Gelatin Gummy Troubleshooting – Kitchen Alchemy (2025)

1. Gummy is Too Soft
2. Gummy Has Hard Bits
3. Gummy is Sweating/Wheeping
4. Adding Oils
5. Adding Alcohol
6. Gelatin Conversion Chart
7. More Gummy Course Content

Gummy is Too Soft

When the gummy is too soft it generally means that the amount of gelatin in the recipe is too low, or the ratio of water is too high. If you are using sheet gelatin, make sure any excess water from blooming is removed prior to adding the gelatin.

It can be difficult to increase the amount of gelatin in a recipe without increasing the water. But a good work around for this is to use an immersion circulator. Heating the gelatin in a bag at 150°F with a small amount of water will allow the gelatin to bloom and melt.

This can be added to the rest of a recipe at this point without the fear of having a soft gummy.

Gummy Has Hard Bits

If You find hard pieces in your gummies this is commonly caused by gelatin that is not fully bloomed.

If you are using sheet gelatin be sure to separate all of the sheets individually before blooming in water. If you are using powdered gelatin make sure that the surface area of the water is wide enough for you to sprinkle all of the gelatin without it piling up and becoming clumpy, do not dump in the gelatin in one lump.

Gelatin is completely hydrated when it is soft and pliable. Always hydrate completely before adding gelatin to a recipe. If you are having issues with hydrating your gelatin properly you can use the immersion circulator method above.

Gummy is Sweating or Weeping

Gelatin gummies can have a tendency to sweat or weep in the first few days after they are made. As the gummy dries the proteins will tighten, squeezing out any excess water.

The first thing you can do when attempting to prevent weeping would be to get the perfect ratio of gelatin, water, and sugar. This will allow for just enough water to be retained in the mixture and not purge once it begins to dry. The next thing you can do is “cure” the gums after they are removed from the molds. The best way to do this is in a dehydrator on its lowest setting for a few hours or in a refrigerator uncovered.

If you are still noticing some weeping and it is causing issues then you may need to look in to using a coating on the outside of the gummies. Some gummies work well with sugar and citric acid on the outside. Although sugar and citric acid will sometimes draw more moisture out. An alternative to this is to use a mixture of neutral flavored oil and carnuba wax. 90% oil and 10% carnuba wax mixture will coat the gummies and keep them separate as well as prevent weeping. This mixture can be poured on the gummies in a tumbler after they have been dried.

Adding Oils

There are several ways to add oils to a gummy. Simple oils such as flavor oils can be mixed in very easily before boiling. A more hydrophobic oil or fat may need an emulsifier to properly distribute the oil. Liquid soy lecithin, liquid sunflower lecithin, or polysorbate 80 are all great emulsifiers. Each one of these ingredients will help distribute the fat during the cooking process and keep them emulsified. Mix very thoroughly to ensure that the oil won’t separate once cooled.

Adding Alcohol

The best way to add alcohol to a gummy would be to use Instagel. Instagel is a cold soluble gelatin. This works best with alcohol since it does not require heating. The heat would burn off the alcohol before the gummies have a chance to set, so the gummy must be cooled to 140F before adding alcohol if you are not using Instagel. To learn more about Instagel gummies, follow this link.

Gelatin Conversion Chart

You may come across instances where you only have access to a specific type of gelatin. Use this chart as a way to replace one type of gelatin for another. The top row is the gelatin that you currently have, and the left column is the gelatin that you are looking to replace in a recipe. Keep in mind that gelatin substitution only affects the texture of the gummy. Using a lower grade of gelatin in place of a higher grade of gelatin will still result in less clarity and duller flavor.

For example if a recipe is calling for 10 g of 230 bloom platinum gelatin but all you have on hand is 160 bloom silver gelatin. Scan the top row until you find silver gelatin and then match it up with the platinum in the left column and you should have 11.6 g. This is what you will need to replace the ingredients in the recipe.

