5 CBD gummy bear recipe ideas to try out
CBD gummy bears are a fun and convenient way of enjoying your daily dose of CBD. You probably enjoyed the chewy, sugary sweets as a child, so what better way to rekindle your childhood memories than these delicious treats? Though you can buy CBD gummy bears, they are also easy and fun to make at home. In addition, homemade CBD gummies are easier to dose compared to most CBD edibles.
When you make CBD gummies at home, you can adjust the taste to your liking. Tweaking the ingredients to fit your diet preferences, including:
- paleo
- keto
- vegan
CBD gummies can be made to fit any dietary restrictions out there. If you are not a fan of sugar, they can be also made healthy and sugar-free. Allulose is a good alternative, but you can also try honey and agave.
Making CBD gummies in the comfort of your kitchen is not only fun but saves you money as they are cheap to make. We will share five recipes you can try out, but first, here’s why you should learn to make infused gummy bears if you take CBD.
Why make your own CBD gummy bears?
For people on a diet, sometimes commercially available CBD gummies may not suit your needs. When you make your own CBD gummies, you get to include the ingredients that fit your lifestyle.
If you take them regularly, making your own CBD gummies will ultimately save you money.
When made at home, you can choose healthy and clean ingredients. You can use grass-fed gelatin and nutrient-rich fruit powders.
And as a bonus, with homemade CBD gummies, you get to choose any shape you want.
How much CBD oil do you need?
Before you can make your CBD gummies, you need to figure out how much CBD oil you need. The amount will be guided by how much CBD you intend to have in each gummy. So, if a recipe makes thirty gummies and you want ten milligrams in each gummy, you require a total of 300mg of CBD.
CBD oil comes in millilitres, which means you also need to calculate how many millilitres of CBD oil you will need to get the 300mg of CBD. The oil comes in different potencies, and it is just a matter of figuring how many grams of CBD are in each millilitre of your CBD oil.
For example, if you have a 50ml bottle containing 1000mg of CBD, each millilitre of CBD oil contains 20mg of CBD. For the recipe that calls for 300mg of CBD, you will need to use 15ml of CBD oil. These calculations are necessary if you are to make sure you follow the recommended dosage provided by the manufacturer. Remember to check the potency of your oil as different oils come in various strengths.
CBD gummy bear recipe
Basic CBD gummy bears
Tools you will need:
- Saucepan
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Flexible silicone moulds for easier removal (candy moulds preferably)
- Measuring jug
- Non-stick cooking spray
- Piping bag
Ingredients:
- 85g pre-packaged gelatin with a flavour of your choosing.
- 2.5 teaspoon unflavoured gelatin; for firm gummies, make it high quality.
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup corn syrup
- CBD oil – the amount will depend on your desired concentration. Use MCT carrier oils for the best results.
- 2 teaspoon lecithin
Procedure
- The first step is to bloom the gelatin. You do this by sprinkling your powdered gelatin, flavoured and unflavoured, on top of the water in a saucepan. Leave for about five minutes or until the gelatin has bloomed. The resulting mixture is granular.
- To this mixture, add the corn syrup. Place it on the stovetop over medium-low heat and bring it to a simmer. Should a white froth form, skim and discard it.
- When all of the grit melts and everything combines, remove the saucepan from heat and allow it to cool.
- Pour in the CBD oil and lecithin and stir to mix.
- Spray your candy moulds with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the mixture into the piping bag. But, if you don’t have one, a ziploc bag with one corner cut will work instead.
- Pour the CBD candy mixture into the moulds. Clean off the edges if any spills over.
- Place the CBD gummy mixture into the refrigerator for it to set. Avoid the freezer as the extreme cold may prevent the CBD gummy from setting.
- The setting should take a minimum of one hour. Take the CBD gummies out of the fridge after the hour is up, and place them on parchment paper to air dry.
Air drying depends on the conditions present at the time. If there is proper air circulation, low humidity and favourable temperature, they will only take a short time. Ensure they are dry before you store them to prevent mould from growing.
If you want to make CBD gummies with flavouring to your liking, you will need to replace the flavoured gelatin. You can buy jelly mixtures that come pre-flavoured and with sugar. You will need to increase the unflavoured gelatin to 4.5 teaspoons. To the corn syrup, add 5.5 teaspoons of sugar.
Vegan CBD gummies
You can make vegan CBD gummy bears by replacing gelatin with agar in the ratio of 1:1. Agar is the gelatin equivalent in the vegan world. Even if it does thicken like gelatin, the resulting gummy has a different texture. Agar comes from algae plants and produces gummies that are just as delicious but more healthy.
You can use any fruit juice to flavour your vegan CBD gummies to your liking. The procedure will not change but remember to check the source of the lecithin or use an alternative.
Sour CBD gummies
If you prefer your CBD gummies sour, you can add an acid powder to the mix. Citric and malic acids are readily available and excellent candidates for the job. When you eat citrus fruits, one thing you can't ignore is their tart taste. Citric acid causes the sourness in citrus fruits and malic acid in strawberries and peaches, among others.
Add the acid to your candy mixture just before you pour in the moulds. Remember to add the acid sparingly, as too much will cause the CBD gummies to weep.
Paleo and keto CBD gummies
You can use powdered fruit, which is inexpensive and readily available, or simply use fresh fruit. You can mix up the flavours by combining various powdered fruits. When using fresh fruits, avoid kiwi, papaya and pineapple because they won’t gel. To make these CBD gummies even more healthy, use allulose instead of sugar. It tastes just like sugar but has added health benefits.
Coconut milk CBD gummies
These CBD gummies are not only delicious but pack a healthy kick with the superfood coconut.
Replace the ¼ cup of water with a ¼ cup of coconut milk. For an even bigger health kick, use honey instead of sugar. These replacements aside, follow the procedure (as above).
Important notes when making CBD gummy bears
There are a few things you have to remember when making CBD gummies at home. Number one on that list is that CBD oil and gelatin do not easily bind to one another. Hence an emulsifier like lecithin is required. Lecithin is an extract from various oils and other fatty substances.
Soy or sunflower oils come from lecithin. Though it is available in powder form, liquid lecithin is better for making gummies as it is easier to distribute evenly.
When heating your mixture, you should be cautious not to overheat the gelatin as it will not set as desired. Besides, high temperatures may evaporate the CBD and reduce the amount in your final product.
Ensure you buy gelatine and not collagen. Collagen does not gel, and as a result, you won’t get the gummy texture.
Though it’s a bit expensive, grass-fed gelatine is more nutritious, and if you can afford it, it’s the better choice. If not, regular gelatin also produces great textured CBD gummies.
Dust the gummies in powdered sugar to prevent the gummies from sticking to one another.
You can use potassium sorbate, a common preservative, to extend the shelf life of your CBD gummies.
A summary on our CBD gummy bears recipe
CBD gummies are a favourite snack for many people because they are easy to dose. Though they are available commercially, you can make them in the comfort of your kitchen. Choose healthy and clean ingredients for your CBD gummies. The basic recipe of CBD gummies involves mixing gelatine, lecithin, flavouring and sweeteners of your choice. It is this basic recipe that is tweaked to fit your desires. Always ensure you source your products from reputable sources.