Vodka Gummy Bears

Easy Vodka Gummy Bears take two ingredients and a few hours to make. These are terrific cocktail candy that tastes great for your next party.

Vodka Gummy Bears

Please keep these vodka and gummy bears where only adults can reach them. These are fantastic for Halloween parties or any time you want a fun party surprise.

I started making these in college and have been making them ever since for parties. I will not admit how long ago I went to college, but we will say it was 20+ years ago; go with it. LOL!

The best part is this recipe has evolved over batches to be quick and efficient. I used to store them in the refrigerator the entire time but realized that letting the bears soak at room temperature speeds up absorption.

I leave the bowl on the kitchen counter lightly covered so it doesn't get knocked over and check on them after a few hours and then after 24 hours. I love that you can get these started the day before your party and have them ready to serve when guests arrive.

These candies are rummy bears when made with rum instead of vodka.

One of my favorite memories is attending the Iowa Chicken Run outside Lake Charles, Louisiana. One of the locals offered me a jar of gummy worms that had been soaking in booze for a while. It was 9 am, and we all laughed at the fun treat as we celebrated Mardi Gras.

It was one of those travel moments you never forget. How can you not have an epic time riding a float while kids chase a chicken after enjoying a few boozy gummy worms? LOL!

Ingredients Needed

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients needed to make epic Vodka Gummy Bears! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

• Vodka
• Bag of Gummy Bears 

Vodka - You can use regular or flavored vodka for this drunk gummy bear recipe. You will want to use a quality vodka so the drunken gummy bears taste the best. You will be able to taste the difference if you use a cheap vodka.

Gummy Bears - We used Black Forest Gummies but you can also use Haribo Gummies. Some brands of gummy bears may fall apart after soaking. You want to use a nice quality gummy bear. I would not use chocolate covered gummy bears. The chocolate is going to block absorption and you will end up with a goopy mess.

Equipment Needed

• Bowl/Container with a lid
• Spoons or toothpicks to serve the gummy bears.

How to make Vodka Gummy Bears

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

Step 1 - Add gummy bears to a bowl

Make sure there is room in the bowl for the gummy bears to expand.

Step 2 - Pour the vodka into the bowl until the gummy bears are barely covered.

Let the gummy bears sit and soak at room temperature for at least a few hours. The longer they soak the larger the gummy bears will be.

How long to soak Gummy Bears in Vodka

The gummy bears will slowly absorb the alcohol. After 2 hours, you can see the gummy bears are starting to get bigger, but there is still a lot of vodka in the bowl.

After 12 hours, the bears grow in size, and less vodka remains in the bowl.

After 24 hours, the bears puff up with vodka and no longer stick together as much.

Do Vodka Gummy Bears Get You Drunk?

These vodka-infused gummy bears can get you drunk, depending on how many you enjoy.

Be careful about mindlessly enjoying these! They can sneak up on you.

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead: These vodka gummies are the perfect make-ahead cocktail candy! They are at their peak after 24 hours of soaking in vodka.

Storage: Store these Vodka Gummy Bears in the same covered container for up to two days if you are not serving them immediately. The longer they sit, the mushier they may become.

Freezing/How to Freeze: We haven’t tried this method, but freezing gummy bears overnight seems to be a new TikTok trend that elevates their texture.

Recipe Variations

Substitutions:

You can use regular or flavored vodka for this drunk gummy bear recipe. You will want to use quality vodka so the gummy bears taste the best. You can taste the difference if you use cheap vodka.

Change the flavor using fruity vodka, orange vodka, whipped cream vodka, vanilla-flavored vodka, or coconut rum, flavored gin. 

We used Black Forest Gummies, but you can also use Haribo Gummies. Some brands of gummy bears may fall apart after soaking. As with the vodka, you want to use a quality gummy bear.

I would not use chocolate-covered gummy bears. The chocolate will block absorption, and you will end up with a goopy mess.

You can adapt this recipe to gummy worms and other fun gummy candies.

Gummy cola bottles taste great with rum. 

Cinnamon bears soaked in Fireball is delish.

Vegetarian + Vegan Option: Use gelatin-free gummy bears to make this recipe vegetarian and vegan.

Gluten-Free: Gluten-free eaters should use gluten-free gummies to make this recipe safe for a gluten-free diet.

Alcohol-Free Option: Replace the vodka with a non-alcoholic alternative to make this recipe alcohol-free.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: We used a cup of gummy bears and vodka in a 1:1 ratio, making this recipe easy to scale to your desired yield.

Make It Spicy: Spice up these Vodka Gummy Bears using spicy vodka, spicy gummy bears, or both for super-duper spicy gummies.

Sugar-Free: The written recipe contains 100 grams of sugar per batch. Make this recipe sugar-free with sugar-free gummies.

Tips for the Best Vodka Gummy Bears

• If your gummy bears stick together, rinse them with water until they unstick. 

What to Serve with Vodka Gummy Bears

These party-ready Vodka Gummy Bears are a surefire way to garner compliments at your next cocktail party, and you can make them your own in many different ways! Here are some menu planning suggestions to keep the good times rolling all night.

Sides: Cheddar Bay Sausage Balls, 3-Ingredient Creamy Hidden Valley Ranch Dip, 7-Layer Taco Dip, CrockPot Bourbon Little Smokies, Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip, Super Easy Marinated Olives, Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip, CrockPot Spicy Mango Jerk Chicken Wings

Desserts: Easy Fruit Salad, Chocolate-Covered Rice Krispie Treats, Crock Pot Pecan Praline Dip, 3-Ingredient Marshmallow Fluff Fruit Dip, Salted Caramel Rice Krispies Football Treats, Pecan Pie Puffs, Bourbon Cherry Brownies, Ooey-Gooey Butter Cake

Drinks: Pink Starburst Shot and Cocktail, Bahama Mama Popsicle, Scooby Snack Shot, Girl Scout Cookie Shot, Sea Blue Martini, Mini Beer Shot, RumChata Pudding Shots, Dill Pickle Martini, Tequila and Sprite Cocktail, Snakebite Shot, Jelly Bean Shot, Cement Mixer Shot

When to Serve

• Parties
• Game Day
• Cocktail Night
• Halloween
• Holidays 

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