I Made the Viral Frozen Gummy Bears and My Kids Want More

A New Take on a Trendy Treat

Last year, frozen gummy bears were all the rage. People were sharing their experiences online, experimenting with soaking them in soda, freezing them, and marveling at how their texture and flavor changed. I missed out on the trend initially, but now that it's resurfacing, I decided to give it a try because it sounded like the perfect summer treat for me and my family.

I first saw the idea pop up on @emilyscooking and knew it was time to take action. I asked my kids if they wanted to try it, and to no one’s surprise, they were eager. In the videos, the transformation looked dramatic—small gummy bears swelled in size after being soaked in soda, then turned into a frosty, frozen treat that people were going wild over.

After watching several videos, I checked my kitchen and realized I had everything I needed to try this trend. Here's how I did it.

How to Make Frozen Gummy Bears

This frozen gummy bear trend is surprisingly simple. All you need to do is soak, chill, freeze, and enjoy.

Start by grabbing your favorite gummy candy. I used 4D Dinosaur gummy bears for fun, but any kind will work. Place them in a container with a lid, then pour in lemon-lime soda—like ginger ale, which I had on hand. Make sure the soda fully covers the gummies.

Put a lid on the container and refrigerate overnight. The soaking time is crucial because it allows the candy to absorb the soda and expand in size.

By morning, the gummies will have absorbed a lot of the soda and grown larger. Carefully transfer them from the bowl to a parchment-lined baking sheet, making sure they’re not touching. Then, freeze them for at least four hours.

When you come back, you’ll find a tray of frosty, oversized gummy treats that are surprisingly delightful to bite into. The outside becomes icy and soft, almost like Italian ice. But when you take a deeper bite, you hit a firmer, candy-like center that has the chewy pull of taffy mixed with the snap of a Jolly Rancher. It’s weird in the best way.

What My Kids and I Thought of the Frozen Gummy Bears

My kids were amazed by how much the gummies changed in size and texture. They especially liked how the soft and hard textures contrasted, and they immediately asked if we could make more with different kinds of gummies. It’s rare for a snack this easy to feel so novel, but this one definitely delivers.

One of the best parts of this recipe is how easy it is to customize. Try gummy worms with Sprite, or peach rings with orange soda. You can experiment with flavors and see what combination works best. Ginger ale worked well for us because it wasn’t too strong or too weak—it gave the gummies just the right amount of extra flavor.

If you're looking for a fun kitchen activity or just want something cool and sweet to snack on, frozen soda-soaked gummy bears are totally worth the (minimal) effort. It took me a while to make this viral recipe, but I’m all in now. If you haven’t tried it yet, this is your sign to make a batch!