubbly gummy bears and worms.
My top tip is once the dropper is empty of sugar-free gummies mixture, keep the bulb squeezed and place it straight back into the bowl and release under the surface of the sugar-free gummies mixture again to fill the dropper once more.
Fill the Gummy Moulds
Finally - begin to fill your sugar-free gummy mould. You can find gummy snack moulds on Amazon in a ton of different shapes from worms to dinosaurs!
Make a variety of colours (I chose to add a few drops of food colouring to make them truly "gummy like").
And look below where I show you how to make two-coloured gummy worms.
How To Make Two-Colour Worms
And how do you make two coloured sugar-free worms?
Simply hold two filled droppers at once, and at the same time, gently squeeze the droppers into each end of the worm mould. Voila! A psychedelic sugar-free worm.
Imagine all the colour/flavour combinations you and your children could make. Here are a few to get you started:
- Orange & strawberry
- Blood orange & lime
- Lime & raspberry
- Passionfruit & fruits of the forest
- 4 fruits & lime
Do Sugar-Free Gummies Cause Diarrhea?
I know that sounds crazy, but there's a whole review thread on Amazon about a certain brand causing diarrhoea. I know, YUK!
It's important to note that the maltitol is a sugar alcohol found in that brand's sugar-free gummy snacks. It's actually a form laxative. Worry not though, this recipe has ZERO maltitol.
So you and your family can enjoy it with no tummy issues whatsoever.
Do these need to be refrigerated?
Initially, they do need to be refrigerated so they set properly. The longer you leave them in, the more firm and sturdier they will become.
Once you take them out, I keep them in my fridge (however they don't tend to last long around here).
Sugar-Free Gummies & Parties
These sugar-free gummy bears and sugar-free gummy worms are just the ticket for a sugar-free birthday party or a sugar-free Halloween celebration.
I absolutely love cooking with my children. It is probably the single best life skill we can pass on to them. It still amazes me how many adults tell me they were never taught even the most simple of recipes. We don't want to end up outsourcing our meals to a factory by living off ready-meals.
So why not come and join my Low-Carb Lunch Box Hacks group, where we discuss what we cook with our children, how to stop them being picky eaters, and of course, how to make healthy lunchboxes. Click here to join, it's FREE.
📖 Recipe
Sugar-Free Gummies And Worms
Please rate this recipe
Recipe Video
Calculate ingredients
Ingredients
Ingredients required for each flavour tea you choose to use
- 2-3 fruit tea bags
- 250 ml (1 cup) hot water
- 3 tablespoon powdered gelatine
- 2 tablespoon granulated sweetener, of choice or more, to taste
Equipment
Instructions
For each fruit tea flavour
- In a heatproof dish or mug, add the fruit tea bags and 250ml (1 cup) hot water. Leave to brew until a very strong flavour develops.
- Remove the fruit tea bags, and whilst still hot, add the gelatine and sweetener. Stir to dissolve.
- Add food colouring (optional). Repeat the recipe for the next flavour fruit tea.
Pouring the moulds
- Gently fill the droppers (as instructed above) and begin to fill the gummy bear and worm moulds.
- Place in the fridge until set. This takes about an hour, but the longer you leave them, the more solid and sturdy they will become.
Notes
Approximate nutrition information is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. For the most accurate nutritional data, use the actual ingredients and brands you used in your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Julie
Hi Libby, I am thinking of trying to make these with electrolyte powder which has already been sweetened with Stevia (I have watermelon Ultima). Do you think I would need more sweetener or would it just taste the same as it does without the Gelatin?
Libby Jenkinson
I would suggest making a small batch and taste before setting so the sweetness may be adjusted before pouring the gelatin mix in the moulds.
Megan
Am I able to use agar agar instead of gelatine?
Thank you.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Yes, you just have to read the instructions on the brand you have bought to ensure the concentration is correct to make them set properly. If in doubt, add more agar agar than you would anticipate.
