Vegan Gummy Bears (No Gelatin Gummies Recipe)

By Ela on 28. February, 2021 | 42 Comments. This post may contain affiliate links*. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

4.91 from 10 votes

How to make vegan gummy bears that are gelatin-free, using agar powder, natural flavorings, and colors! This 4-ingredient candy recipe is refined-sugar-free, gluten-free, and makes delicious natural vegan gummies, perfect for children and adults alike!

If the beginning of this year is anything to go by, then I think my sweet tooth is coming out in spades. I’ve already shared posts for vegan white chocolate, white chocolate peanut butter cups, and now this vegan gummy bears recipe.

Making these gummies at home allows you to use all-natural ingredients and any molds you like; for vegan gummy worms, gummy bears, dolphins, monkeys, sharks – you get the point! Any silicone molds you can get your hands on will work for this method.

Are Gummy Bears Vegan?

Unfortunately, most commercial gummy bears contain gelatin – which is made from ground cartilage, bones, and other areas of pigs. For vegans, that means lots of gummy sweets are definitely not vegan-friendly.

More so, many candies contain artificial colors and flavors (some of which may not be vegan) and tons of refined sugars.

This recipe, however, substitutes gelatin for vegan gelatin alternative- (seaweed-based) agar agar. The result is sweet and flavorful gelatin-free gummies. These gummies are vegetarian (vegan), gluten-free, halal, and kosher. Better than that, these vegan fruit snacks use natural fruit juice and coloring for a treat that is entirely free from refined sugars and artificial flavorings and colors.

The only difference is that, unlike with gelatin treats, these gummy bears are firm but not chewy like traditional ones. Best of all, learning how to make gummy bears with this method is so simple, you can get the whole family involved, especially kids!

Ingredients For Vegan Gummies

Agar-Agar Powder: It’s crucial to use agar powder (100% strength- any less, and you’d need to increase the amount used), not flakes. If you use flakes, you’ll need three times as much (6 teaspoons).
Fruit Juice: It’s best to use 100% fruit juice for the healthiest results. If you have a juicer, then feel free to make your own juice too. Swap out the fruit juice based on the flavor and color of gummies you want (see below for options).
Sweetener: I only used a refined-sugar-free sweetener for the orange gummy but left it out for all other versions. However, feel free to use organic sugar, Erythritol, Xylitol, or monk fruit to taste. Maple syrup or a few drops of pure stevia might work too, but I haven’t tried it.
Fruit/Superfood Powder (optional): I used a selection of different powders for color and increased vitamins and nutrients within the vegan fruit snacks. Blueberry powder and spirulina, are options I used.

The Different Colored Gummies

For the clear gummies: I used sweetened apple juice, no sweetener, and no fruit powder.
Yellow/orange gummies: I used unsweetened orange juice and 1 tablespoon of Xylitol (sugar-free sweetener).
Red gummies: I used sweetened cherry juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons of indigo blueberry powder. I didn’t use any sweetener.
Blue gummies: I used sweetened apple juice and 1 teaspoon blue spirulina powder.
Green gummies: I used sweetened apple juice and 1 teaspoon green spirulina powder (you could also use matcha powder).

For the full ingredients list, measurements, complete recipe method, and nutritional information, read the recipe card below.

How To Make Vegan Gummy Bears

Step 1: Prepare the Silicone Molds

Prepare the silicone molds and a dropper by cleaning and wiping them to ensure there’s no dust or dirt in the molds. I used these molds.

Step 2: Prepare the different flavored/colored vegan gummies

In separate bowls (per flavor/color), combine the fruit juice, agar agar powder, sweetener of choice (optional), and any extra ‘powders’ based on the color/flavor (listed above).
Whisk the mixtures well to combine thoroughly.

Step 3: Heat the agar agar gummies mixture

Transfer the mixture (only one at a time) to a pot/pan and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes, stirring frequently. This is important for the agar agar to become activated.

The mixture should become syrup-like in consistency but not quite as thick as golden syrup/honey consistency.

Step 4: Transfer to the molds and allow it to set

Using the dropper (or a small spoon if that’s all you have), fill the silicone molds with the mixture. These vegan gummies only take about 20 minutes to set at room temperature, depending on what juice you use (see notes). You could also allow the gummies to set in the fridge or freezer for some minutes – then enjoy!

How To Store?

Store the vegan gummy bears in the fridge, covered, for between 3-5 days.

Alternatively, you may be able to store them in the freezer for between 2-3 months. I haven’t tried to freeze them yet, as freezing can affect agar, though it may work.

FAQs

What Is Agar Agar Powder?

Agar-agar is a product that comes as a powder or flakes that derives from red algae. It has a natural jelly consistency that makes for a great vegan gelatin substitute when boiled.

While the comparison isn’t exact, and these vegetarian gummy bears are softer (not chewy- more like firm jello) like gelatin-based candy, it works incredibly well.

In fact, agar is very useful in tons of vegan recipes and is something I’ve used for this chocolate strawberry cheesecake, vegan flan, mango pie, or even this vegan cheese.

Can Anything Else Be Used For The Natural Colorings/Flavoring?

Yes, of course. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients for different colors and flavors of vegan gummy bears:

Orange, blueberries, kiwi, spinach, pineapple, mango, grapefruit, pomegranate, cranberry, guava, cherry, grape, etc.

You can use store-bought juice (100% natural) or use the actual fruits to create the mixture – either using a juicer or blender. When using chunky ingredients in a blender, blend them with the apple juice and strain through a sieve to remove the juice’s pulp.

What If I Don’t Have Special Molds?

No problem! You can use a silicone cake mold/baking tray or a non-flexible container lined with plastic wrap to create a narrow layer of vegan jelly, remove it from the pan and cut it into small squares/rectangles.

Recipe Notes & Variations

If the gummy bears turned out too soft, you probably used agar flakes or a brand that contains only 25% or 30% agar agar and did not increase the amount accordingly.
For a more traditional ‘coated’ gummy bear, you could optionally dust the gummies in a little granulated or powdered sweetener (sugar or sugar-free)
If you prefer firmer gummies, you can use up to 3 teaspoons of agar powder per cup of juice.
Some juices contain more acid than others. This will affect the gelling properties of the vegan gummy bears. If there is too much acid in the juice, the agar won’t set properly.
For ‘chewier’ gummies, I’ve found that the type of sugar you use can have an impact on the vegan gummies. White sugar (though not the healthiest option) yields the chewiest results. BUT note that, as previously said, these don’t have the traditional ‘gummy’ texture. I read that Kappa carrageenan can make the candy chewier, but I haven’t tried it.

Other Fruity Vegan Sweet Treats

If you give this vegan gummy bears recipe a try, I’d love a comment and ★★★★★ recipe rating below. Also, please don’t forget to tag me in re-creations on Instagram or Facebook with @elavegan and #elavegan – I love seeing them.