These zero carb gummy candies are easy to make and are a fun treat! Watch the recipe video tutorial to see how to make them!
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Once I realized how easy it was to make these gummy candies, I couldn't stop! All you need are three ingredients and a candy mold: sugar free jello, unflavored gelatine powder and ¼ - ⅓ cup cold water. The amount of water used depends on how chewy or firm you want your gummy candies. ¼ cup water makes them really quite firm - but I rather like that! Candies made with ⅓ cup water are softer and of course it makes a few more!
Check out my guide to low carb candy!
Update: Try using Simply Delish Gel mix instead - it is aspartame free, gelatin free, and doesn't contain any artificial flavors or colors!
Watch the video tutorial below or scroll down for the printable recipe card!
Like the spoon in the video? You can get them from Amazon!
How to Make Zero Carb Gummy Candy
Add all three ingredients to a small saucepan, stir well, and cook over a low heat.
It will start off as a thick paste but as the gelatine melts it will become more liquid. Cook until all the granules have dissolved - it only takes 2-3 minutes.
Use a jug, squeeze bottle or a tapered spoon to carefully pour the mixture into the mold.
I used a variety of molds, purchased from Amazon:
Place the filled mold on something firm like a small tray or chopping board (to stop the mold twisting). Let the Jello cool then place in the fridge for 30-40 minutes until set. The candies will just pop out of the mold!
I made several batches of these with different Jello flavors. They looked so lovely all together, but of course you can do just one flavor if you prefer! The bright colors of the whole collection made them look particularly pretty!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Sugar-free Jell-O. This brings the flavor, the color and the sweetness, so pick a flavor you love. You need the small 0.3 oz box (the four-serving size). Cherry, raspberry, lime and orange all give lovely bright colors. If you'd rather avoid aspartame, the Simply Delish mix mentioned above works in the same way.
- Unflavored gelatin. This is what turns a jello dessert into a proper chewy gummy. One envelope of Knox is about 7 g, or roughly 2¼ teaspoons if you buy it in a tub. Grass-fed beef gelatin powder works too; just measure the same amount.
- Cold water. Starting with cold water lets the gelatin soak up the liquid before it heats, so it dissolves smoothly without lumps. Use ¼ cup for firm, chewy candies and up to ⅓ cup for softer ones.
Helpful Tips
Keep the heat low. You only need to warm the mixture until the granules have melted. Letting it boil can weaken the gelatin, and you'll end up with softer, stickier candies that are harder to get out of the mold.
Work quickly once it's melted. The mixture starts to thicken as it cools, especially with the smaller amount of water. If it gets too thick to pour, pop the pan back on a low heat for a few seconds and it will loosen right up again.
Use a squeeze bottle or dropper for tiny molds. A jug is fine for bigger shapes, but little gummy bear molds are much less messy with a squeeze bottle or the droppers that often come with gummy bear molds. Scrape off any overflow before chilling so the candies have neat edges.
Put the mold on a tray before you fill it. Silicone molds are floppy, and a full one twists and spills when you pick it up. Filling it on a small tray or chopping board means you can carry it straight to the fridge.
Give them enough time to set. 30-40 minutes in the fridge is enough for most molds, but deeper shapes can take up to an hour. If a candy tears or feels soft in the middle when you pop it out, give the rest a little longer.
Variations
- Sour gummies. Toss the set candies in a pinch of citric acid for a sour kick, or try my Low Carb Sour Gummy Bears.
- Gummy bears. Use a small bear mold and the firmer ¼ cup of water so the little shapes hold together.
- Rainbow layers. Make two or three colors, one batch at a time. Pour a thin layer, chill it for 10 minutes, then add the next color on top.
- Halloween shapes. Use pumpkin, bat, skull or worm molds with orange, lime and grape flavors for a sugar-free treat that fits right in with your other Low Carb Halloween Recipes.
