Sour Gummy Stars {5 Minute Prep}
I See You There
Slow-mo sliding into that kid like you’re stealing third. That’ll teach him to offer your sweet child a dose of congealed red #40, high-fructose corn syrup and modified corn starch ever again I’m sure! Now stand up missy, dust yourself off, and walk away.
OR -
If you happen to have these super easy candies on hand, simply jump back in time and hand them some to share. Because you’re not the mom who says “no,” and you’re not the mom who brings boring old carrot sticks. Nope. You’re the mom who brings yummy gummy goodness that kids are sure to love. They fact that they’re free of refined sugar and artificial dyes can be our little secret. Now fluff that cape and strut, mama, because you just averted a playground meltdown!
And While You’re At It . . .
Pop a few in your mouth too, because not only are these babies loaded with high quality protein and helpful when it comes to healing digestive disorders, they’re also rich in an essential nutrient for gorgeous skin, lustrous hair, and strong nails – collagen! The amino acids which increase your metabolism and balance your hormones? Well, they’re just the icing on top!
Big high five to Chelsey Mark, whose comment on my a thread in my Facebook page inspired this recipe. Thanks Chelsey!
Sour Gummy Stars
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons grassfed gelatin (where to buy grassfed gelatin)
- 1/3 cup lemon/lime juice (you can also use water and just add extra lemon or orange oil)
- 3 tablespoons honey (where to buy good quality honey)
- Optional – Non-toxic, vegetable-based food coloring ( I used India Tree)
- Optional – A few drops of lemon extract or food grade lemon/orange oil
Easy Peasy Instructions:
- Whisk lemon/lime juice, honey and gelatin in a sauce pan until there are no lumps.
- Heat over low heat until it’s nice and melty, stirring constantly.
- Add food coloring and/or extract if desired – you’re almost done now!
- Grab an ice cube tray or silicone mold (I don’t recommend silicone usually but since we’re not baking with it here I think it’s fine). You can use a basic pan, too, and then just cut into squares or use a cookie cutter after it’s set.
- Pour in the mixture, then pop in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to firm up. Once they’re out of the freezer they will stay firm at room temperature.
- Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Enjoy!
Looking for more kid-friendly snacks? Here are 21 ideas!
This recipe is shared at Fight Back Friday
Alison Westermann via FB
Incredible!! My daughter is obsessed with stars and we already have the mold! Thanks a million!
Nicole Rice
You are awesome! I’ve been playing around with making gummies- but looks like you nailed it
Nicole Rice´s last [type] ..Say “head cheese”
Heather
I bet you’ll come up with an awesome variation I’d never think to use – probably a kombucha version or something! When you do, I hope you’ll stop by and share it!
Terri Gano
I’m going to try this recipe using my left-over yogurt whey instead of water. I have a feeling it’s going to turn out great! Thanks for the recipe, Mommypotamus!
Holly @ Whole Sweet Home
Oooh, those look delish! I am pinning this one for the future.
Holly @ Whole Sweet Home´s last [type] ..Managing Weight With Real Food: Balancing Dietary Needs
Heather
Thanks, Holly!
Meg Bailey Gustafson via FB
Oh what great timing!! my little boy is also obsessed with stars!!
…and the color orange. AND his sweet little birthday is next week. 
can I pull it off? ha ha 
Cristy 'Fonseca' Kuyath via FB
Could I crush alfalfa supplements in this for when my son’s allergies are acting up, or will it not be effective?
Tara
Is that what you did for these shapes? Use a pan and cookie cutter? What about the star one with the lines? So cute!
Heather
Hi Tara! I don’t use silicon in my kitchen normally, but I actually bought these molds off of Amazon because I’m not baking with them. I keep them in the freezer so they’re cold when they come into contact with the warm liquid
Rachel K
I’ve been checking out different options for molds. I see plastic candy molds and the silicone molds. Do you think the silicone is better than the plastic? I know that neither one is preferred, but is there one that is better than the other?
Mommypotamus via FB
It could be, Cristy ‘Fonseca’ Kuyath, but I don’t know if you could add much without changing the texture. It’s worth a try, though!
Amanda Nordstrom via FB
Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you. My kids really enjoyed gummy candies when we weren’t on gaps and it’s so nice to have something they can have but not feel like they’re missing out!
Do you think these would work with other juices too? I have some orange juice I squeezed and froze a while back…:}
Haley Lawson Smisek via FB
Yay! With school starting up, my kids get sad that they don’t have fruit snacks in their lunch like all of the other kids. Thanks!
Yvonne
thanks! love this. my daughter will love it. just wondering if i can add the honey last, without heating it. i read that heating honey reduces the heath benefits.
Heather
I haven’t tried it, but I think it would probably work fine
Robin @ Thank Your Body
Oh yay! I can’t wait to try these! After so many weeks of little kids handing my child their fruit snacks, I can finally have something better on hand. Thank you!!!!
Robin @ Thank Your Body´s last [type] ..Genetically Modified Foods: What you need to know
Heather
Awww, this makes me smile! Hope your littles like them as much as mine do. I almost didn’t get a photo for this post because they kept swiping them!
Mommypotamus via FB
Amanda Nordstrom – I’m not sure why, but I believe orange juice doesn’t “set up” the gelatin like other juices. You could try freshly pressed apple (I’d avoid store bought juices if possible), but then you’d probably want to leave out the honey so it wouldn’t be too sweet
Bethany
You can use lemon juice like the regular recipe, but add a 1/2 tsp of orange extract. Tastes just like a sour orange-flavored candy!
