Homemade Gummy Candies for Colonoscopy Prep (Clear Liquid Diet Recipe)

Make your own colonoscopy gummy candies! Learn to create homemade gummies that are both tasty and colonoscopy prep-friendly, using easy-to-find ingredients.

Although solid foods are off-limits during the clear liquid diet colonoscopy prep phase, one loophole that many people enjoy (with their doctor’s permission) is gelatin. Gelatin is a high-protein semi-solid gelatinous food, and a key ingredient in gummy candies and jello.

Semi-solid at cool temperatures, gelatin melts into liquid when consumed, leaving behind no trace in our digestive tracts. This quality makes the consumption of gelatin generally safe for colonoscopy prep, as long as it fulfils all the other clear liquid diet requirements as well (e.g. no dairy, no solid bits, suitable colors).

Unfortunately, one of the challenges with buying gummies is that packets contain mostly red and purple candies – colors that are not permitted during colonoscopy prep. Not to mention they are often full of artificial flavors, which may not be to your personal taste when you’re trying to nurture your body.

In this recipe, we explain how you can make your own colonoscopy prep-friendly gummies, using common ingredients from your local supermarket. We also offer tips for how to customize them using various juices and flavors, to suit your taste or nutritional desires.

Homemade Gummy Candies for Colonoscopy Prep – Ingredients

• 1/2 cup clear juice or sports drink – see note below
• 3 tsp unflavored gelatin powder
• 1 tbsp sugar or glucose syrup – see note below
• 1/4 tsp clear flavor extract (e.g. lemon, orange) – optional
• Pinch of citric acid (for slight tartness) – optional

Lovely Liquids: How to Choose the Right Juice or Sport Drink

To make your gummy candies colonoscopy-safe, the basic rule of thumb is always avoid purple, blue, or dark red dyes. All juices must also be strained and pulp-free. Popular choices are:

• Clear apple juice
• White grape juice
• Watermelon juice
• Coconut water
• Sports drink e.g Gatorade

Avoid juices that contain protease enzymes

When choosing liquids, you also need to avoid juices that don’t cooperate with gelatin. Such juices contain protease enzymes, which prevent gelatin from setting into a firm gummy candy. Fortunately there aren’t many juices that fall in this category. Below is a quick guide.

Can I use savory liquids such as clear soup?

To make gummies successfully with a good texture, sugar is absolutely necessary. Sugar not only adds sweetness, but also structure, and it’s not possible to make a good gummy without it. For this website, I tested a combination of pork stock and maple syrup to make a ‘Bacon Maple Gummy’. There’s a good reason that recipe hasn’t been published – it tasted like a chewy wet dog rolled in syrup. So, based on that experiment, I wouldn’t recommend it, but feel free to try for yourself!

For more tips on choosing suitable liquids, check out our clear liquid diet foods guide.

For more information on proteases, check out this ThoughtCo article on fruit juices you should avoid when cooking with gelatin.

Sweet Matters: Which Sugar Should You Use?

Granulated sugar and liquid sugar behave differently in candy-making and are used for different purposes. Therefore, the sweetener you choose to use will change the end result for your clear liquid diet gummy candies. Below is a quick guide.

Granulated sugar (sucrose, table sugar):

• Using 100% sugar = slightly firmer gummies.
• Adds sweetness and structure.
• Can make gummies slightly firmer and more “crisp” in texture.

Glucose syrup (corn syrup) or honey:

• Using 100% glucose/honey = softer, chewier gummies.
• Less sweet than sucrose, but makes gummies more soft and chewy.
• Helps prevent crystallization (so your gummies aren’t grainy).

It is perfectly OK to use both together. I personally like to use a 50/50 mix sugar and glucose for a balanced chew. That is, 1/2 tbsp sugar + 1/2 tbsp glucose.

Homemade Gummy Candies for Colonoscopy Prep – Recipe

Equipment

• Small saucepan
• Whisk or silicone spatula
• Mini silicone gummy bear molds (or any fun small molds)
• Small funnel or small spoon for filling molds*

*Some recipes say use a dropper, but that can be very messy! I haven’t tried it, but a turkey baster could work.

Instructions: Making Homemade Gummies for Colonoscopy Prep

Preparation:

Start by setting up the gummy molds on your benchtop and have your spoon/funnel/dropper available, ready for filling. Once you start to make the gummy mixture, it will all happen very quickly, so you wont have time to do it later.

Method:

1. Sprinkle gelatin over 2 tablespoons of your chosen clear liquid. Let sit 5 minutes until fully absorbed (a.k.a. “bloomed”).
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, place the remaining liquid and sugar or glucose. Gently heat until all ingredients are melted and combined into a syrup.
3. Remove saucepan from heat.
4. Stir in a few drops of flavor extract and citric acid if using.
5. Next, you will whisk the bloomed gelatin into the hot syrup until completely dissolved. Try to pour the gelatin in slowly while whisking quickly, to help avoid any lumps of gelatin in the liquid. If any lumps form, use a teaspoon to carefully pick the undesirable bits out.
6. Fill the molds: carefully fill each gummy mold with the spoon or funnel.
7. Gently tap the mold on the benchtop, to remove air bubbles.
8. Chill to set: refrigerate for 2–3 hours until gummies are firm.
9. Once set, gently pop gummies out of molds.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Homemade gummies do not contain the same preservatives as storebought gummies, so storing them in the fridge is the safest option.

Customising Your Clear Liquid Diet Gummies

Tips for Customising Your Gummies

• Sweetness: This recipe gives a mild, pleasant sweetness suitable for colonoscopy prep. But if you want it sweeter, you can add a little more sugar or glucose.

• Food Dyes: While colorful gummies are fun, it is important to avoid artificial food colors where possible. Red, purple and blue artificial colors must be avoided, because they can interfere with visibility during the colonoscopy. Check the table below for natural ways to create different colors, instead.
• Natural Colors: You can use different yellow/orange flavors to safely add natural color to your gummies. E.g. lemon for yellow, orange for orange, white grape for pale gummy.
• Molds: Any small molds will work (even ice cube trays), but mini silicone molds made for this purpose will make them look like real gummy bears, worms, or other fun shapes.
• Tartness: Citric acid gives slight tartness and enhances flavor without adding color or residue. Add more or less, to taste. Citric acid is usually found in the baking section of supermarkets.
• Keep it clear: To keep them colonoscopy-prep friendly, ensure your gummies contain no solids, such as fruit pulp, and no dairy. You many need to strain juices before using.
• Do not substitute with agar-agar: A popular vegan alternative to gelatin is agar-agar, but for colonoscopy prep it is important that you avoid agar-agar. This is because agar-agar is high in fiber, and will leave residue in your gut, defeating the purpose of colonoscopy prep.

Colonoscopy-Friendly Gummy Color & Flavor Guide

If you’re looking to achieve different colors with your gummies, then the below guide should help you select suitable fruit juices to achieve the color you’re seeking without resorting to artificial food dyes.

Conclusion

Creating your own homemade  gummy candies is a great way to add a fun spin to your colonoscopy prep, and take the focus away from more serious clear liquid diet foods such as soups. They are also a good way to make your tummy feel like it has a little substance, when you are deep in the pangs of hunger. But like any sweet, make sure you eat in moderation. If you have any questions or concerns about eating gummy candies or gelatin, as always, speak with your doctor or medical team.