- Mixed flavors. Combine half a box each of two flavors, like strawberry and lime, for a fruit punch style candy.
Serving Ideas
These are the perfect little sweet bite when you want something candy-like without the sugar. Keep a small container in the fridge for an after-dinner treat, or pack a few into a lunchbox with an ice pack.
They're great for parties, too. A jar of brightly colored gummies looks so pretty on a dessert table next to other No Carb Desserts, and kids love helping to pick the flavors and shapes. What's your favorite flavor of Jello? What shape do you want to make?!?
Storing & Freezing
These keto gummies will last a few days at room temperature, but if you have made a lot, I'd recommend storing them in an airtight container in the fridge. They'll keep well there for up to a week. Line the container with parchment paper if you're stacking them so they don't stick together.
I don't recommend freezing them. Gelatin candies go watery and lose their chewy texture once they thaw. They're so quick to make that it's much better to whip up a fresh batch whenever you need one.
Sugar-Free Gummies FAQs
How do you make sugar-free gummies?
It's much easier than you'd think! Stir a small box of sugar-free Jell-O, an envelope of unflavored gelatin and ¼ - ⅓ cup of cold water together in a saucepan. Warm it over a low heat for 2-3 minutes until the granules dissolve, pour it into a silicone mold, and chill it for 30-40 minutes. That's it!
Can I use sugar-free Jell-O?
Yes, sugar-free Jell-O is exactly what this recipe uses. It gives the candies their flavor, color and sweetness. The extra unflavored gelatin is the important part, though: jello on its own sets too soft to hold a gummy shape. Just make sure you buy the sugar-free version, since regular Jell-O is mostly sugar.
Why are my gummies sticky?
Sticky gummies usually come down to too much water, a mixture that got too hot, or warm, humid storage. Next time use the smaller ¼ cup of water and keep the heat low. To rescue a sticky batch, spread the candies out on a plate and leave them uncovered in the fridge for a few hours so the surface dries out a little, then store them in the fridge.
You could also try these gummy bears!
OR how about my new recipe for low carb SOUR gummy bears?!?
More Sugar-Free Candy
If you loved these gummies, here are a few more sugar-free candy ideas you might enjoy:
📖 Recipe
Zero Carb Gummy Candy
Ingredients
Equipment
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add the sugar-free Jell-O, gelatin and cold water to a small saucepan and stir well. It will look like a thick paste at first.
- Cook over low heat, stirring, until all the granules have dissolved and the mixture is liquid - approx 2-3 minutes. Don't let it boil.
- Use a jug, squeeze bottle or a tapered spoon to carefully pour the mixture into a silicone candy mold.
- Place the filled mold on something firm like a small chopping board (to stop the mold twisting). Let the jello cool, then place in the fridge for 30-40 minutes until set.
- Pop the gummies out of the mold. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Nutrition
Video
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is my best approximation. Net carbs are calculated as the total grams carbs minus the total grams of fiber.
Low Carbe Diem says
This recipe is SO fast and simple! I am making these today with my endless supply of sugar free Jello. Thank you for the great idea.
Georgina says
Thanks! I hope you love them as much as I do!
Dana says
I made these yesterday. I love my sf jello, these are fun little yummies ???? One package of each and I used a third cup of water, it made 10. They are plenty firm.
Dawn says
Gonna try this in my mini muffin pan, then I might splurge on molds
Georgina says
Great idea!
Barbara says
Sometimes Wal-Mart has inexpensive molds. I got some on clearance for 75 cents.
Kiauna P says
@Dawn, how did it turn out in your muffin pan?
Emiliana says
Do these need to stay refrigerated like Jello? Or do they hold up at room temperature like fruit snacks or gummy bears? What's the ideal way to store them? What a cute idea!
Georgina says
I think they are better stored in the fridge, but I have also kept them on the counter for up to a day and nothing bad happened! They'd certain work for things like lunch boxes.