Heather
Yum! Thanks for the tip, Bethany!
Charity
I thought I’d give the OJ a shot and it worked great. There wasn’t a ton of flavor, so I added 2 drops orange oil and they are delicious! Thanks
Heather
We add orange oil too sometimes! It’s my husband’s favorite
Shalonne
Looks great! Do they need to be kept in the fridge or freezer after making them to stay firm?
Heather
Great question! Once they firm up they’re just like gummy bears or gummy worms. Thanks for asking – I’m going to add this to the post!
Denise
Sounds great! Really want to try this!
What is your source for grassfed gelatin?
Heather
Hi Denise! I use Great Lakes or Bernard Jensen
Cristy 'Fonseca' Kuyath via FB
Good point about the texture. My little “prince and the pea” can normally tell when I crush them and try to hide them…any ideas on how to get a three year old to take his supplements? I’m all out of ideas!
Hilary
Crush them into a fine powder (really fine, no chunks at all) and blend this into a smoothie.
Carrie
could you use a different juice for flavoring?
Heather
Hi Carrie! You certainly can, though I would recommend only using freshly pressed juices that have all their enzymes and nutrients intact. More on the problems with store bought juice can be found in these articles:
High Levels of Arsenic Found In Fruit Juice
The Secret Ingredient In Your Orange Juice
Leah
Certain raw juices have enzymes that will break down the protein in gelatin, turning it back into liquid. That is why you can put canned pineapple into the traditional Jell-O mold, but not fresh pineapple. The enzymes may be good for us, but not always good for the gummies!
Lindsey Gremont
Yum! I am so happy you posted this today! I am going to add these to this yummy ice cream recipe because my daughter always talked about adding gummies to her ice cream and I have never been able to give that to her! http://homemademommy.blogspot.com/2012/08/real-milk-ice-cream-vanilla.html
Lindsey Gremont´s last [type] ..What we ate today – 8/22/12
Aaron
This article implies that gelatin is a good source of protein. This is false.
“Although gelatin is 98–99% protein by dry weight, the body cannot readily use it.
Gelatin is unusually high in the non-essential amino acids glycine and proline, (i.e., those produced by the human body), while lacking certain essential amino acids (i.e., those not produced by the human body). Gelatin is one of the few foods that cause a net loss of protein if eaten exclusively. It contains no tryptophan and is deficient in isoleucine, threonine, and methionine. Several people died of malnutrition in the 1970s while on popular ‘liquid protein’ diets.”
Heather
That’s a good point, Aaron. I am not recommending that anyone eat gelatin exclusively. However, I disagree that gelatin is not readily used by the body, and I think overall our culture is deficient in gelatin. Here’s an excerpt from an article on the subject. Though I don’t agree with everything she says, I think she makes some pretty good points here:
“You know how, over the past century or so, we’ve skewed our fatty acid intake by eating less animal fat and more vegetable oils, so that we’re getting way too many omega-6 fatty acids and not enough omega-3s, too many unsaturates and not enough saturates? In exactly the same way, we have been skewing our balance of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Gelatin-rich foods, from bone broths to head cheese to foods like pig’s feet and ox tails, were a large part of a traditional diet Our ancestors relished every part of the animal, and just as they ate organ meats that most modern Americans now spurn, they also ate all the gelatin-rich bony and cartilaginous bits of the animal. In this modern era of muscle meat and little but muscle meat — think boneless skinless chicken breast — much of this gelatin has vanished from the diet, but our bodies’ need for it has not.
In part, Dr. Peat says that while collagen makes up about 50% of the protein in animals, the quantity in the muscle meats is considerably lower. Since collagen has a different amino acid profile than muscle meats — no tryptophan or cysteine, but a great deal of glycine and proline — lowering our intake of gelatin and raising our intake of low-collagen muscle meats has changed the amino acid profile of the common diet. He further states:
Although Clive McKay’s studies of life extension through caloric restriction were done in the 1930s, only a few studies have been done to find out which nutrients’ restriction contributes most to extending the life span. Restricting toxic heavy metals, without restricting calories, produces about the same life-extending effect as caloric restriction. Restricting only tryptophan, or only cysteine, produces a greater extension of the life span than achieved in most of the studies of caloric restriction. How great would be the life-span extension if both tryptophan and cysteine were restricted at the same time?
Both tryptophan and cysteine inhibit thyroid function and mitochondrial energy production, and have other effects that decrease the ability to withstand stress. Tryptophan is the precursor to serotonin, which causes inflammation, immunodepression, and generally the same changes seen in aging. Histidine is another amino acid precursor to a mediator of inflammation, histamine; would the restriction of histidine in the diet have a longevity promoting effect, too?
It happens that gelatin is a protein which contains no tryptophan, and only small amounts of cysteine, methionine, and histidine. Using gelatin as a major dietary protein is an easy way to restrict the amino acids that are associated with many of the problems of aging.
Did you get all that? Looks like this says that one of the charges against a meat-heavy diet — that it can shorten lifespan and increase inflammation — can be true if one constructs the protein part of one’s diet largely of muscle meats and other collagen-poor proteins.
Gelatin, on the other hand, with its glycine and proline, apparently does everything from reducing susceptibility to stress, to fighting tumors, to soothing the intestinal tract, to improving thyroid function.”
~Kate F.
Great answer! I just love it.
…and of course..I had to comment because I think the recipe is brilliant! I need to stop eating chocolate candies, get more gelatin in my diet, and have some safe candy for the kids. Triple score!
