Gummy bear

Gummy bears were first made in Germany in the 1920s, inspired by the dancing bears seen at fairs. The candy mixture is heated, then poured into bear-shaped molds pressed into trays of cornstarch, which dry the surface as the candies set. They are then coated with a thin layer of oil or wax so they do not stick.

Homemade gummies can be made with fruit juice, sugar and gelatin set in silicone molds. Pectin or agar can replace gelatin for versions without animal products, although the texture is less bouncy.