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In this Instructable, I'm going to show you how to make gummy candies.
I made a silicone candy mold from Legos. You don't need to make a custom mold. There are many commercially available silicone molds, or you could just skip the mold completely and cut them with cookie cutters, a knife or even scissors.
THIS PROJECT IS NOT ENDORSED BY THE BRICK MAKER. DON'T MAKE THE MOLD OR THE CANDIES FOR SALE - FOR PERSONAL DELICIOUS GEEKY BLISS ONLY
First I'll tell you how to make the candy.
If I know the Instructables community well, then I'd say that the mold is probably going to be the thing folks are most interested in.
I WAS WRONG - IT'S THE CANDY
I'll explain in detail how I made the mold in step 4. It really is very easy. I don't think I'll make a new mold just to get photos - the silicone is very expensive (and I obviously already have one), but I'll explain it in as much detail as you need to make one yourself.
Update: User Gabebillings made the mold and the candies. He took photos of his entire mold making process. See step 4 to read his experiences and see his great documenting photos.
There are many great web pages and videos that show how to make silicone molds. The only thing that's different about this one is you need to use Food Grade Silicone.
I bought the Food Grade Silicone from Douglas & Sturgess * . They are a great San Francisco store that sells artists materials, mostly for sculpture and casting. They have some great info on their site. If you click on Ask Zardoz it takes you to a page where you can see a FAQ and even ask your own question if you can't find the answer elsewhere on the site or in the previously answered questions.
You can't sell these candies or the mold. The name is owned by Lego.
If you have kiddos that might mistake real bricks for the candy, you should consider whether it is safe to make these for them. And as they would say in Texas if said child was over 16 - "God bless their precious little hearts".
* The food grade silicone is NOT on their website. When I contacted them to warn them this was going to be published, they assured me, all you would have to do is email, or call, and they would get it to you (I don't know about international though - contact them). They are super nice, very helpful, and very smart folks. Don't be afraid to contact them. They only have one type of Food Grade Silicone, but you can use the number FGS-2237 to be sure.
Vegan option There is another kind of jelly candy called gellies or jellies. Those are made with Pectin. It's a different recipe entirely. I don't know how well they would mold though.
Here is a Pectin Fruit Jelly Instructable. I haven't tested it in the mold but it seems like it should work. Pates de Fruit
I made a silicone candy mold from Legos. You don't need to make a custom mold. There are many commercially available silicone molds, or you could just skip the mold completely and cut them with cookie cutters, a knife or even scissors.
THIS PROJECT IS NOT ENDORSED BY THE BRICK MAKER. DON'T MAKE THE MOLD OR THE CANDIES FOR SALE - FOR PERSONAL DELICIOUS GEEKY BLISS ONLY
First I'll tell you how to make the candy.
If I know the Instructables community well, then I'd say that the mold is probably going to be the thing folks are most interested in.
I WAS WRONG - IT'S THE CANDY
I'll explain in detail how I made the mold in step 4. It really is very easy. I don't think I'll make a new mold just to get photos - the silicone is very expensive (and I obviously already have one), but I'll explain it in as much detail as you need to make one yourself.
Update: User Gabebillings made the mold and the candies. He took photos of his entire mold making process. See step 4 to read his experiences and see his great documenting photos.
There are many great web pages and videos that show how to make silicone molds. The only thing that's different about this one is you need to use Food Grade Silicone.
I bought the Food Grade Silicone from Douglas & Sturgess * . They are a great San Francisco store that sells artists materials, mostly for sculpture and casting. They have some great info on their site. If you click on Ask Zardoz it takes you to a page where you can see a FAQ and even ask your own question if you can't find the answer elsewhere on the site or in the previously answered questions.
You can't sell these candies or the mold. The name is owned by Lego.
If you have kiddos that might mistake real bricks for the candy, you should consider whether it is safe to make these for them. And as they would say in Texas if said child was over 16 - "God bless their precious little hearts".
* The food grade silicone is NOT on their website. When I contacted them to warn them this was going to be published, they assured me, all you would have to do is email, or call, and they would get it to you (I don't know about international though - contact them). They are super nice, very helpful, and very smart folks. Don't be afraid to contact them. They only have one type of Food Grade Silicone, but you can use the number FGS-2237 to be sure.
Vegan option There is another kind of jelly candy called gellies or jellies. Those are made with Pectin. It's a different recipe entirely. I don't know how well they would mold though.
Here is a Pectin Fruit Jelly Instructable. I haven't tested it in the mold but it seems like it should work. Pates de Fruit
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Signing UpStep 1Tools and Ingredients
When I made the candies in the picture, I experimented with many, many different techniques and recipes to figure out how to get the best flavor, texture and the clarity.
I made them in small batches so I could do many experiments.
The recipe is for a small batch (one full mold for me). You will probably want to double, triple, or quadruple it. I think it will be easier and you will have more candies that are very clear.
3 packets of Unflavored Gelatin (Knox is most common in the US - they come 4 packets to a box)
1 500 mg Vitamin C (optional but it adds some great sour flavor)
1/3 to 1/2 cup of water
A cooking pot that the cup will fit into
Some kind of spatula.
