Making your own gummies at home can be so easy (and vegan) with the help of agar agar, gelatin’s seaweed sister. Try it out in these simple Orange Creamsicle Vegan Gummies!
We’re ringing in the New Year with oranges here on Live Eat Learn! Is that a thing? Oranges for New Year? Here in Georgia, where I’m visiting my grandpa for the holidays, we ate blackeyed peas and Brussels sprouts to bring luck for the year, but I vote we add some citrus into that lucky mix.
With the holidays in the rear view mirror I’ve been thinking of how we can lighten up our kitchen this year. Last year around this time we cut out everything (okay, not everything, but a whole heck of a lot) with the 21 Day Reset. But this year I’m feeling a bit … less ambitious.
I’m thinking of going towards more homemade versions of things. You know, homemade vegetable stock, get back into making kombucha, and make our own little treats. Case in point, these Orange Creamsicle Gummies.
Ingredients
- 2 cups orange juice 480 mL
- 1 cup low fat coconut milk 236 mL
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup 30 mL
- ½ tsp vanilla extract 2.5 mL
- 3 Tbsp agar agar
Instructions
- Heat: Combine orange juice, coconut milk, maple syrup, vanilla, and agar agar in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium/high and let simmer for 2 minutes.
- Set: Remove from heat and pour into a rimmed baking sheet or gummy molds, then place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set.
Nutrition Information
I first published this recipe on Amanda’s Cookin’.
Emily says
Can you substitute something for the coconut milk? Soy creamer?
Sarah says
Hi Emily! I haven’t tried other substitutes but I think soy would work well! I used coconut for it’s creaminess, but soy milk or a combo of soy milk/creamer would probably also work. The agar agar should still set without a problem.
Rachel says
Looks good! Will it work with an other kind of juce? …like grape or berry?
Sarah says
Hi Rachel! It should work with other juices! 🙂
Kathrine says
These look great! 🙂 I was wondering how do you store these and for how long?
Sarah says
Thanks, Kathrine! You can store them for around 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container 😀
Mac says
Can I substitute the agar agar for anything?
Sarah says
Hi there! You could use gelatin 🙂
Andy says
Can you freeze them and if so for how long? I want to male a big batch for a party
Sarah says
Hi Andy! I would not recommend freezing these because they will probably change in texture quite a bit (coming from my experience with freezing jello-type deserts). They should be fine to keep in the fridge for a few days though!
Christine Levy says
Can you use these as centre with dipped chocolate?
Sarah says
Hi Christine! I haven’t actually tried this so I’m not entirely sure. They may be a bit too wet to coat in chocolate and could melt the chocolate, but if you do give it a go I would be excited to hear how it goes for you 🙂
Kelly says
These were rock hard!!!!! What a waste of ingredients, threw the whole theming out.
Sarah says
Hmm that’s strange, I haven’t heard of that happening with agar before. Sorry to hear it, Kelly!
Suzanna says
Hello. Did you use coconut milk in a can, or the coconut milk that’s in drink containers similar to soy milk/almond milk/etc.?
Sarah says
Great question! This is canned coconut milk (the thick, rich stuff!)
Rachel says
Is this made with agar agar flakes or powder?
Sarah says
This is with agar powder. Great question!
Adeline says
It was very hard, and tasteless. I was wondering if you maybe ment 3 tsp of agar? I thought it might be a typo. I also thought maybe it was because I just used regular coconut milk because I couldn’t find low fat.
Sarah says
That’s so strange, I’m not sure why it would have turned out hard. It could be that your agar is slightly different than what we used? It should be 3 Tbsp, but I’ll add this one to the list of recipes to retest 😀
Michael says
I’m no culinary expert when it comes to the physics as to how things turn out weather its better or worse than the recipe as originally written. But regular grocer’s orange juice seems bland. I wonder if frozen concentrate lightly deluded is a better option.
What do you think.?
And then I have orange extract to give it an even tangier flavor.
Once I can get this agar agar. Is this stuff the key ingredient that hardens it?
I wonder what stores carry it so I don’t have to order online. Trader Joe’s perhaps.
Sarah says
You could certainly use concentrate if you’d like! I think it could be delicious that way 😀 Agar agar is indeed what hardens the gummies. Most larger stores will have it, and otherwise health food stores usually do. Happy cooking!
Genesis Bates says
very nice solid gummy, great detail in molds but not much flavor at all
Genesis Bates says
It smelled amazing while cooking but the finished product has next to no taste.
LS says
I have a few questions:
1. Are there extracts that I can substitute for fresh juices in order to maintain a longer shelf-life? Same for the coconut milk (coconut oil maybe?)
Sarah says
I’m honestly not sure on this one, sorry about that LS!