Many people are flocking to CBD for its therapeutic health benefits. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t have any psychoactive properties, so it can be consumed without any mind-altering effects.
Gummies are a great way for any CBD newbies to get started. Each gummy has a specific dosage, so you don’t have to fiddle around with measuring out a specific number of drops. Plus, gummies taste great, which is why they’ve been a preferred way to consume vitamins for years.
Our CBD oil gummies are super easy to make and they have a fantastic sweet-tart, fruit-forward flavor. They’re fat-free, and we even have an option for making them with stevia or monk fruit extract to create a sugar-free version!
Editor’s Note: CBD isn’t legal in every state. Be sure you know local laws before making your own CBD gummies.
Tools You’ll Need
It’s possible to make gummies without a gummy mold, but the process is significantly easier with one. We like the silicone molds best because they make it simple to pop out the finished gummies. You can use the same semi-sphere round mold you’d use for making hot cocoa bombs, or you can get fun shapes like bears, hearts and stars.
If your mold doesn’t come with one, you’ll want to pick up a liquid pipette or eyedropper. These give you the precision to add an exact amount of gummy mixture into each mold, saving you from the mess that comes with using a spoon.
Finally, you’ll need CBD. You can use a CBD tincture (made by soaking cannabis in alcohol or water) or a CBD oil (made by infusing cannabis in an oil, such as hemp oil) to make these gummies. We like using full-spectrum CBD for its enhanced health benefits, although these brands tend to be more expensive than broad-spectrum or isolate CBD.
CBD Oil Gummies Recipe
Yield: 24 large gummies or 48 medium-sized gummies (depending on the mold used)
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup dried hibiscus flowers or 6 hibiscus tea bags
- 3 tablespoons dried fruit powder, like raspberry or strawberry
- 1-1/2 tablespoons refined white sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon or lime juice
- 4 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
- 24 dose servings of CBD-rich tincture or oil**
**To figure out the dosage, multiple the individual dose by 24. For example, if you normally take 1 dropper (1ml, or approximately 20 drops), you’ll want to add 24 ml to the gummies. Alternately, if you’re aiming for a specific number of milligrams of CBD per gummy, you’ll need to do some math. Multiply the target gummy dosage by 24, so you’ll achieve 10mg gummies by adding 240mg of CBD to the recipe.
Directions
Step 1: Make hibiscus tea
Bring the water to a boil and pour it over the hibiscus flours (or hibiscus tea bags) in a heatproof cup or bowl. Let the mixture steep for 5 minutes before straining out the flowers. Measure out 3/4 cup tea and discard any remaining liquid.
Step 2: Simmer the gummy base
Place the 3/4 cup hibiscus tea in a small saucepan along with the dried fruit powder, sugar and lemon juice. Stir the mixture with a whisk until it’s well combined. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat, cooking until it’s hot but not boiling.
Slowly sprinkle the gelatin mixture into the pot, whisking continuously to ensure the gelatin dissolves. Continue to cook the mixture over medium-low heat until the gelatin is completely melted and the mixture is smooth and glassy.
Editor’s Tip: Instead of using sugar, feel free to swap in two tablespoons honey or agave. For a sugar-free option, use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon stevia or monk fruit extract (to taste).
Step 3: Add the CBD tincture
Remove the mixture from the heat and add the CBD-infused tincture. Stir well, until the tincture is well-dispersed.
Editor’s Tip: The gummy mixture can become foamy if it was whisked vigorously during the mixing process. The foam doesn’t affect the final flavor, but some don’t like the texture, and it will prevent the gummies from being perfectly clear. To remove the foam, let the gummy mixture cool and solidify before reheating it over gentle heat with little to no mixing. The foam layer will rise to the top, where it can be scooped off with a spoon.
Step 4: Pour the mixture into a gummy mold
Place the gummy mold on a rimmed baking sheet. Using a small pipette or a spoon, carefully fill the gummy mold with the mixture. The liquid will begin to solidify after it’s removed from the heat, so work as quickly as you can! Remove any large bubbles by poking them with a toothpick or gently tapping the mold against the countertop.
Chill the gummies in the refrigerator until they’re firm, about 2 hours.
Step 5: Release the gummies
When the gummies are firm, release them from the mold by inverting the mold or popping them out from the bottom. To make the gummies chewier, let them air-dry on a wire rack in a dry room for about 24 hours.
Step 6: Sugar the gummies (optional)
To give the gummies a sugar coating, pour a small amount of sugar in a bowl. Add the gummies a few at a time and toss them in the sugar until they’re well coated. Let them air-dry on a wire rack for an hour before storing.
How to Store CBD Gummies
It’s best to store CBD gummies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They become dense and chewy when exposed to air, and they can become overly dried over time. For best texture, we don’t recommend leaving them out for more than 24 hours. If the gummies start to stick together in the container, toss them in a little cornstarch.
How Long Do CBD Gummies Last?
Our CBD gummies don’t contain any preservatives, so it’s best to consume them within two weeks. You can also freeze them in a freezer bag, where they’ll last a year. Frozen gummies are definitely chewier than the fresh ones, but they still taste great!
Can You Make Other Flavors of CBD Gummies?
We make our CBD gummies with hibiscus tea and dried fruit powder. The hibiscus is rich in healthful polyphenols, and it lends a nice, tart flavor to the gummies. That said, you can absolutely change up the flavor profile of this gummy recipe. Instead of the hibiscus, try any unsweetened fruit juice, like apple juice or grape juice, You can also play around with the fruit powder and make your own by grinding freeze-dried fruit in a spice grinder.
Want to try more homemade CBD edibles? We have recipes for cannabutter and CBD brownies, too.
Excerpted from The Essential Guide to CBD, 2020, by Trusted Media Brands, Inc. and Project CBD.
The post How to Make CBD Gummies at Home appeared first on Taste of Home.
Lindsay D. Mattison