Drunk Gummy Bears

Given the title of my blog, it probably comes as no surprise that I enjoy a little recreational drinking. (Admittedly, sometimes I recreate more than others.)

I recently heard about Drunk Gummy Bears (a.k.a. Drunken Gummi Bears or Vodka-Infused Gummy Bears). I love gummy bears. And I like alcohol. Seemed like a can't-miss combination. I figured I'd experiment with them a bit, and if they turned into alcohol-soaked deliciousness, I would package them as Christmas gifts for all my other recreational drinking friends.

Like everything I do in life, I researched thoroughly before embarking on my experiment. I watched multiple You Tube videos and read various blog posts about the proper procedure for making these sugary alcoholic treats. Although specifics varied, the basics were as follows:

• Procure gummy bears and vodka.
• Place gummy bears into a glass container.
• Pour vodka over gummy bears.
• Top container with lid/plastic wrap and store in fridge.
• Stir a few times each day.

After this, directions vary. Some call for soaking the gummy bears only 12-16 hours. Others say to soak for 4-5 days and add more vodka as needed. Some instructions suggest adding fruit juice on the last day to cut the taste of alcohol.

I let mine soak for about 16 hours. When I returned to them, they were a gummy, gooey, sticky mess. Ugh. I was disheartened, but I decided to leave them in the fridge for a little more time. Why not, right?

Well, 24 hours after the gummy bears had first been submerged in vodka, a good friend shows up to drink a few beers with me. The night progressed... as nights tend to do... and I decided to show Hubby and Friend my gummy bear experiment. The bears were all stuck together, engorged with vodka, and their facial features were barely distinguishable. Hubby and Friend, however, were not deterred. They took a spoon, gave the bears a hearty stir, and proceeded to eat almost all of them. (I admit to sampling a few, too.)

Mostly, they tasted like vodka. The bears had squishy exteriors and hard interiors. Even though they weren't very palatable, most of them got consumed. This proves to me that vodka-soaked gummy bears are a hit, regardless of their texture. (Or maybe it just says something about my drinking buddies' tastes.)

Anyway, I have not deemed the experiment a failure yet. I decided to try it again. This time, I put the gummy bears in a glass jar instead of a bowl, and I added a ton of vodka. (I think the bears really need to drown in it to prevent the sticking factor.) So far they have only been soaking 12 hours, but they are definitely sticking less than the first batch.

Also, this time I used blueberry vodka instead of plain vodka.

I am sure you are anxiously awaiting the results with bated breath. I'll keep a close eye on them and report later.