Who couldn’t use a little extra immune support as we move into cough and cold season? These delicious little elderberry gummy bears are super simple to make and super fun to eat.
The weather is getting cooler, and kids are back in school. We all know what that means: cough and cold season is upon us. This year we got a jump start on all of the immune boosters before we headed into the new school year because being sick basically sucks….
Have you noticed how many people get sick as the seasons change? Especially from summer to fall. The shift from the hot, active days of summer to windy cool days of fall puts a stress on our bodies. It’s a perfect time to give yourself and your little ones a bit of extra love.
What we do in our family to boost our immune systems:
more sleep…. as the days grow cooler and darker, our bodies need more rest. Getting more sleep in the number one thing we can all do to boost our immune systems during transition times as sleep has a positive regulatory effect on the immune system.
high antioxidant foods… meaning bright, colorful fruits and vegetables. These foods provide the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants the body needs to stay strong and resilient. Our family diet consists of about 75% organic, fresh produce with lots of healthy fats and good, clean protein. We use ghee and duck fat for cooking in. Olive oil is my fat of choice for drizzling on salads and steamed veggies.
fish oil…. to give our bodies a little boost of Vitamin D, Vitamin A, and Omega 3’s (EPA and DHA,) we take a good quality fish oil a few times per week. My current favorite is Rosita Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil because it’s the cleanest brand that I have found. It’s considered raw as they do not use heat in processing. And no chemicals, solvents or mechanical devices are ever used during the extraction process. We use the liquid cod liver oil, but you can get cod liver oil soft gels as well.
elderberry syrup…. Elderberries have long been used in syrups and elixirs to fight off colds and flu, to boost the immune system, and to stay healthy during the cold winter months. They are rich in flavonoids which are natural compounds with antioxidant qualities that protects cells against damage and infections. Elderberry also contains vitamin A, B, significant amounts of vitamin C and amino-acids. We take elderberry syrup or eat elderberry gummy bears several times per week in the fall and winter.
Immune boosting elderberry gummy bears are a fun and easy way to get little people (and big people) to take elderberry syrup. Not only do you get the immune boosting health benefits of elderberry syrup, you get a nice dose of gut healing gelatin as well. Plus there’e super tasty.
Little One eats 3-4 gummy bears every day- which is just a bit over a teaspoon of elderberry syrup. Big people can eat 2-3 times that amount.
I use my own homemade elderberry syrup recipe to make these gummy bears. My family loves the taste, so I don’t add extra sweetener to my gummy bears. But feel free to add a tablespoon or two of raw honey if you like.
And you don’t have to make gummy bears out of this recipe. I just happen to LOVE my adorable gummy bear molds. You can use any molds that you like. THESE heart ones are fun. Or simple pour the mixture into a glass baking dish and cut to size after it sets.
Stay healthy!
xo,
Katja
Immune Boosting Elderberry Gummy Bears
Ingredients
Instructions
- Using the tip of a pasty brush, grease gummy molds with melted coconut oil.
- Pour 1/4 cup of elderberry into bottom of a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over top of surface and allow to bloom for 5 minutes.
- Pour 1/3 cup of VERY HOT water into bowl and whisk quickly until gelatin is completely dissolved. Then pour in remaining 1/4 cup of elderberry syrup. Taste and adjust for sweetness with optional honey. Whisk again until completely incorporated.
- Pour mixture into gummy bear molds. Most come with a special dropper to make this process easier.
- Place into refrigerator until set- at least 2 hours. Store gummy bears in airtight glass jar in fridge.
Notes
If you don’t have silicone gummy bear molds, you can pour mixture into small glass baking dish and cut into desired size pieces once set.
NOTE: if your gelatin is not dissolving properly, your water may not have been HOT enough. Simply add very hot water one tablespoon at a time until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
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I made this today for us and our toddler, he loved it! Although we didn’t have the molds I used his silicone baby food molds and just filled enough for the bottom. I couldn’t find dry elderberry so I used the syrup and added some cinnamon and ginger powder, turned out great! Thanks!
Yay! So glad your little one liked them. 🙂
What a great way to get this immune boosting powerhouse into our little (or not so little anymore!) ones! Now to get some mini molds like these….would seal the deal for my picky kids!!
★★★★★
My little one loves these molds. Her friends are always asking if I made gummy bears when they come over. 🙂
These homemade gummy bears are so cute! This is such a great way to use elderberry syrup. Perfect for the colder months.
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Right!?! Who doesn’t want to eat adorable little bears like this?
I just recently learned about the celery juice! I think I’ll ad that in. These are so sweet – my girls will take an elderberry tincture just fine, but how fun to make these – I think I will surprise them with making some!
Renee- I’ve been doing the celery juice for a few months now. It’s nice to get a blast of fresh energy in the morning. My little one loves elderberry syrup too. She’s been taking it since she was a little toddler. These are a fun way to get more in. 🙂
These are so adorable, and I love how they are so fun to eat! Such a great way to get kids to take some immune boosting nutrients.
