Boozy, fruity and sweet, Drunken Gummy Bears are the solution to summertime snacks by the pool. Make a big batch and share with friends! Customize them with your favorite gummies and your favorite alcohol.
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Oh yes, you read that right. Drunken Gummy Bears are a real thing.
If you’ve never had Drunken Gummy Bears, they are simply gummy bears soaked in your favorite alcohol.
The gummy bears soak up the alcohol and become similar to, but even more fun to eat than, jell-o shots.
They’re boozy and fruity, and so delightful to snack on in the summertime! I love making them for a bachelorette party or for snacking on by the pool.
September 2021 Update: You guys REALLY love these drunken gummy bears! I have gotten some amazing tips from commenters who have tried making these — and making them their OWN — so I added some of their tips to the post below.
How to make drunken gummy bears
Never had Drunken Gummy Bears? You must try them. And they’re super simple to make. HOW simple?
Step 1: Buy gummy candy.
Step 2: Add your choice of alcohol.
Step 3: Wait patiently (12 to 24 hours).
Step 4: Eat!
Seriously, that’s it. It really couldn’t be more simple.
And because Drunken Gummy Bears are so easy to make and customize, you can make as big or small of a batch as you want.
Make them for a big party or just for a weekend movie marathon with your girlfriends.
Drunken gummies
You don’t have to limit drunken gummies to just bears, though. You can have drunken gummy worms or dinosaurs or whatever. Any gummy candy will work!
My favorite are the Haribo gummy bears — they always remind me of studying abroad in Europe.
I’ve even seen seasonal shapes and colors, such as Christmas tree gummies or red, white and blue gummies, that would be perfect for holiday parties!
How long to soak gummies in alcohol
There is a magic time frame here, but it all comes down to personal preference.
My original recipe says to soak your drunken gummies anywhere from 12 to 24 hours.
They grow in size and soften a bit more the longer you soak them. I prefer mine on the 12-hour side, so that they’re still a bit chewy.
As some of the commenters mention below, you can soak them for longer, up to 26 or even 48 hours. A couple folks even suggested a week!
However long you choose — make sure you stir them and check on them often because they will begin to coagulate and become a solid, slimy mass. Ask me how I know.
You may leave them at room temperature, but placing them in the cold fridge helps them keep their shape and dissolve more slowly.
Another commenter, Maz, says:
“Just barely cover the candy with the desired booze, and let soak in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, and keep topping off as they absorb the alcohol. They will grow considerably in the process, and the initial few rounds of topping off will be fast, but the process will slow as it goes. However, don’t just dump a bunch and drown them at the beginning, as that will dissolve too much of the gummies — go slow and maintain a saturated sugar/alcohol solution around them instead.
After about a week, drain the liquid (and save it — it is really good in mixed drinks!), put the candies in a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Then roll them on paper towels to slightly dry the surface. It’s optional to toss them with a little corn starch if desired. Note that the rinse and dry step gets rid of the slimy factor thing.”
The slow dilution trick and the corn starch trick both sound really promising, though I have not tried them myself! Next time.
When your gummies have reached your desired booziness, you can toss all of your gummies-of-choice into one big bowl together.
I store mine in glass containers with lids while they soak. I prefer glass to plastic for the long infusion time. If you need to place them in bags, do so when you are ready to serve.
Drunken gummy bears
I made a big batch of Drunken Gummy Bears for my good friend’s bachelorette getaway.
I chose to soak mine in rum (bride’s favorite), but you can go for any liquor you like best.
A flavored rum or vodka gummies would be really good too! I’m dying to try them with my homemade spiced rum.
Vodka works just as well, as do whiskey and tequila.
The alcohol gummies get bloated and puffy when they soak up the alcohol — all the better for a boozy treat.
They can get sticky, so serve them with a spoon or toothpicks!
(Although I find spoons to be a bit safer than toothpicks when alcohol is involved…)
If you’re a weirdo like me who likes to eat colored candies in a certain order, you can separate them out before soaking them. (Tell me I’m not the only one?)
You could even try different flavors of liquor in your Drunken Gummy Bears! A few ideas:
- Sour apple vodka on the green gummy bears
- Raspberry rum on the red bears
- Limoncello on the yellow bears
- Pineapple rum or coconut rum on the white bears
- Orange vodka or triple sec on the orange bears
You really can be so creative with these combinations.
If you love a good rum & coke cocktail, you might love these whiskey and coke gummies which are made with cola-flavored gummy candy.
The point of a treat like this is it’s supposed to be fun! So experiment and see what you like.
You can really creative with gummy shapes, colors and alcohol flavors to match a specific event, or just make rum gummy bears for a poolside snack.
Either way, you really can’t go wrong.
Happy weekend! // susannah
Drunken Gummy Bears
Boozy, fruity and sweet, Drunken Gummy Bears are the solution to summertime snacks by the pool. Make a big batch and share with friends!
Ingredients
- 2 cups gummy candy
- 2 cups rum, vodka or other liquor
Instructions
- Fill an airtight, glass container with the gummy candy. Top with enough liquor to cover the candies.