Robyn
YES! My little one is diagnosed with methylmalonic acidemia and cannot process methionine, threonine, isoleucine, and valine. Those four Amino Acids must be limited. So maybe I can feed her foods containing gelatin without ill-effect. Thank you. Aaron, could you please post your source for this quote so I can look into it some more?
Amy Rhodes McClellan via FB
Is the lime/lemon juice just that. . .juice from the fruit? Or do you mean lime/lemon juice as in prepared lemonade or limeade?
Alana
I’m sure she meant fresh squeezed juice – right from the fruit itself.
Alana´s last [type] ..How Can I Help?
Amber
What brand of gelatin do you use?
Thank you
Amber´s last [type] ..one, One, ONE!!!
Amber
Found the answer above in the comments
Thanks
Michelle Chen Lynch via FB
Thank you! I’ve been wondering how to do this for a while with real ingredients. So excited! Is this ok for GAPS too? Seems like it would be except not on intro
Mommypotamus via FB
Yes, Amy Rhodes McClellan, it’s just juice from the fruit. No fancy shmancy stuff here
Mommypotamus via FB
It’s definitely GAPS-friendly, Michelle Chen Lynch! Not on intro like you said, of course, but it’s fine for those on full GAPS
SlightlySteady via FB
Perfect!!! I need to make these, like, NOW!!!
AshleyRoz
Would stevia extract work or does the honey help the texture?
Heather
I think it would probably work, but you might need to increase your juice content by a couple of tablespoons to keep it from becoming too rubbery.
Jennifer @ 20 something allergies and counting...down
LOVE THIS! I’m going to make kombucha and elderberry versions this week.
Jennifer @ 20 something allergies and counting…down´s last [type] ..Detox Baths: Recipes to Calm the Inner Beast and Whiny Children
Amy Rhodes McClellan via FB
Ok, one more question. . .have you tried these with fruit puree instead of just juice from fruit?
Erica
Heather, did you mention where you ordered the food coloring from? I’ve got to get my hands on that stuff!
Heather
I bought mine at Whole Foods, but you can also get it on Amazon
Mommypotamus via FB
Amy Rhodes McClellan – I haven’t, but if you do please let me know how they turn out!
Oh Lardy
Oh my gosh, I am trying these today. Or, perhaps tomorrow. I need to hunt down a lemon. My kids will love these. Thank you!
Amy Love @ Real Food Whole Health
I love the shapes!! We’ve been making something similar with a few drops of beet juice for color, but they’ve been in ice cube style trays- I didn’t even think of molds, lol! I was trying to figure out the cookie cutter issue and now I don’t have to!
My GAPS clients will love this!
Amy Love @ Real Food Whole Health´s last [type] ..Fresh Bites Friday August 17, 2012
Rachel Bayes via FB
I can’t wait to try these!!! I’m going to make them this afternoon! Thank you so much!!!
Lindsey Stock via FB
Where do we get the grassfed gelatin?
Angelo Castiglione via FB
Hi Heather, is the honey a must, or is there an alternative like stevia?
Thia Hall via FB
ohhhhhh, Yessssssssssssss! Thanks!
Susan Quirk via FB
Just made these and my boys love them! We make ‘jigglers’ lots but these are even better. I’m going to try cherry next…oh, and I put a picture of them on my page and shared your post!
Susan Quirk via FB
Thanks so much Mommypotamus!
Mommypotamus via FB
Lindsey Stock – I order mine from Amazon. Great Lakes (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ELLBJS/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001ELLBJS&linkCode=as2&tag=mommypotamus-20) and Bernard Jensen (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00014EO2A/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00014EO2A&linkCode=as2&tag=mommypotamus-20) are both good brands recommended by the Weston A. Price Foundation
Bethany
I made these with maple syrup (we were out of honey) and everyone but my super-picky brother with food aversions loved them. Next I will experiment with adding flavor extracts, such as orange or lemon. If someone makes a kombucha version, certainly I would try it, but then my sister wouldn’t touch them.
Mommypotamus via FB
Angelo Castiglione – I haven’t tried it with stevia but I think it would work fine. You might want to add a couple extra tablespoons of water/juice to the mixture so final product isn’t too rubbery, though!
Mommypotamus via FB
SO GLAD you liked them, Susan Quirk!
Keith Raymond Shelton via FB
I guess I’m clueless, but I didn’t see how to make the summy starts when I opened your link. DonnaL.
Julie Harding
Thanks! I’m so excited to try this! I attempted gummies several years ago, but I just ended up w/ a giant blob on my counter that never firmed up. You use a LOT of gelatin – maybe I just needed more.
Mommypotamus via FB
Sorry, Keith Raymond Shelton! Maybe try reopening and see if you can scroll all the way to the bottom? It should be there . . .
Erin Bryant
Thank You!!! We needed something like this…(egg, dairy, wheat free) We are also sugar free, so we used stevia and a little more liquid to compensate. I also cannot use lemon or lime, but I had some grapefruit and a tangerine on hand, those worked great! It’s nice to be able to make something fun for the kids without it being so much trouble:)
Brianne Menges via FB
For the record, I am not a mother and am crazy excited for this recipe!! I’ll be buying some lemons the next time I’m at the store…
Rachel Bayes via FB
I made them! They are amazing!!!!! I made one batch with camu camu berry powder to add a punch of vitamin C as well! Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe! My children love them!
Joy
Why don’t you use silicone? You should do a post on this!
Heather
It may be fine, but there are concerns that it leaches, especially when heated. The FDA approved it without doing much research so I just avoid it
Loriel
I can not wait to try these!!