Alicia says
oh my goodness! another Emiliana! I've only ever known of mine and one other she was named after! How fun!
Shaheen says
is there an alternative to gelatine I could use, as I am a vegetarian.
Georgina says
I'm so sorry Shaheen I'm not a vegetarian - I have no idea what else you could use! Let me know if you find something!
Caroline Steinberg says
agar agar works as a vegetarian alternative.
Minbun says
You could try Agar, it is made from algae?
Melissa says
Jello had gelatine in it as well
Tara says
Try pectin
CasCas says
You can use fruit pectin!
Brittany says
Agar is a substitute for vegans, I believe
Donnalee Kelsey says
AGAR AGAR my daughter is vegan
Patti Shank says
If you have any insights on how to make this with gelatine and natural flavoring, I'd LOVE to know. Jello contains all kinds of nasty artificial stuff. Granted, the colors won't be so pretty...
Taylor Ferreira says
I've heard of people using flavored teas and natural sweetener, sounds good! I just ordered some gelatin and molds so I will definitely be doing some experimenting!
Georgina says
Have fun - let me know how you get on!
Joanna says
People who don't want to use gelatine can use agar agar powder instead! 🙂
Diana says
Omg, these are a game changer for my keto diet! I am ADDICTED to gummies, and I have had the worst time finding low/zero carb gummies! I bought the molds at Hobby Lobby for 2.99 each. These were SO easy, and turned out delicious! I will literally be making these on a daily basis for my snack 🙂 Thank you so much for posting this, you are quite literally a lifesaver!
Georgina says
Diana I am so pleased to hear this! Thank you!
Stella Lacle says
Do you have to spray molds or just pour jello right in? Ave not used those kinds of molds before.
Thanks, Stella
Carole Sweeney says
I am questioning the amount of jello. Is it .3 oz or 3 oz? All the pkg I have are 3 oz.
Georgina says
Hi Carole, I think this means that you're not looking at sugar free jello? The regular sugar versions are 3oz, the sugar free versions are 0.3oz. Hope that helps!
Kait says
I inquired about this myself. Someone told me 3 g = 0.3 oz. When i looked at my sugar free jello and realized it was packaged in grams i had to laugh.
Carol says
I did a metric converter as I purchase some sugar free gelatin sweetened with stevia. The packages are 19.5 grams each. According to my metric converter .3 oz = 9.33 g!
Karen Roethler says
How many candies or molds does this recipe make Georgina? I always eat sugar free candy so would love to try this recipe to make my own!
Georgina says
Hi Karen - it depends on two things: How much water you add (this will affect chewiness of the gummies as well as the quantity) and also the size of the molds you are using. In the fourth photo you can see that one batch of mixture filled 11 cavities of the 15 in that particular tray.
Brigid says
Can't wait to try these, I am trying to lose weight, but have a hard time wanting something sweet every now and then.
Amy says
Ok so I am not sure if I a not interpreting right but... Do u make the recipe as per the jello package directions and add an additional 1/4. - 1/3 water or you only use 1/4 - 1/3 of water?? It is just such a small amount without making to package directions.....
Georgina says
Yes you really don't need much water. So *only* use the 1/4 cup or 1/3 cup to mix up the Jello powder.
Cynthia says
I just got done making these and they are very good. My problem is, Friends are telling me that people got severe cases of diarrhea from the ones that are sold on Amazon. Now I'm afraid to eat these. What do you say ?
Georgina says
Everyone reacts differently to sweeteners. Personally I don't suffer from their side effects unless I consume a lot of sugar alcohols. I think moderation is the answer!
Sam says
Your friends are talking about the sugar free gummie Bears on Amazon, look them up lol. This will most likely not give you diarrhea. Malitol gives me the bubble guts but SF jello is perfectly fine.
Susan says
Sugar free gummy bears on Amazon (no longer sold due to massive amounts of complaints) were made with Malitol sweetner, which is the devil in food form, trust me. It gives most people severe stomach problems and diarrhea. Very, very bad stuff. Fortunately, many manufacturers are now getting rid of Malitol in their sweets.
