These cherry-lime gummy bears taste amazing and are made with 100% tart cherry juice and juice from limes. The combination of cherry and lime is delicious and amazing and shows just how tasty it can be when sweet meets sour!
Unlike the gummy bears sold at the grocery store, these are actually good for your body and do not contain any glucose syrup from wheat or corn, which is the main ingredient in Haribo Gold Bears. Haribo gummy bears also contain disgusting corn starch, “artificial and natural flavors,” nasty palm kernel oil, carnauba wax (I’m scared to look this one up as I have NEVER heard of this), and toxic Yellow 5, Red 40, and Blue 1.
As you know from my Homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups and Homemade Strawberry Nutri-Grain Bars recipes, I don’t like to give my toddler artificial colors because they can cause hyperactivity and cancer. Read the post here if you would like more information about the dangers of artificial colors.
These healthy gummy bears were so easy to make and only require four ingredients: tart cherry juice, fresh squeezed limes, honey, and gelatin. You can bet I would never put any glucose syrup or industrialized palm kernel oil in my food. Remember a few paragraphs back when I was questioning what carnauba wax was? Well, I did my homework and according to Science Direct’s article, it has excellent oil-binding properties for ester and mineral oils.
Further, carnauba wax is used in lipsticks, mascara, food, automobile and furniture wax, molds for semiconductor devices, and as a coating for dental floss. This is seriously disgusting! Do you want to be eating a wax that is used to make mascara and furniture wax?! EWWW! I’m so disgusted that the FDA even considers carnauba wax a “food.” It’s a chemical!
On the contrary, cherries and limes make some healthy gummies with healing properties. Gummies with healing properties are not sold in any store that I know of—all the more reason to make your own. Healthline’s article reports that cherries are an excellent source of fiber, which helps keep your digestive system healthy by fueling beneficial gut bacteria and promoting bowel regularity. Additionally, the contain B vitamins, manganese, copper, magnesium, and vitamin K.
Cherries, know for their rich antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, help combat oxidative stress, a condition that has been linked to multiple chronic diseases and premature aging. In fact, one review found that eating cherries effectively reduced inflammation in 11 out of 16 studies and markers of oxidative stress in 8 out of 10 studies. Cherries are high in polyphenols, a large group of plant chemicals that help fight cellular damage, reduce inflammation, and promote overall health. As a matter of fact, polyphenol-rich diets may protect against many chronic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, mental decline, and cancer.
Like cherries, limes are packed with vitamin C and help protect your immune system. Healthline’s article states that limes provide over 20% of your daily vitamin C needs. They also contain riboflavin, niacin, folate, phosphorus, magnesium, and smaller amounts of iron, calcium, and vitamin B6.
Limes are high in vitamin C which is necessary to make collagen, a protein that keeps skin strong and firm. One older study in over 4,000 women found that those who consumed more vitamin C had a lower risk of wrinkles and dry skin as they aged.
How to make the best Cherry-Lime Gummy Bears
STEP 1: In a medium skillet, heat the cherry juice and lime juice over medium until hot but don’t allow it to boil. You just want it to heat up a bit.
STEP 2: Lower the heat to the lowest setting and whisk in the honey until it completely dissolves.
STEP 3: Slowly and one tablespoon at a time, whisk in the gelatin. Don’t add more until everything has dissolved. Stir constantly until all the gelatin has dissolved, about 8-10 minutes.
STEP 4: As soon as all lumps have turned into liquid, remove from heat and carefully transfer the mixture to gummy bear or other silicone molds. If you don’t have any, you can use mini muffin tins and regular cupcake tins lined with baking cups (or lightly coated with cooking spray). You can also place the entire mixture in a lightly coated baking dish and once it has solidified, cut them in to small squares.
STEP 5: Place the molds or muffin tins in the refrigerator for one to two hours, until set. I love these silicone gummy bear molds from Amazon. They even have a dropper which makes the process so much easier. If you have a dropper, it makes it much easier. My recipe makes over 300 tiny gummy bears!
Pro Tip
As long as most of the lumps have dissolved, the recipe will turn out fine. It’s difficult to get them all to completely dissolve.
More recipes you’ll love!
Homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups
Homemade Strawberry Nutri-Grain Bars
Easy Puff Pastry Churro Sticks
Final Thoughts
Finally, if you make these Cherry-Lime Gummy Bears, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes this recipe and always respond to all comments.
If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag #elisemccollister on Instagram! It makes me so happy to see your recipe photos!
Cherry-Lime Gummy Bears
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3/4 c 100% tart cherry juice
- 1/4 c fresh squeezed lime juice from about 4 limes
- 2 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp gelatin
Instructions
- In a medium skillet, heat the cherry and lime juice over medium until hot but don’t allow it to boil. You just want it to heat up a bit.
- Lower the heat to the lowest setting and whisk in the honey until it completely dissolves.
- Slowly and one tablespoon at a time, whisk in the gelatin. Don’t add more until everything has dissolved. Stir constantly until all the gelatin has dissolved, about 8-10 minutes.
- As soon as all lumps have turned into liquid, remove from heat and carefully transfer the mixture to gummy bear or other silicone molds. If you don’t have any, you can use mini muffin tins and regular cupcake tins lined with baking cups (or lightly coated with cooking spray). You can also place the entire mixture in a lightly coated baking dish and once it has solidified, cut them in to small squares.
- Place the molds or muffin tins in the refrigerator for one to two hours, until set. I love these silicone gummy bear molds. They even have a dropper which makes the process so much easier. If you have a dropper, it makes it much easier.
Notes
Nutrition (per serving)
Want to save these directions?
Share this recipe!
Elise’s Kitchen Favorites