Mommypotamus via FB
Ahhh, so glad you liked them Rachel Bayes!
Timna Harper via FB
just made these – thank you! I was missing sour candy.
I’ve only dabbled in candy making. Is there a trick to no getting bubbles on top? The mold side looks perfect. Bubbles or not — they are easy and delicious. Big thanks!
Mommypotamus via FB
Mine always have bubbles, Timna Harper! I like to think of them as sparkly edible glitter
Robyn
Quick question, how many molds does one batch fill? I am trying to decide if I need the whole set of three or if one would suffice. Thank you!
Heather
Hi Robyn! I usually only fill each star halfway because I like thinner candies, so I use 2-3 molds each time
Shelley Belcourt
Tyank you for this recipe.
You must’ve read my mind… My boys were asking me for this just a couple of days ago
You mentioned the enzymes in fresh juice/ fruit possibly inhibiting the gel setting but the lemon juice is ok.
Am wondering if anyone has tried adding blended blueberries. I don’t have any colouring and thought this might be worth a try
Thank you
Shelley
Shelley Belcourt´s last [type] ..Feeding The Parking Meter Technique – How to get the best out of your time with your kids, and still get things done
Heather
Apparently someone tried it with orange juice and it didn’t inhibit the gel – yay! I think blueberries would probably work well!
Mellanie
I <3 you Heather! Fruit snacks have been one of Bekah's guilty pleasures. I can't wait to try these! Love the idea that one of the commenters had about trying it with elderberry too!
Heather
I love you Mellanie, and you know why!!
Eponbak
Thank you for this recipe! Big hit with my almost 3-year old. You hit the nail on the head about being the mommy trying to bring carrot sticks to the playground/play dates!
This will be a much bigger hit. I didn’t have any coloring to add, but the lemon juice made a nice golden yellow colored candy.
Heather
I think the yellow is pretty, too! We leave ours plain most of the time, but when I’m taking them to playdates where brightly colored treats are going to be offered I had the coloring
Diane
Or . . you could puree or juice the carrot sticks, add gelatin and Voila! – Carrot Stars. Experiment with seasonings, honey, celery juice or other additions, and see what you like best. If you can juice it – you can make it into Jelly Stars. If you have a dog, he will love chicken broth stars – made the same way, but with broth instead of juice and honey.
Amanda Nordstrom
Made these today with orange juice I had squeezed and stuck in the freezer a couple of months back. I found a princess castle mold and robots mold at TJMaxx and my kids are really excited! They get to try one today and then have them when they need something for a treat when other people have stuff they can’t eat! Thank you SO much for posting this!
Heather
Ahhh, that’s fantastic! I didn’t realize it would work with OJ but that’s great to know!
Shelley Belcourt
Heather – I am so happy with you!! I made these this morning and we all loved them! I was so excited that I even created a blog post – of course I credited you
Am going to try next time with the blueberries – was wanting to follow the recipe for the first try
Thank you so much
Shelley
Shelley Belcourt´s last [type] ..Gummy Bears – GAPS/SCD/Paleo friendly
Weekend Link Love - Edition 204 | Mark's Daily Apple
[...] Sauerkraut is dangerous stuff. [...]
Gift
This seriously looks awesome!!!! Now I can eat gummy again, not having to worry about crap they put in it and all
Thanks!
Gift´s last [type] ..Shopping Healthy on a Budget
Heather
You’re so welcome! I hope you like them as much as we do!
Kelly Phillipson
Heather these are so awesome!! I am ultra-lazy & tried the recipe with whey instead of the lemon/lime juice. I have no idea if it changed texture or anything, but my kids are asking for more!! Our local honey is pretty flavorful, so it may be cutting the whey taste, although my son did ask if I made these with kefir grains
As a side note, we’ve been making fudge pops 1-2x per week since you posted the recipe 
Emily Woodall
Hmm, I bet tart cherry juice would be yummy, too…
Sara
Wow, these turned out so wonderful. I substituted cherry juice for lemon and it was so yummy. This is giving me ideas for so many more kinds. Thanks so much! The picture is beautiful as well.
Missina
I tried these today using blueberry kombucha. I added half the kombucha and warmed it with the honey and gelatin, and added the other half when it was cooler so as to keep some probiotic element to it. I added some drops of lemon too. They have been in the freezer for over an hour and still haven’t set properly. They are just gloopy and taste like straight honey. Total fail
Will have to try juice 
But I’m not sure about the honey. It seems so strong in the outcome. I think I’ll only use a teaspoon of honey and then some stevia.
Jennifer
A-ha! Now I can try to replicate the CLO gummy fish that Blue Ice is no longer making. It’s the only way i can get CLO into my offspring.
Heather
Ahhh, that is an amazing idea Jennifer! It might take some work to figure out how to keep from cooking the FCLO but I’m sure it’s doable!
Interview with Heather Dessinger (and Cracker Recipe) | Too Many Jars in My Kitchen!
[...] custard, butter, bacon, grass-fed pot roast, raw goat cheese with raisins and honey, and homemade sour gummy stars made with grass-fed [...]
Chris
You saved me. I have been craving gummies but couldn’t have them due to massive guilt, (also Paleo) and now I can! WOO!
Chris´s last [type] ..Amazing Doctor Cures Her MS…With Food!
Heather
It’s a great day when I get a WOO! in the comments. Thank you, Chris, and I hope you like them as much as we do!
Jennie
These are awesome, thanks for the idea. why dont you cook with silicone. We dont use it, but I was looking for info on why we shouldnt.
