If you’re looking for a fun, vibrant drink that doubles as a conversation starter, then you have to try this Gummy Bear Cocktail Recipe. I absolutely love this cocktail because it’s playful, refreshing, and surprisingly easy to whip up with ingredients you might already have on hand. Whether you’re hosting friends or just want a whimsical twist on your usual cocktail, this recipe will quickly become your go-to for casual summer evenings.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple & Quick: This Gummy Bear Cocktail Recipe takes under 10 minutes from start to finish—perfect for last-minute fun.
- Unique Flavor Combo: The blend of zesty lemon, sweet honey, and blueberry jam creates a balanced, fruity taste you’ll crave.
- Playful Presentation: Garnishing with yellow gummy bears makes for an adorable and memorable drink experience.
- Resourceful & Creative: It cleverly uses leftover honey from your honey bear jar, reducing waste and adding sweetness naturally.
Ingredients You’ll Need
When I first tried this Gummy Bear Cocktail Recipe, I was amazed at how such simple ingredients could create such an exciting flavor profile. These ingredients complement each other beautifully and are easy to find, so shopping won’t be a hassle.
- Granulated sugar: Use fine granulated sugar for rim coating—it sticks better with the lemon juice.
- Lemon zest: Adds a fresh citrus aroma; use organic lemons if possible to avoid bitter pith.
- Honey: I love using the last teaspoon from my honey bear container to sweeten the drink naturally.
- Blueberry preserves or fruit spread: This gives the cocktail a lovely depth and fruity sweetness. Bonne Maman is my go-to for a reliable flavor.
- Vodka: A clean vodka works best here to let the other flavors shine.
- Lemon-flavored soda water: Adds sparkle and a gentle lemon tang that brightens the cocktail.
- Yellow gummy bears (optional): These are the fun garnish that steals the show—perfect for parties or a playful treat.
- Honey bear container: This is your secret weapon to use the last bit of honey.
Variations
I encourage you to make this Gummy Bear Cocktail Recipe your own! Some of my favorite tweaks have made it even more fun and tailored to different occasions.
- Frozen Twist: Freeze the cocktail in ice cube trays with gummy bears inside for a slushy experience—my friends went nuts for this at summer BBQs.
- Different Fruit Spread: Swap blueberry jam for raspberry or blackberry preserves for a different berry profile without losing the charm.
- Mocktail Version: Skip the vodka altogether and add extra soda water and a splash of lemon juice for a kid-friendly or alcohol-free treat.
- Herbal Infusion: Add a sprig of fresh mint or basil for an herbal note that provides a fresh contrast to the sweetness.
How to Make Gummy Bear Cocktail Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Honey and Sugar Rim
Start by using or reserving your honey bear container until about a teaspoon of honey is left. Add 1 tablespoon of hot water to the honey, then shake or stir until it dissolves smoothly—this creates a honey syrup that’ll sweetly bind the flavors together. While you’re at it, combine granulated sugar with the lemon zest in a small shallow bowl. Next, cut a wedge from your lemon and run it around the opening of your honey jar before dipping the rim into the sugar-lemon mixture. This gives a gorgeous, flavorful crust that’s as delightful to lick as it is to look at.
Step 2: Mix the Cocktail Base
Spoon the blueberry preserves into the honey jar, then pour in 1 oz. of vodka. Gently stir the mixture to blend the preserves and honey syrup—this step is crucial so the flavors combine without breaking up the berries inside the preserves. Don’t rush it; a careful stir keeps the texture delightful and ensures a balanced sweetness.
Step 3: Add Lemon Soda and Garnish
Top off your jar with 7 oz. of lemon-flavored soda water. The fizz adds that perfect lively sparkle to your gummy bear cocktail. If you want to keep it playful, toss in some yellow gummy bears as a garnish—they infuse a little candy sweetness and charm. Serve immediately, preferably with a straw to stir the drink as you sip.
Pro Tips for Making Gummy Bear Cocktail Recipe
- Honey Syrup Magic: Adding hot water to the honey helps it pour easier and mix thoroughly—don’t skip this step or you’ll get clumps.
- Sugar Rim Success: Use a lemon wedge to moisten the rim, then dip into the sugar-zest mix quickly to ensure an even coat without drips.
- Preserves over Juice: Using blueberry preserves instead of juice adds body and natural sweetness that pairs beautifully with honey and lemon zest.
- Fresh is Best: Don’t use old soda water, or the fizz will fall flat—this cocktail shines brightest when it’s bubbly and fresh.
How to Serve Gummy Bear Cocktail Recipe
Garnishes
I always garnish my gummy bear cocktail with bright yellow gummy bears—they add a pop of color and a nostalgic sweet chew that’s irresistible. Sometimes I add a lemon wheel on the rim or a sprig of fresh mint to elevate the look and freshen the aroma. If you’re feeling extra festive, try edible glitter or colorful cocktail picks to amp up the party vibe.