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I love cute food too. Kids adore them. 🙂
I wish I had these last week when I had the seasonal flu that’s going around. Definitely making a batch of these for the cooler monthsl
I try to make them often during the winter months. Hope you’re feeling better, Irena. 🙂
Hey now! My son has been bugging me to make some gummies and I was seriously dragging my feet until I saw this recipe! This is genius! With him back in school, I’m going to make these this weekend just for a more immune support.
My little one loves these. I pack them in her lunch box. She feels like she’s eating treats.
How many does one batch make?
I get around 120 small gummies with the molds that I use. 🙂
Love healthy gummy bears. I also love how adorable they are, too!
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Me, too! I love cute food. 🙂
Yes! These are so needed this time of year with all the sniffles going around!
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🙂
As a recovering gummy bear addict, I can’t wait to try these. I like the taste of elderberry & these are perfect for cold & flu season.
★★★★★
HA! Getting these little bear molds has been so fun. You can make healthy gummy bears all day long. 🙂
These are so cute, perfect to make with kids and a great way to get a boost!
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Thanks, Kari!
Hi! I made this recipe this evening but I doubled it since I had so many molds to fill. I used Vital Protein gelatin, along with my home made elderberry syrup. I found the gummies texture is extremely “meaty” almost as if too much gelatin, and not enough “gummy”’texture. Where did I go wrong? Should I not have doubled the gelatin? Thanks so much!
Doubling the recipe should not affect the texture. I tend to like my gummies more firm. Makes it easier to pop them out of the gummy bear molds. My kids like them firm as well. You may just like your gummmies softer. You may have to experiment with the right proportions for yourself so they are firm enough to pop out nicely but sift enough for your liking. Hope that helps. 🙂
I agree with other responses. Either allowing the gelatin to “bloom” was wrong or 3 Tablespoons of gelatin is too much. I followed the recipe to a “T” and it was a colossal failure. A complete waste of some nice and expensive elderberries and sadly a total waste of honey my bees worked so hard to make. No way you are going to get this mess in those little bear holes and it may even clog your drain as you toss it in disgust!
I just made these again last night. 3 tbsp of gelatin is perfect for this recipe. Gelatin takes heat in order to dissolve. It is possible that your mixture is not HOT enough. Simply add a titch more HOT water until gelatin dissolves enough. You can dd 2 tbsp at a time until it’s hot enough. You can also very carefully heat the entire thing to get gelatin to dissolve. I’ve been making these weekly and they turn out perfectly; I am sorry to hear that you are having an issue. Don’t throw away your mixture. It is easy to get it to be warm enough to completely dissolve. Hope that helps. 🙂
Is 3 Tablespoons the correct measurement? Or 3 teaspoons, the measure started to gel too fast, had a very hard time putting in mold. Or maybe my water was too hot, help please! Thanks! Pattie
Yes, I use 3 tablespoons of gelatin. If it started to gel too fast, the mixture probably wasn’t hot enough. If that happens, you can GENTLY heat it up in a pan to keep it more liquid. Or stir in a tablespoon or 2 more of very HOT water.
How long do these last in the refrigerator? And do your children take 1 or 2?
I’ve heard that gummies are good for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, but ours never last that long. My little ones several of them a day when I have them. They are tiny. I would say 3-5 is her normal dose.
Question! How long do these last in the fridge? I’m hoping to make a batch or two soon!
I’ve heard that gummies are good for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, but ours never last that long.
How long do these keep for, do they need to be refrigerated?
I’ve heard that gummies are good for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, but ours never last that long. Yes, definitely in the fridge.
Do these gummy bears have to stay in the fridge after they’re made?
Yes they do! 🙂
How long will the gummies last in the fridge?
I’ve heard that gummies are good for several weeks. We usually eat ours within a week or 2. 🙂
Do these need to be refrigerated?
Yes. Gummy treats need to be refrigerated. 🙂
What mold did you use, and how many gummy bears does this recipe make?
I linked to the molds in the recipe above. Here is the link again: https://amzn.to/2T3tmOh I was able to fill up both trays with this recipe, so I got a little less than 100 gummies.
I made this recipe yesterday using the unflavored gelatin I had at home. Mine didn’t turn out right I don’t think because they have the texture of Jell-O or not gummy bears. They are sticking together, the ones that I can get out and the others rip apart when I try to get them out of the mold. Help! What did I do wrong. I’d like them to be firmer. Any feedback would be appreciated thank you.
What brand gelatin did you use? The amount in the recipe makes them quite firm. I wonder if it is the type of gelatin that you used???
Can I syrup I already have on hand that has honey in it? Is it safe to mix and use for this or will I need to have warmed syrup instead? I don’t feel comfortable reheating the syrup given the raw honey it contains I would hate to overheat it and ruin the beneficial properties!