Heather
Hi Jennie! It may be fine, but there are concerns that it leaches, especially when heated. The FDA approved it without doing much research so I just avoid it
CrossFit 312 » Blog Archive » 08.29.13
[...] article: can your food make you fit? recipe: homemade gummy stars [...]
Leftover Lemon Peels? Make Make A Skin Brightening Scrub, Gourmet Infusion And More! « The Mommypotamus The Mommypotamus
[...] then, take the lemon peels left over from your newfound gummy star addiction and whip up a skin brightening scrub, gourmet oil infusion, lustre boosting furniture polish or [...]
Shalonne
Made these today – followed recipe exactly and they came out great! We did three batches – one batch doesn’t seem to make much. The kids had a fun time doing it too. Looking forward to variations. Would LOVE to find a way to get the FCLO into these!!!!
emily woodall
These are SO MUCH FUN!!! Made a batch today. They were super easy! I babysat a little girl for months and she brought her own breakfast/lunch/snacks. Every day she brought, among many other very unhealthy, but visually appealing things, gummies. Bright, colorful little jewels that my 3 dear children stared longingly at, knowing their mother would never-in-a-miliion-years let them have the little packages of chewy sweetness. They would excitedly ask her each day, “what kind of gummies do you have today?! Phineas and Ferb?! Jake and the Neverland Pirates?!”. And, then, they would turn their attention to the home-made dehydrated fruit their momma had made for them. They know we eat different…and they are mostly ok with that. But, today. Today, I presented them with glorious fun shapes of lemon-lime sour gummy candy. “GUMMIES!!!”, they squealed. It was awesome. And, they taste awesome, too. THANK YOU! Thank you! Thank you. For Real!
Heather
Oh my goodness, this is one of my favorite comments OF. ALL. TIME. Yay for gummies!
Kristen M
I made these today and they were pretty good. I made sour ones and sweeter ones using berry kvass instead of lemon juice. My 3 year old didn’t care for them, but I think I’ll try again with some strawberry extract (strawberry is her favorite). She sure did like playing with them though lol. Mine didn’t turn out pretty and translucent like your picture; they are definitely opaque. I used the Great Lakes brand gelatin and raw honey. Maybe I need to heat longer? Any ideas?
Heather
I’m not sure, Kristen! I think it probably has to do with the fact that I started with a light color (from the lemon juice) and just added a few drops of natural coloring.
Alicia
Mine are in the freezer now and my mixture was opaque with just the juice and (Great Lakes) gelatin before I added honey and coloring. I couldn’t figure out why either, but definitely not clear!
What we ate today – 8/28/12 « Homemade Mommy
[...] DD: black bean taco on corn with raw gouda, guacamole with kefir cheese, carrots, homemade gummy me: black beans, guacamole, shredded chicken, pickled [...]
August Link Love
[...] also made these awesome homemade sour gummies. Can I tell you how excited I am to have a fruit snack that I feel good about giving my little [...]
luckygagal
These are GREAT for the Feingold Program (www.feingold.org) which is a non-profit organization that teaches us to avoid petrochemical additives. Thanks for posting this!
Heather
You’re so welcome!
Ana
This is very nice and probably it’s possible to make them with the vegan alternative to gelly powder: Agar agar!
I’m going to save this recipe 
Joy
Where could I get grassfed gelatin? Thanks.
Heather
Hi Joy! I use Great Lakes or Bernard Jensen
Hi Denise! I use Great Lakes or Bernard Jensen 
Rachel
Just made these with my 4 year old… tasty and fun! we cut them up, but I will definitely use molds next time. Thanks for this great idea!
Heather
So glad you liked them, Rachel! I have a four year old too and I love making these with her. Easy, quick and not much to clean up afterwards, but she still gets the experience of working a recipe from beginning to end
A Love Story: August | Honest to Goodness Living
[...] of 100% grass-fed, unflavored gelatin in so I can try my hand at making homemade marshmallows and these gummies – So excited to finally have a few better-for-you “junk” food items back around [...]
Links I Loved in August | Butter Believer
[...] Sour gummy stars. Made with grass-fed gelatin, this is a homemade candy you can feel good about giving to your family! [...]
Michelle @ Find Your Balance
Been making these all week, trying different variations and enjoying every fun bite. Thank you!
Michelle @ Find Your Balance´s last [type] ..Reinvent Yourself: 21 Day Detox for Fall 2012
Heather
So glad to hear that, Michelle! I’d love to know about any combos you come up with that you really love!
Linky Links: August 2012 | OUR NOURISHING ROOTS
[...] is telling me to eat more grass-fed gelatin, because look at these two great recipes I came across: how to make gummy stars and how to make healthy jello! Plus, it’s still hot here in Arizona, so these cool treats [...]
Weekend Paleo Jabber: Typical eats, Sauerkraut, Paleo Bread, Gummy and Lost Art of Play - Clumsy Warrior
[...] Sour star gummy recipe. The recipe is very simple (5 mins prep) , and very few ingredients. Just gelatin, acid juice and (optional) sweetener [...]
Sandrine Hahn
Thanks so much for this, Heather — shared: https://www.facebook.com/nourishingourchildren/posts/111874628962247
The Secret Ingredient You Need to Battle Stretch Marks & Have Glowing Skin | Honest to Goodness Living
[...] adapted from Mommypotamus’ recipe [...]
Kim
I’m not a kid, but I love these. I’ve been looking for a way to get more gelatin in my diet (i’m glycine deficient) and these are perfect. Thank you!
Marisa
These are great!!! My new favorite.
