TIP OF THE DAY: Gummy Bear House
Instead of a gingerbread house: a gummy bear house. Photo by Elena Schweitzer | IST. |
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?) |
|
*Lycasin is a natural product, but like maltitol and other sugar alcohols, it has a laxative effect so you can’t eat too much at one time. Here’s more information. THINGS TO DO WITH GUMMY CANDY Instead of constructing an elaborate ginger bread house, how about a gingerbread crèche? All you need are
Here’s the complete recipe. |
THINGS TO DO WITH GUMMY CANDIES
Beyond snacking, bring out the gummies for parties: |
These gummy bears are vegan. You can buy it them Amazon.com. Photo courtesy Goody Good Stuff. |
|
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. |