Baked Goods + Desserts
Healthy Gummy Bears (4 Ways)
By katiestewartwellness · October 30, 2018 · 4 min read
Healthy Gummy Bears
I think I went a little overboard on the Halloween treats this year. #SaidNoOneEver
My fridge is packed with last week’s chocolate bars, yesterday’s nut butter cups and now these healthy gummy bears.
This recipe only needs 3 ingredients and takes about 10 minutes to make. And if you need a silicone mould to make these cute little gummy bears, I grabbed mine on Amazon.
Gut Healing Gummies
Bonus? They are great for your gut thanks to the gelatin.
Gelatin is made from cooked collagen and is sourced from animals. Fun fact: collagen is actually the most abundant protein in the human body!
The amino acids glycine and proline make up the majority of gelatin. This flavourless powder is incredibly anti-inflammatory and can help restore the gut lining (thanks to the glycine). If you’re familiar with leaky gut, it’s a great food to add to your regime.
Some other benefits of gelatin include:
- Joint and cartilage care
- Increased collagen synthesis for skin health (why I recommend it to my clients over in The Clear Skin Solution)
- Aids in building connective tissue
- May promote hair and nail growth
Always opt for a grass-fed gelatin to ensure optimal benefits. I use Great Lakes gelatin (and collagen!).
PS. If you love these gummy bears, you’ll also enjoy my Blueberry Lemon Gut Gummies! Also made with gelatin but I use whole fruit instead of juice.
Flavourtown
There are two things that make these healthy gummy bears so flavourful.
First — the juice. I prefer to use 100% pure, and preferably organic, juice that’s not from concentrate. The flavours you get are so much deeper — not to mention healthier. If you’re going the coconut cream route, make sure whichever can you get has a BPA-free liner (it will be labelled on the can).
Second — essential oils. As a Board Certified Essential Oil Practitioner (and Nutritionist), I love including essential oils in my recipes. This is totally optional, but they really take the flavour to the next level. Essential oils have actually been used as flavour agents for years. Researchers have also found them promising for food preservation!
I chose classic flavour combos like:
- Pomegranate + Cinnamon
- Grape + Lemon
- Mango + Lime
- Coconut + Wild Orange
Just one drop is all you need to flavour an entire batch of gummies!
Let’s go over a couple of fun tips for cooking with essential oils:
- Use high-quality oils that have been labelled safe for internal use (I use doterra’s – learn more here or purchase here).
- Less is more – start with a toothpick swirl for smaller recipes and adjust as needed (dip a clean toothpick in the bottle and then stir into the dish).
- Some essential oils are stronger and more potent than others (like cinnamon, oregano, and thyme). Refer back to the less is more point. 😉
- Mix them in to in a lipid, like olive oil, coconut oil, honey, or maple syrup, for easy dispersion.
- While the flavour will remain intact, the therapeutic benefits dissipate in heat. Add essential oils to stovetop recipes at the end of cooking to retain some of its benefits.
Share the Love
You guys. I LOVE seeing your creations of my recipes. Make sure to share it on Instagram and tag me in it (@katiestewartwellness).
Ingredients
Pomegrante Cinnamon Gummies:
- 2/3 cup pomegranate juice
- 2 heaping tbsp grass fed gelatin powder
- 2 tbsp raw honey or maple syrup
- ½ drop doterra cinnamon essential oil* optional
Grape Lemon Gummies:
- 2/3 cup organic grape juice
- 2 heaping tbsp grass fed gelatin powder
- 2 tbsp raw honey or maple syrup
- 1 drop doterra lemon essential oil optional
Mango Lime Gummies:
- 2/3 cup mango juice
- 2 heaping tbsp grass fed gelatin powder
- 2 tbsp raw honey or maple syrup
- 1 drop doterra lime essential oil optional
Coconut Orange Gummies:
- 2/3 cup coconut cream
- 2 heaping tbsp grass fed gelatin powder
- 2 tbsp raw honey or maple syrup
- 1 drop doterra wild orange essential oil optional
Instructions
- Place gummy bear moulds on a cutting board or baking sheet for easy transferring.
- Combine all the ingredients (except the essential oil) for desired flavour in a small pot over low heat. Stir constantly until well combined.
- Remove from heat. If using an essential oil, drop into the gelatin mixture and stir until well combined.
- Use a mini dropper to fill each bear mould.
- Place in the fridge for at least 10 minutes to cool.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Notes