S/FJello is not sweetened with Malitol - it's sweetened with Splenda.
Patricia says
Please don't make an assumption that sugar free means Splenda! I can have Splenda to my hearts content. But I cannot have Sugar Free Jello or Crystal Light because both are sweetened with ASPARTAME! For those of us who suffer from migraines saying that this product is sweetened with Splenda could easily put us down! I believe that we should all be responsible for checking ourselves but someone may see your statement and mistakenly assume that you know. I KNOW because I thoroughly read the label on ANYTHING that says sugar free. Quite frankly, I would rather have Malitol than ASPARTAME! I know that I have to be careful with the former to avoid diarrhea but the latter can put me in bed with excruciating pain and it can last days!
Dixie1954 says
Correct I can use splenda (sucralose) but not equal (aspartame).
Dixie1954 says
I forgot to add I will be using another packet of unflavored gelatin and using a tiny bit of unsweetened Kool Aid to flavor it and add liquid sucralose to sweeten.
Andrea says
Hello! The sugar free gummies you get at the store/online are sweetened with maltitol, the most popular sugar alcohol. I literally ate 6 tiny candies made from maltitol and has a solid 12 hours of severe diarrhea. Sugar free jello is sweetened with aspartame which doesn't cause quite the same, terrible effects.
Maxx says
@Cynthia, If you have any sort of problems with IBS or other IBDs stay away from the (...tols) The sugar alcohols that end in that sufix can cause gastric distress when eaten in large quantities by those sensitive to them. I like Stevia and monk fruit liquid the best. The powdered version are almost always mixed with malitol.
jeanne says
Could you make these is a 9x13 pan and then cut into squares?
Georgina says
Hi Jeanne - I think if it was a silicone pan or you lined a regular pan with baking parchment or something I think that should work!
Javin007 says
Just as a heads' up, if you use a glass (pyrex or similar) pan, you won't need any sort of parchment. After they solidify, they lift right out in a sheet that you can easily cut into cubes.
We make them with a large pyrex, and increase the recipe to 4 packs of jello, 3 cups of water, and 9 packets of gelatine. This will give you a WHOLE LOT of 1cm x 1cm x 1cm cubes when cut up. (Let them cure in the fridge overnight).
These WILL stain your hands. If you like "sour" gummies, get some citric acid, and powder it with some artificial sweetener (like swerve) in a mortar and pestle until almost confectioner's sugar consistency. Coating the cubes with this will significantly reduce the staining on the hands, as well as give a very tart kick.
Marnie says
I just made these and they are pretty darn good. For my second batch I doubled the water and gelatin, but only one box of Jello for flavoring. Still worked great and the flavor, although not as strong was still plenty sweet for me.
Georgina says
Good to know. Thanks Marnie!
Jennifer says
I was going to try this way today. They were a bit to sweet for me with the original recipe. Were they still chewy?
Marnie says
They were definitely still chewy. Maybe not as much as the original recipe, but I liked them just as much.
Mia says
A bit too sweet? I am a gummy freak! Well i actually crave ju jubies. And licorice. Since I am keto, I needed an alternative to satisfy me. Making these gummies with a pkg if jello and such little water made no sense. Sounded way too sweet. I use 1 cup of water, 1/4 cup of beef gelatin, 3 Tbsp erythritol, 1/4 teaspoon of super strength flavored oils & a drop or 2 of food coloring. Made green apple yesterday and making strawberry kiwi today.
Dawn says
Oh I will need to try that next time I made some. Great idea! I just made some and licked the spoon and they had such a strong and sweet flavor to them. They will still be good I'm sure, but next time I'll try it your way 🙂
Melissa says
LOL I had to add more water because the flavor was too strong as well 🙂
cynthia kalb says
Do you know how long they keep? Or if they freeze well? I want to try to make things in bigger batches do I have meals and snacks on hand. Less tempting to go out to eat on busy days.....lol
Laura says
Hey so it looks like you have purple fruit snacks. What flavor did you use? My daughter can't have normal fruit snacks and she loves purple.