Maggie
Thank you thank you thank you! I have tried several homemade gummy recipes, but they always come out like really hard jello, which does not fool my 5 year old. Today we made these together, beginning to end, he got to do all the stirring and “dumping,” and the only thing better than the making was the eating (it helps that he’s a huge fan of lemon and other tart foods). I am in for every variation on this page and more! I think I’ll work on cranberry ones for him as well.
Lauding the values of imperfection in parents and other parenting linky love
[...] Easy gummy treats! (Mommypotamus) [...]
Leah
I finally got around to making these today and my goodness! My almost 3 year old would like you to know she LOVES them. My husband made a funny pucker face that was pretty cute as well. Thank you so much !
Heather
Yay! There’s nothing I like more than winning over a three year old!
CSA Box: Week 13
[...] crisp, but I just didn’t really feel like it. Finally, inspiration struck in the form of this gummy recipe from the Mommypotamus. I’d been dying to try out the recipe ever since my gelatin arrived in the mail but I [...]
Groceries | real foodie charlie
[...] organic gelatin (because I want to make Sour Gummy Stars) [...]
Do you Take a Supplement for Joint/Soft Tissue Support? Ditch it for JELLO! « Amberwood Terrace Chiropractic
[...] Gelatin is that substance that makes jello. It comes from the joint and tendinous material in an animal carcass. Therefore, when you slowly heat bones and joints over a period of time, gelatin goes into the liquid, which you ultimately render for broths, stocks, and soups. When someone isolates this stuff and dehydrates it, they are making gelatin that you can find on a shelf. This is the very stuff that makes JELLO. This substance is amazing for tissue healing, joint health, and intestinal lining integrity. I have never purchased any until recently because I get gelatin in my stocks, and I am always skeptical of anything that is processed. Many gelatins are flavored, come from grain fed cows, and are terribly unhealthy. However, I have been searching for an alternative for patients that will support their joint and soft tissue health WITHOUT taking a glucosamine supplement. Ideally, they would all make their own stocks at home and consume them daily. I’m trying to be realistic here. So, I found a gelatin on amazon (Great Lakes brand) that is unflavored, comes from grassfed cows, and is completely safe to consume. When I got it in the mail, I began experimenting with it because I had never used it before. I made sour patch kids-ish gummy treats that were quite tasty! I used this blog post to create them, and if I had kids, I’d be making these all the time! http://www.mommypotamus.com/homemade-gummy-stars/ [...]
ion freeman
I used an ounce (4 packets) of store-bought gelatin on the theory that a tablespoon was half an ounce. It was way too much. My 2 1/2 year-old enjoyed making them with me and running around with them, but they had the consistency of a pig knuckle. Would one packet be enough?
Heather
Hi Ion, I believe you’d need only 3 packets, but the best thing to do would be to pour the packets into a tablespoon and measure as you go.
Charlene
I just made these! There still in the freezer, but I already know they’re delicious because I licked the spoon I stirred with
Heather
Yay! Enjoy!
Marijo
I made these, and they were a hit. Next time, however, I will definitely add the extra pucker power (which I omitted this time). But, I left them out, and they have turned too hard and dry to eat. Any ideas for resurrecting them?
Sarah
I’ve tried these with fresh squeezed lemon and orange juice and both worked great and were delicious. I went ahead and zested both fruits and added the zest for a little extra flavor and these are soooo good and fun to make. I think I may have a new gelatin-cooking addiction.
They have some pumpkin and skull-shaped molds at Dollar Tree right now…
Thanks for the great idea!
Sarah
Oh, and I find that two packets of the Knox per 1/3 cup of juice is about right. 3 tablespoons of Knox is too much. Haven’t tried one packet yet cause I’m off to find some grass-fed stuff. Marshmallows, jello, jelly candies, what else can you do with gelatin?
Thanks again!
Jennifer Black
Can you double or triple the recipe to make more? When following the recipe, it looks like I got 4 1inch squares out of it.
And I must try Kombucha!
Thanks!
Heather
Yes can double/triple it. I am right now!
Summer
So I tried making these with lemon first, but Great lakes gelatin is a bit stinky when wet, and I think I burned it a bit, then stuck in the freezer. They ended up tasting like freezer and sour-sweet gelatin stink. I have since tried it with strained blackberries and then raspberry juice. Both were delicious! I haven’t quite gotten that gummy bear consistency, though. Just a couple of things I learned: If possible, let the gelatin “bloom,” no reason to let it boil, and for setting, let it first rest on the counter, then cover with something (to avoid freezer/fridge smell), then chill. The raspberry was especially good!
Real Food Link Love: September 2012
[...] just in case you haven’t seen this recipe for homemade sour gummies, oh my gosh…these are amazing! I’ve made these at least six times in the last few weeks. [...]
Kaymer
Thanks for this recipe! I love them. I think they will be perfect for getting more calories into me when I am too sick to eat regular food due to chemotherapy treatments. I am diabetic and can have some honey, but will try half honey with some stevia to keep the glycemic factor a little lower. I am also going to try some additional juice to see if they become “jigglers”. I got the Great Lakes gelatin at “Natural Grocers” for about $15. I continue to be more and more amazed at what the food industry is trying to pass off as food. . . . thanks for helping us eat without giving in to their cr*p. Tell people that eating right, though expensive compared to eating SAD junk, is WAY cheaper then chemotherapy!
I wish I knew better 30 years ago.
Kaymer
“than” not “then chemotherapy”
Recipe: Homemade healthy fruit snacks
[...] too long ago, Heather (aka: The Mommypotamus) posted a gem of a recipe for easy sour gummies. I made them. I loved them. And have since been inspired to create my own version of healthy fruit [...]