- Cover and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours. Drain any excess alcohol, and serve with spoons or toothpicks.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1/4 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 143Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 0g
Iida-Emilia says
Wow I have never heard about drunken gummy bears! Sounds so weird and funny that I think I’ll try this next weekend 😀 They look so lovely and colorful too
Susannah says
Oh man, they are! And potent and delicious. I hope you enjoy, Iida-Emilia!
boxfon.ru says
Just remember that moderation is key and be safe if you are driving during the holidays! Drunken Gummy Bears ?
Chelsey says
You are sooooo not the only one who is odd enough to separate out the colors!!!! ? I love the vodka ones my aunt made for her last gathering but I was hoping I could do tequila instead. I’m glad that I have my answer!! ???
Susannah says
THANK YOU! Haha. We can be weird together. 😉
Yes, you can have your pick of alcohols for sure. I like spiced rum in mine. Tequila would be delicious especially with lemon-lime gummies. Enjoy, Chelsey!
Teresa Tucker says
I make drunk gummies every year at the holidays but it takes one week for them to be ready not 1 day so give yourself way more time :o)
Susannah says
Hi Teresa! Thanks so much for your comment. I have heard of people soaking theirs for longer, but personally I don’t like those results — too slimy! For me, I like my gummies to retain some of their original structure and texture, so 1 day works just great for me.
Marisa says
I just tried to make them and my bears disintegrated ☹️ Any tips?
Susannah says
Hey Marisa, So sorry they disintegrated! At least you can still drink the sweetened vodka. 😉
The disintegration could due to be a number of factors. The type of candy can make a difference recipes — different manufacturers vary and may react to alcohol differently. I always use Haribo or Albanese. It could also be the infusion time. It really does help to check on them every couple of hours to see how they are doing. They will definitely dissolve if left for too long since they are made of sugar. Hope this helps for next time!
Susannah
Alicia says
Hello
Is there a trick to not having the gummy bears stick and form one huge mold? My husband and I have been doing this for years but some batches are perfect and others tend to make a huge mold and we end up cutting it up into chunks. We use Everclear for our gummies 🙂
Susannah says
Hey Alicia,
Thanks so much for your question. I find that leaving them to soak too long can lead to the clumps. It helps to check on them every few hours and give them a stir. It is also okay to leave them at room temperature, but the cold of the fridge helps them keep their shape and dissolve more slowly. The brand may make a difference too, but I have not tested that.
I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any questions or learn anything! Would love to hear if you find something that works better for you.
Erika says
Liquor and candy…it’s the devil! ?????
Susannah says
Haha! Pretty much, Erika. 😉
Patrick says
How fun!!! Great idea for a party! ?
Susan Dubose says
This is a first for me. The idea of gummies and Vodka….never thought of that. They look like little jewels! Great Party idea!
Susannah says
They do look like little jewels! Love that. Hope you enjoy and thanks for stopping by to leave a comment.
Lori says
So funny things! I will try it. Thank for sharing!
Kat says
Great idea for a party!
Emily Stimpson says
Boozy, fruity and sweet
Maz2331 says
I’ve been making these for over a decade. I’ll share a few tips here that may be helpful.
First, let them dry out a little before beginning. Removing some water first gives more space for the alcohol to seep in.
Second, just barely cover the candy with the desired booze, and let soak in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, and keep topping off as they absorb the alcohol. They will grow considerably in the process, and the initial few rounds of topping off will be fast, but the process will slow as it goes. However, don’t just dump a bunch and drown them at the beginning, as that will dissolve too much of the gummies – go slow and maintain a saturated sugar/alcohol solution around them instead.
Third – after about a week, drain the liquid (and save it – it is really good in mixed drinks!), put the candies in a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Then roll them on paper towels to slightly dry the surface. It’s optional to toss them with a little corn starch if desired. Note that the rinse and dry step gets rid of the slimy factor thing.
I use the following combinations: Haribo Bears + Coconut Rum. Peach Rings + Peach Schnapps. Gummy Sharks + 151 proof rum (the sharks really bite!).
Enjoy!
Susannah says
These are great tips, Maz! I think it all comes down to personal preference for how soggy or solid to make them.
Beth says
I made them with marshmallow cola once and I really liked the result! Doing worms for Halloween this year. Too simple and fun to pass up if you’re looking for that unusual adult treat.
Susannah says
Love that idea, Beth! Marshmallow vodka is a great idea.
Beth says
Sorry, Marshmallow vodka…
Sonia says
Why do you need to use glass containers??? I wanted to put them in ziplock bags to soak. Why wouldn’t that work???
Susannah says
Hey Sonia, I can’t vouch for the safety of using a ziplock bag. For me, I would worry the plastic of the bag would leach into the alcohol. Glass is a lot safer in my opinion, so that is my recommendation. Use plastic bags at your own risk!
angela thetford says
After they are dried and tossed in corn starch,do you put them Ziploc bags? And do you have to keep them cool or cold?
susannah says
I prefer storing in glass over plastic, so mine get put into a glass bowl with a lid. Storing them in the fridge helps them keep their shape and dissolve more slowly, especially while they’re in the alcohol. Hope this helps!
Bree says
How far in advance are you able to make/store these (until the event you wish to serve them [in food-grade plastic baggies])?
Susannah says
Hey Bree! It depends on how soft you want them to be. I would make them 1-2 days before. I like mine a little crunchier than soggy, so you could do 3-4 if you like them softer, but they tend to get soupy any longer than that. You might want to do a test with a small amount first!