Georgina says
Hi Laura - the purple ones are actually super dark red, I think they were the black cherry flavor.
Victoria says
How much gelatine in "one packet" of yours?
I live in Europe and our packets could be a different size. Thanks
Georgina says
Hi Victoria! One packet is 1oz - 28g. I have added it to the recipe now. Thanks!
Vickie says
I can only find a 4 pack box of gelatine. Each packet is .25 oz. and looks just like your picture. I was wondering if you use one .25 oz. packet or 4 to make 1 oz. Thanks
Georgina says
Hi Vickie - I have changed the recipe to clarify! You should use 1 envelope from the packet of 4 - so just 0.25 oz.
Renee' says
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING
I QUESTIONED THE SAME THING
GOING IN KITCHEN TO TRY THEM
SOUNDS JUST THE THING I NEED FOR GOING TO THE MOVIE THEATER ????
Ann says
Gelatin-I bought a 1oz box of 4 packets. Each packet is .25oz. Does this recipe mean I use all 4 packets which is 1oz or just 1 packet of .25oz?
Georgina says
Thanks for your question, Ann - I have changed the recipe to clarify! You should use 1 envelope from the packet of 4 - so just 0.25 oz.
Ann says
Well, in case you were wondering it tasted fine with all 4 packets too! lol, opps. Super chewy but I ate them all besides. My jaw is quite toned now.
Thank you for this wonderful recipe! I can not wait to make it using much less gelatin than my first go around.
Georgina says
LOL! Sorry I didn't get back to your message sooner - I was on vacation and just couldn't keep up with everything while I was away!
Morgan says
My bf is obsessed with all gummy candy, even his mom keeps it on hand for him. He's new to keto and this just might be a lifesaver! Thanks for sharing.
Georgina says
I'm so pleased!
Jeri says
Any recipes or ideas for making cinnamon gummies or sour gummies?
Georgina says
I'm afraid I don't, Jeri - but I'll add it to my to-do list!
Deb Mitzel says
How about a tiny bit of cinnamon oil? It's really concentrated and I use an entire bottle when I make my hot cinnamon candy.
Leigh Anne says
Excellent answer :))
LuAnne says
I think you could add a little citric acid to make them sour. I've seen that mentioned in other recipes. They never say how much to add, though, and I haven't tried it yet so I don't know.
Leigh Anne says
I've used this for my child's gummies. He loves him some sour gummies (sour ANYTHING TBH. Lol)!! I just read about this ingredient a few months ago and ordered from Amazon.com. Our boy is sooo happy that we did!!! I make these quite a few times within a months time now. :))
Terry says
For cinnamon Gummies, use plain gelatin, your sweetener of choice, and cinnamon oil candy flavoring made by Lorann.Walmart, AC Moore's, Hobby Lobby, and some drug stores carry it.
Carol says
I’ve been wanting to try gummies with LofAnn oils, but I cannot find any recipes that state how much of the oil to use! It is quite expensive for such a small amount and I do not want to be wasteful with it. Does anyone have any experience with this? I would love to try with stevia and unflavored gelatin.
Julie says
Just read another recipe that said to add 1/4 package of unsweetened koolaid in a compatible flavor to the gelatin mixture to make sour gummies.
Jacquelin says
I just made these and I am currently waiting can you tell me how many is ok to eat...cause I know I could eat trays of these
Georgina says
I think it's a personal thing - how many treats you allow in your diet etc. I don't think over-eating these gummies will cause any digestive issues - but everyone's different. Everything in moderation. 🙂
Tom says
Thank you so much- We follow a fairly strict low carb diet but gummie worms are my daughters favorite. I used a turkey baster to draw the liquid from the pan and injected it into plastic candy molds that we used years ago. I figured worse case would be the total melt down of the plastic. I had no issues. To remove them from the mold I simply use a tooth pick and they pulled right out. I did not use any type of spray or release. Made gummie worms as well as larger horses.