Shelby
I know nothing about tea.....Could you please give me some suggestions on what to buy?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Just choose your favourite fruit tea, and make it super STRONG so the gummies taste like the real thing. Berry tea, orange tea, raspberry tea etc.
misty Yates
I have leftovers in the bowl. Can I see and reuse for later? And if so how would I cool/reheat? Etc ..
Thanks ? to is was so much fun!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
If you have any leftover, it's best to use it on the day otherwise you will have to melt the set gelatin/gummy mix and it may not set again correctly. Why not pour it into an oiled square dish then cut it into gummy cubes? It's a quick and easy way to create more but without the fuss of pouring individual gummies. I'm so glad you like them 🙂 Perfect for Halloween that's coming up.
Gemma
Hey! I made these and the colour and consistency was great, just the flavour was a little lacking. Am I able to use a few drops of fruit flavouring used in baking? The ones I’m looking at contain alcohol, just wondering if it will affect the mixtures ability to set?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I have never tried with the alcohol-based fruit flavours, so I can't say with absolute confidence it would set. However, I am guessing it would work well for such a tiny addition. Alternatively, you could use stronger fruit teas or use more tea bags to make the fruit tea more concentrated in flavour. What be nice and subtle in a fruit tea drink, as you discovered, may perhaps be too delicate in gummy bears.
Emily
Is 3 Tbsp of gelatin equal to one of the pouches, or do I need to pour it out and measure?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
You would need to measure or read the brand that you have, as all brands vary in the size of their gelatin pouches.
Devin M
I'm having to put the gelatine in in small increments so it can be fully integrated. The tea is cooling because it's taking quite a but of time. Can it be heated up a couple times between the intervals of adding the gelatine? Thank you.
Tee
I don't make candy often so I was hesitant about this but desperate because I'm on Keto. My first attempt is in the fridge. Not sure if my liquid was not hot enough, if I poured the gelatin (I used unflavored Beef Gelatin with Collagen Protein by Principle) too fast or if there us a special trick but I had clumps of gelatin to work around. I hope the gummies are sturdy enough. Any tips for my next batch?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Always sprinkle in gelatin otherwise (as you discovered) it clumps really easily - darn it!. If it ever goes lumpy, just keep on stirring with a whisk or fork to break up the clumps, you can even microwave for a few seconds at a time to heat and dissolve the gelatin lumps.
Larue
Could you use unsweetened jello instead of gelatin
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Sure thing, I just prefer to use gelatin and the sweeteners I prefer to use (most sugar-free jello/jelly have sweeteners I avoid on a regular basis). You would have to prepare the unsweetened jello double or triple strength to ensure it sets solid like gummy bears are.
Martha
I need tips in making them Sour Gummies?
Vanessa
Is it Citric acid they use to make sherbet?
Denise
This recipe looks amazing! I want to make these for my little grand daughters when they come from Hong Kong for Christmas this year. Where can I buy the gummy bear and worm moulds in N.Z.?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I had to order mine from Amazon. They took about 3 weeks to arrive in NZ. Here is the link to the ones I bought. Gummy bears and the worms.
Denise
Thanks. I managed to find them on GRAB ONE after I wrote this query so I am ready to go now! I want to trial these ready for when my grand daughters come for the Christmas holidays.
Sarah Royce
What if the gelatin and sugar replacement doesn't dissolve? I must be doing something wrong.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Did you use hot water? What type of gelatin and sweetener did you use? The powdered form dissolves really easily.
Chanelle
Hi Libby, just wondering which sweetener you used? Was it the nativa one? Many thanks
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I have used both Natvia and Swerve. Both work well.
Stephanie
Would this recipe work with liquid stevia? Rather than granulated sweeteners
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Yes, that would work well. Remember to taste after each addition. Stevia has the tendency to leave a bitter aftertaste if you use too much, which is easy to do when you use the concentrated stevia drops.
Gemma
I made these for my kids and they loved them. They were a hit with all the adults to.
Just wondering how you store them and how long they are good for?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Yay - an excellent result! I would keep them in the fridge for 3-5 days.