Drunken Gummies. So Throwback.

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I was recently carousing through Pinterest, when I saw a pin for drunken gummies (also known as liquor or vodka soaked gummies). Birds  were like, “Oh my GOD I HAVE to try this!”

“Wow! This is amazingggg!”

 “Teenagers…wah wah… they are going to bring this to school..wah wah.. irresponsible.. It’s bad enough as a parent that I have to worry about guns, knives and bullies threatening the safety of my children… wah wah….”

First of all, as a former teenager I can ASSURE you that I never needed candy to convince or persuade me to make unsafe decisions. If kids want to sneak into mommy and daddy’s liquor cabinet and get silly they will. Oh, they will.

In fact, if a teenager were to select the least detectable means of drinking, it would not be soaking gummy bears in the family fridge for everyone to see.  Water bottles are easier to hide.

Secondly, drunken gummies have been around foreeeeeeever (or at the very least 9ish years ago when I was in college). Where have you people been?? I’m strongly considering establishing a new college that educates clueless people in the art of things that make life the awesomest:

Look up college course codes, awesome things

MTH 396, Statistical Analysis of Power Hour

PHL 251, Philosophy­ -Fried Hot Dogs: How Fried is Too Fried?

PHED 27A,  Parachute Day in Gym Class

BUS 124, Organizational Strategies- Adult Naptime and its Affect on Process Efficiency

VPS 223, Fine Arts- The Demonstration and Nature of Tailgating

HIS 401, 80’s Pop Culture 

I have to thank and give credit to my college roommate Emma. She introduced me to this magical feast back in the day. If gnomes, fairies, unicorns and the Muppets got together for a drink, this is what they would snack on. Drunken gummies are like multi-tasking. Nibbling on candy and having cocktails simultaneously (both of which I strive to do every day).

Emma would buy a giant bag of gummy bears and soak them for the day, to be shared that evening  amongst the dormmates. She even let me tape every Red Sox game. That’s almost 3 hours every night. And yes, it was on a VHS. So throwback. Amazing.

For some of you, this is an intro course (shame).

Others, a refresher.

You can serve these at a regular get-together, camp-out or weekend at the lake house with friends. Turn it up a notch and create a lovely, yet delicious presentation for showers, birthdays, pimped out tailgates, welcome home parties, family reunions (for bad-ass families), anniversaries (my mother insisted), or holidays.

Here Is What You Need For Your Drunken Gummies

-          gummies *

-          liquor

 

(*FYI they are spelled as, “gummy,” and “gummi.” I am a commitment phobe and therefore will be using both versions in this post.)

 

That’s it. Yup. You can either dunk them in a bowl of alcohol for a day or two, or leave them in longer should you care for a more effective fusion. In this case, I absorbed mine with spirits for about a week or so.

Pour enough to cover the gummies and pop into the fridge. Once they soak up after a day or so, I add more. Sometimes, I only add a couple of times, whereas if I am in a bad mood I may add maybe up to four refills or so over the course of the week. Gummies can really hold their liquor. Each day, I use a spoon (or even hands) to separate the gummies from one another.

The more you add, the more of a quaggy texture they can devleop. And the more dangerous. The less you add, the lighter the liquor taste and the firmer they are.

If you are a good, strong drinker just add regular liquor. Any kind (air on the side of caution with higher proofs). If you are a big sissy, then use flavored vodka (like whipped cream or cake). The gummies will taste sweeter and easier to slurp down. Please do not comment that these are too strong, because that is really up to you to decide how much to add. I’m sorry to say but IT’S LIQUOR! What do you expect? People these days, always trying to get drunk without having to taste alcohol. Nothing wrong with that, but don’t complain if it actually does. Anyhoo, I tried whipped cream or marshmallow vodka and it was very good. Sweet, but good.

You know that I had to do a touch more than just filling a bowl with regular gummy bears and cheap liquor. That wouldn’t be very 1 Fine Cookie of me. So I basically Super Sweet 16’ed it up.

Here are just some the gummies I decided to work with:

Gummy rings.

Gummy Army men (and women)

Gummy burgers

Gummy cherries

Cola gummies

Flower gummies

There were other colors in the bag as well, if you are looking for a different color scheme.

Gummy frogs

Red, white and blue gummy bears. Classic in so many ways.

Gummy sharks. Duh, nuh… Duh, nuh…Duh nuh duh nuh duh nuh…

I started off with a bowl, but discovered that laying them flat in deep dishes allowed for each gummy to have equal access to liquor. They also were less likely to break, fold, or smush. Don’t forget to cover up and refrigerate.

You must be careful when consuming these. They absorbed all of that liquor plus more.

Although we ate them out of the candy tub/bowl in our undergrad days, the possibilities for serving and displaying liquor soaked gummies are infinite.

Before I serve these, I dry them off a little on a paper towel.

For a birthday or welcome home celebration.

When I soaked these, I noticed some began to lose their shape or fold in half. I laid them flat and upright on a deep dish filled with liquor in order to maintain their shape and details. Remember, if you add too much liquor they can get somewhat mushy or gooey so for display purposes, be mindful of how much you add.

Supplies:

Gummy army (wo)men

Green cocktail forks

Brown cocktail forks

Camo Fabric

Suggested liquor: Vodka

I really do have a deep love of all things red, white and blue. Add a little whimsical charm to your outdoor or summer parties with these :

In order to get your gummies to stay on any sticks, toothpicks, party picks, or skewers I would suggest only soaking once (maybe refilling a tiny bit more after the first round of absorption) and placing in freezer. The more wet they are, the more likely they will break in half and fall off.