Georgina says
They sound great!
susanna says
I am interested in anyone's recipe for gummy bears using either pectin or agar agar powder. I'm a vegetarian and do not use gelatin because it is made from an animal.
Much appreciated!
Leigh Anne says
As does Jello!!
Rena says
Is there any way to reduce the foam that forms on top...makes it taste bitter...any ideas? Thanks!
CAROL JERKOVIC says
What is the sweetener in the Jello?I surely hope its not ASPERTAME!
Susan says
3 oz jello or 6 oz jello? ????
Georgina says
Please see the recipe card for details. But make sure you get sugar free jello if you want to keep the carb count down! Usually 0.3oz, not 3oz.
Theresa says
Newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetic and love my sugar free jello and pudding. But sugar free gummies? I am in heaven! Love these! Thank you for the recipe! I used silicone ice cube trays from Ikea.
Georgina says
Yay! I'm so pleased you like them! Silicone ice cube trays sounds like an awesome idea.
Cory Sontag says
I just started a carb and sugar free diet and gummies bears is my downfall, I found this and am so excited I have currently two batches in fridge cherry a d lemon lime I am curious how yours look so clear as my cherry looks darker in certain places and lighter in some I am using a pie pan to see if these work
Patricia says
I find these recipes and I so want to make them but then I come to the ingredient of Sugar Free Jello! This product along with many other "sugar free" products use ASPARTAME for a sweetener! ASPARTAME is murder for those of us who struggle with migraines! A couple sips of a drink with this additive and I'm down for the count! I would love it if someone would develop a recipe using gelatin that I could make from scratch! The extra work is so worth not having a migraine.
I'm so envious of those of you who are able to have these things!
Georgina says
Oh Patricia that's so annoying for you! Aspartame doesn't affect me at all - so yes - I feel lucky! Perhaps something can be concocted with unsweetened gelatin powder and a sweetener that you CAN have?!?
Carol says
Amazon has a gelatin sweetened with stevia. I’m going to experiment with it tonight
Tony says
I am do excited for this recipe to try. Being newly diabetic, giving up my gummy bears was the most depressing of all.
Wondering how long they might keep in the fridge? Thanks!!!!
Lonnie says
I think I fluffed up, maybe with the amount of gelatin as mine were not a clear jube and seemed to start setting in the pan ???? The mixture didn't seem liquid enough.
Cyndie says
Even though these look lovely and delicious, Sugar free Jello is NOT truely "sugar free" as its marketed to be. Diabetics be aware it contains Maltodextrin which is known to spike blood sugar and could possibly knock you out of ketosis for all you Keto folks out there. Maltodextrin is made from GMO corn and sometimes other products such as rice, potato starch and wheat. It can also contain MSG. It's also in so many products including those little kool aide packets we give our kids to drink and add a cup or 2 of table sugar to that. Even though these packages and labels say zero carb and shows no sugar, that's not an accurate representation of what happens inside your body when consuming them. Just be careful out here.
Miriam says
Hi. Sounds like an easy recipe which i love I wonder if i can use apple cider vinegar instead of water? I have been looking for a way to get ACV down. What do you think?
Thank you!
Georgina says
My gut reaction is that ACV will change the flavor profile of the candy completely - but if you can make it work please let me know, as others may also be interested!
Nelofar Shaik says
Great Idea. Thank you. They look so cute
Stuart Hurren says
Hi, I want to make these, but before I do, do they stick together in a jar or are they like those that you buy?
Shelly says
I made these with an added fibre boost. I added 2 tbsp of Sukrin syrup gold and water to equal 1/3 cup. They turned out awesome.