How to Use Stevia and How to Substitute Stevia for Honey
[...] no-bake recipes that you can easily taste before completing, such as homemade chocolates, ice cream, gummy candies, salad dressing, and no-bake cookies. Add a little bit of stevia to replace some of the sweetener, [...]
JuJu
So I tried these today and they were firm and just the right amount of sour, but they were very sticky! So I read on another website to sprinkle a bit of cornstarch on them so they dont stick. It worked, but it gave it a different taste. It’s not horribly bad, but I wish I didnt have to use the cornstarch. Any suggestions for the stickiness? Thanks for the sharing btw!
JuJu´s last [type] ..Talamo the Cat
Leah
so I think this is my 3rd post for this… they are just so fun.. we keep making them and trying new flavor combos. we’ve done apple cinnamon, sour grape, sour blueberry, blueberry, sour cherry and of course lemon and lime. the blueberry and cherry ones have really pretty colors without any added dyes and they taste so yummy. sour blueberry is a house favorite.
Jill
I tried these per the recipe, using 3 packets of Knox gelatin (each packet measured out to be a tablespoon). I agree with the person above who said 3 packets is too much. I”ll try again with two and see if that helps. Also, they were incredibly sticky, and near impossible to get out of the ice cube tray whole. I’ll see if those two things are helped by using less gelatin. They were tasty.
Jill´s last [type] ..Curried Chicken Salad
Heather
Hmm, I really can’t figure out why they would be sticky. We make them all the time and they always turn out the same – maybe the brand of gelatin makes a difference? I can’t imagine it would be that but this is just such a mystery to me!
Laura M.
Another big fan of these! I’m not a mom yet, they were for me.
Yummy in mah tummy! I am using this as a gateway drug to bone broth. Thanks for such an easy, wonderful recipe!
Heather
Lol, Laura! So glad you liked them!
Tammy
I was wondering if you add the oil at the beginning of the recipe. Also, if you wanted to put it on a sheet to set up, does it need parchment paper (or something) to keep it from sticking? I’m very excited
Heather
I would definitely use parchment paper! And oops! I didn’t realize I didn’t specify about the extracts – they’d go in after the mixture is heated when you’re just about to pour.
Tammy
Mine’s more like like flubber. Definitely not clear, but foamy and too much for little mouths to chew. Tastes ok.n Anybody have any thoughts?
Week 7 » Lodi Chiropractic Chiropractor Marcia Schaefer Spring Creek Family Chiropractic LLC. 602 Corner St Lodi, WI 53555. 608-592-2763 | Lodi Chiropractic Chiropractor Marcia Schaefer Spring Creek Family Chiropractic LLC. 602 Corner St Lodi, WI 535
[...] by this recipe from [...]
Jesse M
Just made these and they are in the freezer, cannot wait to share them with the kids tomorrow!! They will be SOO excited
Mimi
Thanks so much for the recipe. To be honest, I didn’t think this recipe would work for me but it did. I thought for sure my local Whole Foods Market would have the bovine gelatin but they did not. I was too impatient to order from Amazon but was able to find some of the Bernard Jensen brand at the Vitamin Shoppe. I am going to experiment with other flavors. Oh, I’ve made these twice and both times ended up with a bit of foam at the top. Am I overheating the mixture?
Mimi
Replying to my post to add that I tried making ginger lemon ones by simmering some sliced peeled ginger in water and using a mixture of half ginger water + half lemon juice plus the gelatin and honey. So far this is my kids’ favorite flavor. Also tried cinnamon by simmering cinnamon sticks in water. I am going to try coffee next!
Gummy snacks without the corn syrup | Primal Yum
[...] original recipe [...]
Jenn V.
Thank you for this recipe, we all love it. However, I’ve made four batches now and they are all cloudy. Anyone else noticed this? I just noticed my Great Lakes gelatine is porcine and not beef – could that be why?
za
mine is cloudy too, and wondering if my technique is off. i use beef gelatin.
Top 10 Posts Of 2012 « The Mommypotamus The Mommypotamus
[...] [...]
Meal Plan Monday #28 | Modern Alternative Kitchen
[...] butter snacks throughout the day: banana, pomegranate, shrimp, cheese, homemade fudge drops and gummy stars. Sunday the 13th breakfast: chicken sausages sauted in butter, orange wedges lunch: leftover [...]
Kris
Just made these and they are delish! Thanks!
Beverly
You are amazing! Thanks so much!
Christina Smith
I just got my order of gelatin and it looks as though I ordered Great Lakes Porcine Gelatin! Whoops! Think it’s just as good quality and won’t change the flavor?
Heather
Yes, I think so. I use them interchangeably
The Utimate Real Food Guide To Super Bowl Parties « The Mommypotamus
[...] Get the recipe here [...]
Marshmallow Popcorn Balls « The Mommypotamus
[...] batch finely chopped gummy stars. See below for recipe modification [...]
Valentine’s Day Goody Round-Up « Corn Free Lifestyle
[...] Homemade Gummy Snacks (use a heart shaped mold!) from Mommypotamous [...]
Anna D
This sounds soo cool, I wonder though how much gelatin is in weight because here in UK we have thin sheets and those are not easy transformed into spoons, thanks!
Anna D
wonder if it’s ok to post this on my blog but in Russian?
Thanks
Anna D´s last [type] ..Sauerkraut
DIY Gummies | My Delicious Life
[...] found this awesome recipe from Heather at Mommypotamus. It seemed she had figured out the conundrum. She used lemon and lime juice in her recipe, [...]