Mold* or a flat bottom pan to pour the candy into
Mortar and Pestle (or a hammer?) to grind up the Vitamin C
In the photos you see me using a shallow pan with just about an 1" - 1 1/2" of water to melt the syrup. You should go ahead and use a pot so you can get the water level up another inch or two. I only used the shallow pan for the photos. It was just so you could see the side of the cup and what is was happening while the syrup was cooking. I use a sauce pan when I make them now. A double boiler would be ideal, but I couldn't find one in the stores I visited. They aren't as popular as they used to be.
The syringe I used to fill the mold is optional. You can just pour the candy in. I bought the syringe at Tap Plastics. You can get big syringes like this in cooking stores also. There are syringes for injecting stuff into meats. They can handle the hot syrup really well. I found the hole at the end was so small was very slow at filling the mold.
I have a metal and plastic trigger activated frosting gun. It is used to decorate cakes. I don't remember when, or where I bought it hahaha. I tend to buy tools when they are on sale and think up a use later. I've never used it to frost a cake. I decided to try it out with the gummie syrup and it worked great. That is what I use now.
(The wire strainer is not needed. I reviewed my notes on the experiments and the clearest candies - the green and red, didn't use the sifter.)
* I made a silicone mold out of Food Grade silicone. I'll talk about molds on step 4. You don't need a custom mold, or any mold at all, to make gummies.
I made them in small batches so I could do many experiments.
The recipe is for a small batch (one full mold for me). You will probably want to double, triple, or quadruple it. I think it will be easier and you will have more candies that are very clear.
Recipe:
1 package of flavored Gelatin (Jello)3 packets of Unflavored Gelatin (Knox is most common in the US - they come 4 packets to a box)
1 500 mg Vitamin C (optional but it adds some great sour flavor)
1/3 to 1/2 cup of water
Tools:
Pyrex Measuring cupA cooking pot that the cup will fit into
Some kind of spatula.
Mold* or a flat bottom pan to pour the candy into
Mortar and Pestle (or a hammer?) to grind up the Vitamin C
In the photos you see me using a shallow pan with just about an 1" - 1 1/2" of water to melt the syrup. You should go ahead and use a pot so you can get the water level up another inch or two. I only used the shallow pan for the photos. It was just so you could see the side of the cup and what is was happening while the syrup was cooking. I use a sauce pan when I make them now. A double boiler would be ideal, but I couldn't find one in the stores I visited. They aren't as popular as they used to be.
The syringe I used to fill the mold is optional. You can just pour the candy in. I bought the syringe at Tap Plastics. You can get big syringes like this in cooking stores also. There are syringes for injecting stuff into meats. They can handle the hot syrup really well. I found the hole at the end was so small was very slow at filling the mold.
I have a metal and plastic trigger activated frosting gun. It is used to decorate cakes. I don't remember when, or where I bought it hahaha. I tend to buy tools when they are on sale and think up a use later. I've never used it to frost a cake. I decided to try it out with the gummie syrup and it worked great. That is what I use now.
(The wire strainer is not needed. I reviewed my notes on the experiments and the clearest candies - the green and red, didn't use the sifter.)
* I made a silicone mold out of Food Grade silicone. I'll talk about molds on step 4. You don't need a custom mold, or any mold at all, to make gummies.
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The recipe you give for the gummies was perfect. I tried yours and another I found online and yours worked much better. Had a lot of trouble getting them clear though. They ended up pretty cloudy. Added a few pictures. Thanks again! Great instructable!
I had seen that website before but unfortunately the postage for me was $36 for 1lb, still haven't found anywhere else that sells it and I'm desperate to make these. I tried emailing Douglas and Sturgess about postage but they've not bothered to reply :(
If anyone knows other places that sell the silicone please let me know.
The lego man is great!
Thank you for your tips and sharing the photos.
I added Step 5 that details the process I came up with that makes almost perfectly clear candies.
Thanks
Sorry they haven't replied to your question. I think they are set up more as a business to business supplier, but they do have 1 retail store and it is here in San Francisco. I think most of the materials they ship out of their warehouse and over the website are larger industrial quantities. That isn't to say they should neglect you. I'm sorry that happened.
The guys in the store are Awesome. I'm sure it was just an oversight. (I thought I'd replied to you days ago but just realized it hadn't posted!)
Thanks
Also, glad to know someone else out there calls them "kitchen scissors" too!
Thanks for the code update. It has changed a few times.
Here is how I make them perfectly clear:
I crush the vitamin c, dissolve it in water, let it drip through a coffee filter, then use the resulting clear liquid to sour the candies.
If it isn't the vitamin c making them cloudy, then it is probably because you are stirring too vigorously. You have to be very careful not to push air down into the syrup when stirring. Don't ever stir the foam back into the candy.
The other cloudy problem is from not letting it melt long enough. Just let it sit and mello in the boiler. The longer it stays, the more clear liquid gathers on the bottom.
NOM NOM NOMMIE!
maybe i can gift a figure made with half toy and half candy :D
a box, a packed and a bit of water arnt measurements i can use
http://inspire.2ia.pl/post/4859513290/diy-lego-gummy-candies-from-sfhandyman