Here’s a fun project that adults and kids alike will enjoy: replacing the holiday gingerbread house with with a mini house of cookies, gummy bears and other candies.

We’ve developed an adult fascination with gummy candies—especially since we discovered the sugar free*, guilt-free line.

The first gummy candies, Gummi Bears, were produced in 1922 by Haribo, a Bonn, Germany, confectioner. Founder Hans Riegel invented the Dancing Bear, a fruit gum made in the shape of a bear. In 1967 the Dancing Bears became Gummi Bears, and spawned an entire zoo of gummi animals.

Worms are not zoo creatures, however, and Haribo did not invent the Gummi Worm. Gummi Worms were introduced by another German gummi candy manufacturer, Trolli (named for forest trolls), in 1981. America choose the more familiar spelling, Gummy Worms. National Gummy Worm Day is July 15th; there’s no National Gummy Bear Day—yet. (Earth to Haribo: What’s up?)

Instead of constructing an elaborate ginger bread house, how about a gingerbread crèche?

All you need are

Here’s the complete recipe.

Beyond snacking, bring out the gummies for parties:

 
MORE HOLIDAY GUMMY USES

 
WHAT’S IN GUMMY CANDY?

Haribo Gummies are made from corn syrup, sugar, gelatin, dextrose, citric acid, corn starch, artificial and natural flavors, fractionated coconut oil, carnauba wax, beeswax coating, artificial colors Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1. Trolli ingredients are similar.

If you’re a vegetarian, vegan or all-natural food consumer, there’s Goody Good Stuff, launched in 2010. This all-natural gummy candy line is made with a plant derived bio-gum technology: no gelatin, no carnauba or beeswax. There are no artificial colors or flavors. You can buy it on Amazon.com.

There are also Goody Good Stuff gummy fruits, sour fruits and cola bottles.