Spring is here and that means one my favorite holidays is quickly approaching…EASTER! I love everything about this joyous time of year, well almost everything. I’m not a fan of the candy overload. I love doing Easter baskets for my kids, but I try to limit the sugary things that go in there. Coloring books, stickers, jewelry, lip balm, sunglasses, small toys are all good alternatives. But really, your kids are only looking for that something sweet!
I’m sharing with you today, a nutritious treat that you can happily put in your kid’s easter baskets. Homemade fruit snacks! Don’t be intimidated. I was at first too. Now that I’ve made them, I’m kicking myself for not making them sooner. Easy, easy, easy. We did a strawberry batch and a mango batch. They are so tasty and my kids gobbled them right up!
These fruit snacks are super healthy. Made with fresh fruit, slightly sweetened with honey or pure maple syrup and loaded with protein. Yes, protein! The unflavored gelatin, which is needed for the fruit snacks to hold their shape, is 100% protein. I like to purchase this brand, as it’s made from grass-fed beef. It’s also packed with amino acids and is wonderful for your skin, hair, joints and gut. Pretty amazing stuff.
Happy Easter, Ask Anna readers! Here’s to a tasty treat that you can feel GREAT about giving to your kids!
Homemade Fruit Snacks
serves 10-12
- 2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen fruit
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
- 5 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
Prepare 8-inch baking dish* by lining with parchment paper (for easy removal). In medium saucepan, add fruit, orange juice and maple syrup. Cook over medium-low heat, just to soften fruit. Turn off heat and carefully pour mixture into blender or food processor. Puree until smooth.
Pour mixture back into saucepan. Turn heat to low and slowly add gelatin. Continue to whisk until gelatin is completely dissolved and no clumps remain. Pour into prepared pan. Place in refrigerator for about 1-2 hours, until set. Remove from pan and cut into 1/2-inch squares (a pizza cutter works great!). Store in air-tight container. These fruit snacks to not have to be refrigerated, but we prefer to keep them chilled.
*You can also pour the fruit mixture into silicone molds to make fun shapes!
- 2½ cups fresh or frozen fruit
- ⅓ cup orange juice
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
- 5 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
- Prepare 8-inch baking dish* by lining with parchment paper (for easy removal).
- In medium saucepan, add fruit, orange juice and maple syrup. Cook over medium-low heat, just to soften fruit.
- Turn off heat and carefully pour mixture into blender or food processor. Puree until smooth.
- Pour mixture back into saucepan. Turn heat to low and slowly add gelatin. Continue to whisk until gelatin is completely dissolved and no clumps remain.
- Pour into prepared pan. Place in refrigerator for about 1-2 hours, until set.
- Remove from pan and cut into ½-inch squares (a pizza cutter works great!).
- Store in air-tight container. These fruit snacks to not have to be refrigerated, but we prefer to keep them chilled.
- *You can also pour the fruit mixture into silicone molds to make fun shapes!
These look great. Can another juice be used instead of orange juice? Trying to be low acid.
Yes, another juice should work in it’s place. The acid in orange juice helps the fruit to keep from turning brown. I would just make sure to keep them refrigerated.
The enzymes in pineapple juice will keep things from turning brown much better than citrus juices. In fact, if you leave a sliced apple out on the counter and it turns brown, soaking it in a bit of pineapple juice will take the brown away. The canned juice works as well as fresh. Pineapple juice is also a little less acidic than citrus juices.
Where can I buy gelatin?
Amazon is where I purchase my gelatin. http://www.amazon.com/Great-Lakes-Unflavored-Gelatin-16-Ounce/dp/B0008D6WBA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397449644&sr=8-1&keywords=gelatin
it is Knox unflavored gelatin. It is the stuff that makes the fruit thicken and stick to gether. I used to make finger jello when the kids were younger and this is what I used to make it so you could pick up the jello with your hands.
Could you use something other than orange juice in these. I am allergic to citrus as is my granddaughter.
Just wondering how long these last for before the go bad??
Thanks
Stephanie, I would say around 2 weeks, when stored in the refrigerator.
This recipe looks fantastic. I have already seen some berries in the market and think they will be perfect candidate. I’m just wondering whether I can use this recipe to make ice pop.
When they are done are they just like Jell-o?
Hi, Emily! I’m Anna’s assistant, Bethany. I have not made these myself, but it’s my understanding that they are more like the consistency of a fruit snack. They don’t require refrigeration like Jell-o, but the author of this post said they just prefer them refrigerated/cold. Hope this helps!
ok but I meant to ask are they more sticky like fruit snacks then Jell-o? Sorry I guess I worded my question wrong the first time.