What’s So Bad About Gummy Candy? « Pickle Me Too
[...] rather than buy these for yourself or your children, try making them. These Gummy Stars from Mommypotamus. Seriously, they only take 5 mins to put [...]
Jennifer
What do you think about making these with kombucha? Will heating kill off all of the good probiotics?
Heather
I think heating at low temps would probably leave a lot of the good bacteria intact
Paula
I am going to add fermented cod liver oil to this recipe to see if that helps my toddler start taking it again.
Sour Gummy Stars {5 Minute Prep}
[...] WOW! I can’t believe these only take 5 minutes! My kids will LOVE these You can find complete instructions over at The Mommypotamus. [...]
Janette
I just wanted you to know, I just made these with Blood orange and Cara Cara orange juice I squeezed. The color is beautiful and I only used 2 TBS Raw honey. I don’t have any children at home, but I don’t think I can keep my hands off of them
Thank you so much for a alternative way to get my gelatin in!!
Mindy
LOVE these! They came out so great and I followed the recipe exactly and used Indian Tree food coloring. I am definitely going to make these again and try out some of the oil flavorings.
Victoria
This recipe turned out awesome but how do you get past the dead cow hide smell/taste from the gelatin? I am using Great Lakes kosher beef gelatin
Heather
I haven’t noticed what you’re describing . . . maybe use more lemon or orange oil?
Becky
What brand of grass fed gelatin do you use?
Thanks
Heather
I use Great Lakes or Bernard Jensen
Some Eco-Friendly Ideas for Putting the Green Back in Easter - Eco-Mothering
[...] Avoid candy that comes with excess packaging. (Does that chocolate egg really need to be wrapped in foil and protected by a cardboard box?) Check out Natural Candy Store who offers gluten-free and peanut-free treats along with some organic and fair trade chocolate. Or make your own candy: homemade Peeps, homemade Cadbury crème eggs, or homemade gummy candy. [...]
Yogurt-Covered Raisins and Jello Fruit Snacks | windowpaynes
[...] other hand, are probably going to be a regular around here. I usually make these (much healthier) Sour Gummy Stars, but these are just so fun and colorful and easy, I give them a [...]
Is it really fruit? | Finding Clean
[...] to try strawberries next time. I’ll keep you posted how they turn out. I might try these homemade Sour Fruit Snacks first though. I love the idea of finding ways to use Grass Fed Gelatin because it provides so [...]
Alicia
These turned out great tonight! 10 min in the freezer was perfect. I plan to try a recipe using frozen fruit tomorrow, hopefully, now that this one was a success. I feel great letting my kids dig into these!
Spring Fever | adventures in paradise
[...] also tried to make sour gummy things, from this recipe, but they didn’t go over so well with the Little Dude. I guess I’ll have to eat [...]
jacqueline
I’m so excited to try this! I made the mistake of starting my daughter on gummy omega 3′s and vit d and now I want to switch her to a liquid but she LOVES her gummies so it’ll be nice to be able to offer her a different gummy instead! Why do the molds have to be kept in the freezer before adding the liquid? Does it have to cool off first before you pour into the molds?
jacqueline
Also, what do you think about making strawberry juice? If i put them in the vitamix with a little water? Do you think it’ll work for the gummies?
Marsela
These are AMAAAAZING! I made the lemon ones last night and accidentally ate them all. Oops! so I made lime this morning for the kiddo and added the honey and CLO in after it cooled off a bit. I also added two frozen blueberries while warming that I fished out after. They gave the gummies a beautiful pinky/peach color. I have already had a silicon star tray and I fill them to the top then cut them down the middle so I get double the stars. I also have a pumpkin tray that I fill just slightly for some circular gummies. Thanks so much for this recipe I do hope I can get him addicted to these…if not they won’t be a waste as I am addicted
.
Jane
OMG Yum!!! Seriously yumm-O!! These were amazing. I could easily have eaten them all in one sitting!! I’ll have to triple the recipe next time. How awesome to have a healthy snack that’s also delicious!! Well done Heather I’m impressed!
Gelatin | Finding Clean
[...] Sour Gummy Stars from Mommypotamus [...]
Kellie
Can’t wait to make these. Thanks!
Bonnie
I have had this recipe bookmarked and pinned for a while now and have yet to make it, but every time I read your opening word picture I laugh because that is TOTALLY me (at least in my head) when I even think about someone giving Evelyn those horrible “snacks”!
Heather
Now that you are corn free, are you still able to use the natural food coloring in the gummy treats? I am pretty sure it has corn in it. I’d love to hear what you are doing instead! We are gluten, dairy, egg, and corn free!!
Heather
You’d have to contact India Tree to make sure, but the ingredients they list are only glycerin, citric acid and vegetable-based food colorants. Citric acid can be derived from corn so it’s theoretically possible, but I know they don’t use corn syrup or anything.
Matt Bailey
It’s hard to find healthier snacks for my son that he actually likes. I’m sure he’ll love these!
Julie
Wow – those were crazy easy and all my kids (even teens) love them! I just used beet juice (asked my man to juice me a beet before he started his daily juicing) – maybe 1 tsp, probably less, like a splash, gave it very nice rich color without having to buy any products!
Julie´s last [type] ..Going Green
21 Healthy “Grab And Go” Snacks Your Kids Will LOVE « The Mommypotamus
[...] Check out the recipe [...]
Adriana
I love gummy candy! Thank you for showing me how to make a healthier version.