February 25, 2021

How To Make THC Gummy Bears At Home

Written by - Mallory Milne

minute read

Making your own edibles might sound daunting at first, but you'd be surprised at how easy it is once you get started. In this article you'll learn how to make THC gummy bears at home, and some great tips on how to streamline the process.

For many Canadian stoners out there, nothing beats the high or the satisfaction of THC edibles. While some caution is recommended (especially if you're a beginner), eating THC infused gummies offer a convenient, easy to use method to get your daily dose in, without the hassle of smoking. 

Make sure to follow the recipe, because we've included one tip that will take your gummies to the next level.

What are THC Gummy Bears?

Before you get started in making these sweet, mind-bending treats, let's learn a little bit about them first.

THC gummy bears belong to a category of cannabis commonly called edibles. They are a soft, chewy gummy, not unlike the gummy bears that you would buy from a convenience store. The difference? The THC content, and how they are made.

Edibles like THC gummy bears can be made to be a specific dose, so you know exactly the amount of THC that you're getting with each one. If you're just starting out with edibles, it is recommended to start out with a low dose, and give it a good amount of time to feel the effects before attempting to take more.

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the cannabinoid in cannabis that produces psychoactive effects when you ingest it. You can make your own THC gummies using either cannabis oil that you've purchased, or you can start out with the actual cannabis itself, and go through the process of making your own before you get started.

There are a ton of different recipes online that you can look up to make your own gummies at home, but don't be tempted to use a regular gummy bear recipe. In order for your gummies to turn out like the pros, there are certain steps to follow, and one ingredient that makes a huge difference in the end product - Lecithin.

You can use either sunflower or soy lecithin in your gummies, but it is absolutely a crucial part of the recipe. Lecithin is an emulsifier, and is what is going to bind your oil and your gelatin together. Lethicin can be found in many grocery stores, and is available in either powder or liquid form.

How To Make THC Gummy Bears At Home

Before you get started in making your THC infused gummies, you need to have a great THC concentrate. Now you can go about this in a few ways, but by far the most popular is cannabis infused coconut oil.

Coconut oil is a fantastic product for infusing THC, and is solid at room temperature, which gives your gummies the best chance at keeping their form and not separating. While you can use other infused oils, this recipe is made specifically with THC infused coconut oil. *you can skip this part altogether and buy pre-made cannabis infused coconut oil online, or follow our guide here on how to make it yourself*

Tools you need

  • Pot or saucepan
  • Gummy bear molds (or any shape you want. These need to be made of flexible silicone)
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Baking sheet
  • Kitchen syringe, measuring cup with pourer, or some other means of pouring the mixture into the molds

Ingredients

  • Cannabis infused coconut oil - 1/4 cup
  • (1) 3oz package of Jello gelatin flavored mix, any kind you want
  • Unflavored gelatin powder - 2.5 tablespoons
  • Cold water - 1/2 cup
  • Corn syrup - 1/4 cup
  • Soy or sunflower lecithin - 2 teaspoons
  • Cooking spray

Step 1.

First off, get started by preparing your gelatin. Add the unflavored gelatin powder and the Jello to the water and let it sit for at least five minutes.

Step 2.

Once your gelatin is ready, add it, with the water, to the corn syrup in a small pot or saucepan. You want to keep the heat on low to medium, and ensure that it does not boil. If it ends up boiling then this can cause issues with it setting later. Whisk the mixture constantly (but gently!) until it comes to a very minimal simmer. If you start to see a thin white foam forming, it means it is too hot. Scrape it off and lower the temperature.

Step 3.

Once the mixture is completely melted and combined, remove it from the heat and set it aside. Once it is cool, add in the cannabis infused coconut oil and the lecithin, and stir well  to combine.

Step 4.

Now that your mixture is ready to go, it's time to prep the gummy molds. Thoroughly coat the molds with the cooking spray - this ensures that your mixture will not stick to the molds. Once sprayed, place molds on a baking sheet or similar item so they are easy to move once they are filled.

Step 5.

Once your molds are ready to go, begin transferring the THC infused gummy mixture into them, using a kitchen syringe, measuring cup with spout, or other such item. This step can get a bit messy, and some of them may overfill. To keep the edges crisp and clean, use a bench scraper to go over the molds and scrape away any excess product.

Step 6.

After the molds are filled, it's time to let them set. Put them in the refrigerator for a minimum of one hour, but ideally longer to ensure they are fully set. Do NOT put them in the freezer in an attempt to speed up the process - this can cause issues with setting.

Step 7.

Once your gummies have set, it's time to take them out of the molds. At this point the THC gummy bears will be set, but still kind of tacky. Place them on parchment paper and let them air dry, ideally somewhere with a fan. This step can vary in how long it takes, depending on the temperature, humidity, location/altitude, etc. You need to make sure they are completely dry, as they will be prone to mould if not done correctly.

Store your gummies in a sealed, preferably airtight container once they are dry.

Frequently Asked Questions About Making THC Gummies

How long will they last?

If stored properly, these gummies can last up to one month refrigerated, or about one week if stored outside the fridge. You can increase the length of the shelf life of your gummies by adding 1/4 teaspoon of potassium sorbate, a common preservative, to the mixture while heating.

Can I make my own flavors?

You can take things to the next level and create your own flavors, instead of being limited to the pre-made flavors of Jello. Simply remove the Jello, and up the unflavored gelatin in the recipe to 4.5 tablespoons. You'll also need to add approximately 5.5 tablespoons of sugar to replace the sugar in the Jello packet. This is added to the corn syrup mixture while heating. For flavoring, any candy flavoring oil will work, but the amount you use will depend on how large your batch is, how strong you want the flavor to be, and so on. Keep in mind the strong natural flavor of cannabis when you're adding flavors, a heavier hand may be necessary.

How do I stop my gummies from sticking together? 

Once your gummies are dry, it's recommended to roll them in either powdered sugar or cornstarch to prevent them from clumping in your storage vessel.

How strong are these gummies?

The strength of your gummies depends entirely on the THC strength of the infused oil that you used to make them. You can figure out the strength of each gummy by taking the total amount of THC in the oil used, and dividing it by the number of gummies made.

How long do THC gummies take to feel the effects?

Edibles tend to take quite a while to kick in, in some cases up to a few hours. Always go slow with them, because if you eat too many thinking they aren't working, when really you just haven't given them enough time - you may be in for a rough ride.

About the author 

Mallory Milne

Mallory is a mom of two, as well as the main content writer and owner of CBD Handle. She has been a consumer advocate and CBD user since 2018, and strives to relay accurate, easy to understand information and to educate others on the health benefits of CBD.


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