By Jeffrey Brian Airman

Gummi, or gummy, bears are bear-shaped sweetened and flavored gelatin candy. Most gummi bear makers produce a selection of fruit-inspired flavors and colors. The semi-firm gel candies are dried from their original liquid form. As moisture is released from the gummi bears, they become increasingly tough and chewy. Candy manufacturers seal the gummi bears into bags to stop moisture loss and set the texture of their product. You can quickly dry gummi bear candies to achieve the precise level of chewiness you enjoy.

Gummi bears become increasingly hard and chewy as they lose moisture.

Step 1

Add cornstarch to a sifter. Sift cornstarch into a small shallow dish until it reaches the level of the rim.

Step 2

Press the gummi bears into the cornstarch with their feet and hands pointing down until the flat backside is even with the level of the cornstarch. Leave a 1/4-inch of space between each gummi bear. Sift more cornstarch onto the backs of the gummi bears until they are no longer visible.

Step 3

Slide the shallow dish of cornstarch and gummi bears into the refrigerator. Wait for six hours. Remove a single candy from the dish for a texture sample.

Step 4

Leave the texture sample gummi bear out at room temperature for 15 minutes to warm up. Dust off the sample with a pastry brush to remove the cornstarch. Chew the gummi bear to determine if the others need more time in the shallow tray.

Step 5

Sample another bear candy every 6 to 8 hours until they are dried to your satisfaction. Cut the gummi bears into pieces to expose more surface area to the cornstarch and decrease drying times.