Grape Gummies Made with Juice (Easy Recipe)
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These homemade grape gummies are a fun way to enjoy the grape harvest. You can start with fresh grapes or store bought grape juice. We’ll take you through the process step by step.
Why Make Homemade Grape Gummies?
Why take the time to make homemade gummies? One, gummies are fun to eat, and they’ll keep in the refrigerator longer than fresh fruit. (If you don’t eat them first.)
Two, I make these with gelatin from grass-fed beef, so it’s an easy way to get the family to eat more gelatin. Gelatin provides essential amino acids, and helps the body absorb calcium.
Three, have you checked the ingredients in store bought gummy candy? Here’s the ingredients list from one of the top search results for “grape gummies”:
Corn Syrup (from corn), Sugar (from beets), Water, Gelatin, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Pectin (derived from fruit), Vegetable Oil (Coconut, Canola) and Carnauba Leaf Wax (to prevent sticking), FD&C Yellow #5, Red #40, Yellow #6, Blue #1.
So we have an assortment of genetically modified ingredients with a side of artificial colors that are known carcinogens. There aren’t any grapes in those “fruit” snacks, either.
Four, you can make your gummy candy just the way you like it. From cute little gummy bears to giant gummy blocks – you choose.
Prepping the Grape Juice
If you’re buying grape juice, look for Concord grape juice for deep color and bold grape flavor. I prefer organic juice, as grapes are consistently on the Dirty Dozen list of produce.
It’s okay to start with frozen grape juice concentrate. If you mix the concentrate with less water than directed, the grape flavor will be stronger.
To use fresh grapes, there are several ways to juice them. Before you start, wash the grapes and remove any spoiled fruit. Then, pick the grapes off the stems. You need about four cups of grapes to get two cups of juice.
We dumped our grapes in a large stock pot, smashed them with a potato masher, and cooked them until soft. Then we ran them through a food strainer with a grape spiral. Cooking/heating the fruit before juicing brings out more of the color from the grape skins.
If you don’t have a food strainer, press the grapes through a fine mesh strainer, food mill, or chinois. For clear juice, simply load the cooked grapes into an old towel and hang it up to drain the juice out. (You can see an example of this in the currant jelly recipe.)
Another option is to use a commercial juicer or fruit press. These are fast and easy to use. Steam juicing is another alternative.
Making Homemade Grape Gummies
Once you have your juice ready, it’s time to make the gummies.
Ingredients
- 2 cups grape juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 6 tablespoons gelatin
- 1/4 cup honey
- freeze dried fruit powder or cornstarch, optional
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Medium bowl
- Whisk or silicon spatula
- 8×8 glass baking dish or silicon molds
Instructions
- Pour one cup of grape juice, lemon juice, and honey into a medium sauce pan. Heat gently and stir to dissolve the honey.
- In a medium bowl, add the gelatin to one cup grape juice and mix well. Let the gelatin rest for 5 minutes to give it time to bloom and absorb liquid.
- Add the gelatin mixture to the warm juice in the sauce pan, stirring until all the gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Pour the grape juice gummy mix into a baking dish or silicon molds. Chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, until the gelatin is set.
- Remove the gummy candy from the molds and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If using a baking dish, cut gummy candy into pieces.
- Optional – dust your gummies with cornstarch or arrowroot powder to prevent sticking.
Keep gummies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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Which Gelatin to Use
We use Perfect Supplements grass fed beef gelatin. It’s certified glyphosate free by the Detox Project. They also test for pesticides, hormones, chemicals, and other contaminants.
I’ve used their gelatin and collagen peptides for years, and recently joined their referral program.
Use Coupon Code “COMMONSENSE10” to get 10% off your Perfect Supplements order. You can save even more by buying in bulk. I use a couple scoops of collagen peptides in our coffee every morning, so I usually order four of those.
If you prefer to make vegan grape gummies, substitute agar agar for the gelatin.
How to Shape your Grape Gummies
The simplest option for shaping your gummies it to pour the gelatin mixture into a glass pan. Then you place the pan in the refrigerator for the gummies to set up. Once the gummies are set, cut them into squares or diamonds, or use cookie cutters to make shapes.
If you want to dress up your gummies, silicon molds are the way to go. There are standard bears and worms, plus lots of other fun shapes. The smaller molds usually come with a dropper to make it easier to fill the molds. Make sure to set your silicon mold on a pan or in a container to make it easier to move to the refrigerator.
Gummy bears and tiny gummy hearts are super cute, but I like the speed of filling the larger molds. Bigger grape gummies also give a more satisfying bite, at least to me. If the kids love gummy bears, put them to work with the dropper.
If you can’t fit all the gelatin mixture in your mold, you can chill one batch, empty the mold, and then chill another batch. You can also form the gummy candies in ice cube trays or other containers, or make a half batch.
Keeping Homemade Gummies from Sticking Together
With the gelatin I recommend in the amount I recommend, the gummies shouldn’t stick. Other brands may behave differently, and very humid conditions may cause sticking.
Dusting the gummies with a sprinkle of cornstarch is the most common option to reduce sticking. Arrowroot powder would probably work well as a grain free alternative.
PrintEasy Grape Gummies Recipe
These grape gummies are made with real and juice and take just minutes to prepare.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 20 servings 1x
- Category: snack
Ingredients
- 2 cups grape juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 6 tablespoons gelatin
- 1/4 cup honey
- cornstarch or arrowroot powder, optional
Instructions
- Pour one cup of grape juice, lemon juice, and honey into a medium sauce pan. Heat gently and stir to dissolve the honey.
- In a medium bowl, add the gelatin to one cup grape juice and mix well. Let the gelatin rest for 5 minutes to give it time to bloom and absorb liquid.
- Add the gelatin mixture to the warm juice in the sauce pan, stirring until all the gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Pour the grape juice gummy mix into a baking dish or silicon molds. Chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, until the gelatin is set.
- Remove the gummy candy from the molds and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If using a baking dish, cut gummy candy into pieces.
- Optional – dust your gummies with cornstarch or arrowroot powder to prevent sticking.
Notes
Keep gummies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should last several weeks.
More Fun Snacks
If you like fun treats made with real fruit (and veggies), check out:
This article is written by Laurie Neverman. Laurie grew up in the kitchen, learning baking and home cooking from her momma. At age 15, she and her mom and two sisters created Irene’s Custom Cakes & Catering, which was her summer job through most of high school and college.
Now she combines old and new recipes and garden fresh produce to make tasty, easy to prepare foods. Along with her passion for growing nutrient dense food, she also enjoys ancient history, adorable ducks, and lifelong learning.