Gelatin Gummy Troubleshooting – Kitchen Alchemy (2)

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Gelatin Gummy Course Content

Gelatin Gummies

Coating for Preservation

Gelatin Gummy Ingredients and Substitutes

Pectin Gummy Course Content

Pectin Gummies (HM)

Sugar Free Pectin Gummies (LM)

Pectin Gummy Troubleshooting

Pectin Gummy Ingredients and Substitutes

Gelatin Gummy Troubleshooting – Kitchen Alchemy (2025)

FAQs

How do you fix gummies that won't set? ›

The perfect ratio of acid, pectin and sugar is the key to gel formation. So the chosen fruits should be firm and not too ripe (higher pectin content), reprocessing with excess sugar and lime juice may do the trick if the candy has not gelled.

Why is my pectin gummy not setting? ›

A: The most common issues when making pectin gummies might be related to the setting process. If the sugar and acid content is not right, or if the mixture isn't heated or cooled correctly, the gummies may not set properly. Also, if you use regular pectin in a low sugar recipe, your gummies might not get firm enough.

Why did my gummies turn out like jello? ›

When the gummy is too soft it generally means that the amount of gelatin in the recipe is too low, or the ratio of water is too high.

What is the ratio of liquid to gelatin for gummies? ›

This is the BASE recipe for making gelatin gummies, with the idea that once you know the ratio of gelatin to liquid, you can put your own spin on them and use whatever liquid you like! The basic ratio is 1 TBSP gelatin : 100ml liquid. So if you want to double/triple/quadriple this, you easily can.

What causes gelatin not to set? ›

Proteases can cut up the proteins so that the gelatin cannot solidify. There are several different kinds of proteases in the fruits recommended for this activity, and using any of these fresh fruits should result in gelatin that does not solidify well, if at all.

How long does it take for gelatin gummies to set? ›

Let the gummy bears set for 1~2 hours in the refrigerator. Pop out the gummy bears from the mold. Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 7 days. You can pack the gummies to-go or in lunch boxes at room temperature for a few hours without them becoming too soft.

How to stiffen up gummies? ›

Less starch and more sorbitol mean harder gummy. You can also place your gummies in refrigerator or freezer for about half hour or more as we just discussed above in order to harden them.

How to make gummies more solid? ›

Rest time and temperature both determine how firm and chewy your gummy candies will become. Colder temperatures increase the strength of the gelatin. The refrigerator is perfect for slowly cooling your treats, but you can pop your gummy trays in the freezer for a few minutes to speed up the setting process.

Do you need to bloom gelatin for gummies? ›

If the liquid is too hot, it could denature the gelatin protein and your gummies may not set. For the smoothest result, you'll want to bloom the gelatin first.

How much gelatin for 2 cups of water? ›

As a general rule of thumb, David Lebovitz outlines the gelatin to liquid ratio in this blog post: “1 envelope of gelatin will firmly set 2 cups of liquid, enough to unmold a dessert. 1 envelope of gelatin will softly set 3 cups of liquid. You will not be able to unmold this type of dessert.”

What kind of gelatin is best for gummies? ›

Grassfed gelatin gummies make a great healthy snack for you and your kids! Grass fed gelatin has a ton of health benefits. It can help to repair gut lining and support healthy hair, skin and nails.

Can you freeze homemade gelatin gummies? ›

Wait until the mixture changes from thick to runny and all of the gelatin has dissolved. Once ready, pour the mixture carefully into gummy molds and freeze for 2-3 hours. Remove from freezer and carefully remove the treats from the silicone mold. Enjoy!

How do you fix dried out gummies? ›

Water Bath Method

Place the hardened gummy bears in a bowl and pour in enough warm water to completely submerge them. Let the gummy bears soak for 15-20 minutes. Warm water will work faster at this point, but be careful not to use boiling water as it will melt the gummies.

How to firm up gummy bears? ›

Place the filled gummy bear molds into your fridge. — Let them chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour until they've set. — Sometimes, this only takes 15-20 minutes. You can check upon the gummies to see if they are firm.

How to make gummy harden? ›

When you add gelatin or pectin to water, simply ensure that it's concentration is higher than the presence of water and sugar syrup. This will make elastic collagen bonds develop greatly so that gummy bears gets firmer texture.

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