Side Dishes
My favorite pairing with this cocktail is a lightly salted snack like roasted almonds or a charcuterie board with mild cheeses and fresh berries. The sweetness of the cocktail contrasts beautifully with the savory bites, and it makes for a relaxed, delightful combo that impresses guests every time.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist at parties, I like serving the cocktail in mason jars or mini honey jars to play off the honey theme. You can also freeze gummy bears into ice cubes and serve them in clear glasses so they slowly release sweetness as they melt—trust me, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! Stringing gummy bears on cocktail picks as a “skewer” is another cute touch I’ve used for birthdays and summer gatherings.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
This cocktail is best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, I recommend storing them in an airtight container in the fridge without the soda water and gummy bears. The preserves and honey mixture keep well, and you can add soda water just before serving again to revive the fizz.
Freezing
Freezing the entire cocktail isn’t ideal because the soda water loses carbonation and the texture changes. However, you can freeze gummy bears in ice cubes ahead of time to have on hand for easy garnish, which I find adds a lovely chilled element to the drink when used fresh.
Reheating
Since this is a cold, fizzy drink, reheating isn’t typical. If you want to enjoy the preserves and honey blend warm, try gently warming that mixture alone to drizzle over desserts or toast—but once combined with soda and vodka, it’s best served chilled.
FAQs
-
Can I use a different type of soda in the Gummy Bear Cocktail Recipe?
Absolutely! While lemon-flavored soda water adds a bright citrus note, you can try club soda with a splash of lemon juice or even a lemon-lime soda for a sweeter, more vibrant twist. Just keep in mind that sweeter sodas will change the overall sweetness of your cocktail.
-
Is it necessary to use blueberry preserves, or can I substitute with fresh blueberries?
Using blueberry preserves gives you that rich, jammy sweetness that fresh blueberries can’t fully replicate. Fresh berries add texture but less concentrated sweetness, so if you use fresh, consider adding a bit more honey or sugar to balance the flavors.
-
How do I make this cocktail kid-friendly?
To make this a fun mocktail, simply skip the vodka and increase the lemon-flavored soda water. The honey and blueberry preserves provide plenty of sweetness, so kids can enjoy the fruity, bubbly drink alongside adults.
-
What if I don’t have a honey bear container?
No worries! You can use any jar or small container of honey. The trick is to use the last teaspoon or so of honey and mix it with hot water to make a syrup. That syrup is what sweetens the cocktail beautifully.
Final Thoughts
This Gummy Bear Cocktail Recipe has a special place in my heart because it’s simple, resourceful, and just plain fun. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best drinks come from humble ingredients and a bit of creativity. I’m confident you’ll enjoy making this as much as I do—and your guests will definitely be asking for seconds. So go ahead, grab your honey bear, some gummy bears, and get mixing. Cheers to good times and great drinks!
Print
Gummy Bear Cocktail Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 0 sec
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: 1 serving
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
A fun and fruity Gummy Bear Cocktail that creatively uses leftover honey from a honey bear container. This refreshing summer drink combines vodka, blueberry preserves, lemon zest, and lemon-flavored soda water, topped with optional yellow gummy bears for a playful garnish.
Ingredients
For the Gummy Bear Cocktail
- 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1 lemon, zested, plus more lemon wedges for serving
- 1 tsp. honey (from honey bear container)
- 1 tbsp. blueberry preserves or fruit spread (such as Bonne Maman)
- 1 oz. vodka
- 7 oz. lemon-flavored soda water
- Yellow gummy bears, for serving (optional)
- 1 honey bear container (reserve about 1 teaspoon honey)
Instructions
- Prepare the honey: Use or reserve honey from the honey bear container until about 1 teaspoon remains. Add 1 tablespoon of hot water to the remaining honey and shake vigorously until the honey dissolves completely, creating a smooth honey syrup.
- Rim the glass: In a small shallow bowl, combine the granulated sugar with lemon zest. Cut a wedge of lemon from the zested lemon and rub the wedge around the rim of the honey jar or the serving glass. Dip the rim into the sugar and lemon zest mixture to coat evenly for a flavorful, decorative rim.
- Mix the cocktail base: In the honey jar or glass, add 1 tablespoon blueberry preserves and 1 ounce vodka. Gently stir or swirl to combine all ingredients, creating a flavorful, fruity base for the cocktail.
- Top with soda water: Slowly pour 7 ounces of lemon-flavored soda water over the cocktail base. Stir gently once more to combine without losing the soda’s carbonation.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish the cocktail with yellow gummy bears on a skewer or placed on top if desired. Serve immediately for a refreshing and fun summer drink experience.
Notes
- This cocktail creatively uses the leftover honey in your honey bear container, minimizing waste.
- The lemon zest in the sugar rim adds a bright citrus flavor that enhances the drink.
- Blueberry preserves add sweetness and depth; you may substitute with other fruit spreads if desired.
- Adjust vodka amount to taste for a stronger or lighter cocktail.
- Gummy bears add a playful and visually appealing garnish, perfect for parties.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail (approximate)
- Calories: 596
- Sugar: 54 g
- Sodium: 82 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 130 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