HI, Jen! In order to get the gelatin to “gel”, it has to be heated up. You could bloom the gelatin in water and then heat that up and cool it slightly before adding it to your syrup. You may have to play with it a bit to get the temperature warm enough to get gelatin to gel and not too hot for the syrup. I hope that makes sense. The reason I divide my syrup up and only add hot water to part of it is to preserve as much of the beneficial properties of the honey as possible.
Can you use syrup that has already had honey added to it for the gummies?
Yes, you can. 🙂
Also what does it mean for gelatin to “bloom” I’ve never heard of this before and had just whisked as soon as it hit my syrup before…
I like to sprinkle the gelatin over the top of the liquid before I heat it up because it will “bloom,” meaning it will get wet and expand and will be much easier to dissolve in the hot water. It softens and hydrates it.
Made these yesterday, and they are perfect for my toddler. She loves them. I used a store bought elderberry syrup and they turned out great. I didn’t have gummy bear mold so I used silicone heart molds that I have. Great way to get elderberry syrup into my little girl.
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Yay! So glad you like them. 🙂
I wish I had those cute bear molds. I made this recipe and just poured it into a glass baking dish. I cut them into small squares once they set. PERFECT! Thank you. My kids beg for these little gummies.
Yes, the bear molds are the BEST! 🙂
Question……when I make my own elderberry, I let it completely cool before adding raw honey so it doesn’t destroy the beneficial properties of the honey. Is your recipe saying to add it to the mixture while it is hot?
Hi, does the temperature of the syrup matter? I hade your syrup recipe and it’s refrigerated. I wondered if those who didn’t turn out with a good consistency may need to consider how those two 1/4 cups change the temp of the hot water. Just thinking things through before I attempt the gummies recipe. I would love to have your insights! Thank you for sharing!
That is a good thought. Yes, cold ingredients could affect the recipe. If gelatin doesn’t dissolve enough, you can simply add a tiny bit more hot water. Thanks for the thought. 🙂
Thank you for this recipe. My kids LOVE taking their elderberry syrup this way. We’ve made these gummies a few times now and they keep begging for more. I’ve been using your homemade elderberry recipe for a couple of years. It works perfectly in this recipe. I make them in little lego shaped molds that we got from amazon. So fun.
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Thank you for sharing your recipe. I tried these last night and my gummies taste like a big glob of gelatin with a hint of elderberry aftertaste. After reading over the comments, I think I should have heated the syrup up slightly before adding the gelatin. I will try again today but I made two trays of gummies. Is it possible to heat them up and try again? I really don’t want to waste them but I’m not sure if they are salvageable.
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Hmmm… without seeing your gummies, it’s hard to know what happened. I make these almost every week so I know the recipe works. Have you made gummies before? Did your mixture completely dissolve, meaning the gelatin was completely dissolved in the liquid? I have a note in the directions to add a bit more HOT water if you are having trouble getting it to dissolve. I just made these this morning, and after letting it bloom for a few minutes and adding the HOT water, it was perfect. I haven’t tried dissolving gummies that didn’t work but I bet it will work. Here’s what I would do: I would make a double boiler with a pot and a glass bowl. I would gently heat up a1/4 cup of water and then add the gummies to it. This should get them to melt. Once melted, I would stir stir stir until dissolved. If I still had any clumps, I would use an immersion hand blender or a regular blender to get them super smooth. The double boiler should get them nice and warm without overheating. Let me know if you try it. Gummies are pretty forgiving. You can add more liquid if you need to. You can also experiment with the amount of gelatin you use. We like them nice and firm. You may like them a bit softer (less gelatin).
Best gummy recipe ever. We made these last night and my family ate them ALL. I guess I have to make another batch. Thank you.
What would be the amounts for leaf gelatin?
I made this with today’s homemade elderberry syrup but they are very soft so I’m expecting I’ll need to melt then down and add more.
Thanks
I have never used leaf gelatin so I’m not sure. Sorry.
Do you find that the gummies stick to each other while in the jar in the refrigerator? What age should a child be to eat these?
Hi, Kara. I have not noticed that they do that. I can’t really give you advice on what age to start your kids on this. I recommend that you do your own research. 🙂 I’ve been giving my little one gummies since she was very young. Remember that littles under one cannot have honey.
These were a lot of fun to make (and eat) with my 3 kids aged 2.5, 4 and 6. I purchased a pack of 4 silicone gummy bear mold trays, each with their own droppers, on amazon so we each got to fill our own tray (2.5 year old had a little assistance). I used stevia instead of honey and it worked well. As I rarely allow my kids to have candy/refined sugar, this was a huge treat and a fun way for them to get their dose of elderberry syrup! Even my hubby wanted one 🙂 Thanks for the recipe.
Hello
Where did you purchase your elderberry plant / from?
I got it from a local herbalist. 🙂
Greetings! Could you share the nutritional information for the gummies? I couldn’t find it.
Hello. I do not calculate macros. You can use this free app if you want to know —-> https://www.myfitnesspal.com/ Hope that helps. 🙂