I used marshmallow flavored vodka for these. Light any sparklers at your own caution.

Supplies:

Sparklers

Or candle sparklers (a safer alternative)

USA Bears (Red, White and Blue)

Tall shot glass

Pinwheel Picks

Suggested liquor: marshmallow vodka

Cinco de Mayo? Cinco de Legend. This will be one May 5^th you will absolutely forget.

I have difficulty with Tequila, but for the brave you could try it. A lime-flavored liquor also works.

In this case, since the bears only sit in cups you can pour in a lot of alcohol without worrying about them staying up on a pick. Just dry them off on a paper towel and scoop into mini cupcake liners.

American created holidays that celebrate the stereotypes of foreign cultures are my favorite kind of holidays. Switch out the flowers for all mustaches, and you have yourself a hipster party.

Supplies:

Swirly gummy bears

Red mini baking cups

Adhesive mustaches

Fabric flower stickers
(I simply glued the stickers to toothpicks)

Suggested Liquor: Tequila

I thought about the idea of using color to play with as well.

Ombre drunken gummies.

I used skewers and slowly whittled them through clear alphabet gummies. Then, I placed the bottom tips into blue curacao liqueur and limoncello. Cover and refrigerate.

Select an appropriate light-colored gummy for whatever event.

Congratulations Michelle! Or Mike, Maria, Mary, Maddie, Meghan, Meghyn, Megean, Megan- you get the point.

You like the Nautical theme? Totally in right now.

Also appropriate for engagement parties, weddings, bachelorette weekends, anniversary parties, or family reunions. So long as you can find the correct initials.

Supplies

Gummi Alphabet Letters

Or these

Ceramic Divided Dish

Yellow Tablecloth

Decorative shell pins

Stripe dish from Sur La Table

Suggested liquors: Blue curacao liqueur & limoncello

Rum and cokes are one of my favorite drinks.

Use a little lime-flavored rum to make it a Cuba Libre. You can also use Jack Daniels should you prefer Jack & Coke.

Since these did not need to sit pretty, I soaked these up with plenty of rum.

Feel free to squeeze a little lime juice on top before sucking them down.

Supplies:

Cola gummies

Party frill toothpicks

Suggested liquor: Lime-flavored rum

Gummy sharks will work for anything tropical, beach, pirate or ocean-themed.  I love me some Jimmy Buffett so I can see these at the next tailgate. Fins up!

These are big ones, so if you like to hoard food or eat big servings the sharks are perfect for you. Just stab them with a sword.

Supplies:

Grass table skirt

Blue gummy sharks

Plastic sword picks

Margarita glass

Yeah, no ideas here. I just love frog gummies.

Using appetizer spoons is easy and adds a delicate touch to something that isn’t all that elegant and subtle. Frogs are cool, especially when they taste like apple vodka.

Supplies:

Gummi green Frogs

Appetizer spoons from Pier 1 Imports, or you can order this This Leaf Coaster

Suggested Liquor: Apple vodka

Bridal anything makes me run and hide. Should a shower be thrown that serves these drunken flowers I would show up with plenty of gift-wrapped spatulas and thongs.

These are one of those that you should be careful about over-soaking. They will not stay on the toothpicks if they have absorbed too much liquor.

I made the bride tag with stock paper and scrapbook stickers. The flower pots are silicone ones for baking. I filled them with gumballs to hold the skewers upright. Toothpicks  will not be tall enough so use skewers cut to the appropriate length.

Supplies:

Gummi flowers

10-Inch Bamboo Skewers

Silicone flower pot cupcake cups

Pink gumballs

Light green gumballs

Vine ribbons

Bride scrapbook stickers were from the scrapbook section of the Arts & Craft store
or order bridal stickers here

Aqua Cardstock (the paper used to make the tag)

Suggested Liquor: Whipped cream or regular vodka

These gummy burgers work perfectly for a cookout or tailgate, a 50’s or vintage party too.

I glued bottle caps to cut skewers, and placed on top of paper cups filled with shredded paper.

Supplies:

Colorful bottle caps

Or these Vintage bottle caps

10-Inch Bamboo Skewers

Shredded paper

Gingham favor cups

Gummy Burgers

 

 

Cherry bomb.

Cherry gummies pair well with anything, but the obvious cherry liqueur would be a suitable pairing. Chocolate vodka might result in chocolate covered cherries.

Supplies:

Gummi Cherries

Mini Margarita Glass

Or in plastic: Mini Margarita Glasses

Red candy beads

Green jimmies

Suggested liquor: Cherry-flavored liqueur, or brandy if you dare

I just so happen to love the following idea so much, I couldn’t decide between which photos to post.

I made drunken gummy cupcake toppers. Siders, I suppose, if you’re going to get all technical with me.

I only poured over one or two fillings of liquor over the gummy rings in a week. I froze the gummies before using them.

After piping on a swirl of frosting, I popped the cupcakes into the fridge. This made the frosting firm enough to hold the drunken gummy “necklaces.”

I used baker’s twine to make little necklaces and tie around the firm frosting. I placed the leftover gummies into little paper cups. As for the stars and numbers, I used numbers and asterisks stickers from an alphabet sheet for scrapbooks, and attached them to toothpicks/skewers.

Happy Birthday!!

Supplies:

Gummi rings

Black baker’s twine
Green alphabet stickers purchased at local arts & craft store (in the scrapbooking section) or order these instead

Lavender glitter letter stickers

Black Polka Dot Cupcake Liners

Black & white polka dot cups

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