Homemade Fruit Snacks with Juice

Easy homemade fruit snacks with juice recipe! Only 4 ingredients to make sweet jellies complete with Vitamin C and real fruit! We used fresh strawberries for this one but blueberry would be wonderful too.

If you have kids you’ll all love homemade fruit snacks with juice! There are a ton of those packaged jellies in the stores but I bet you didn’t realize just how easy they are to make at home! Using real pureed fruit, real fruit juice and a bit of honey you too can make them.  (affiliate links present)

Homemade Fruit Snacks Ingredients

1. Gelatin powder – unflavored, comes in a powder
2. Fresh fruit – we used strawberries, could use frozen but thawed
3. 100% fruit juice – we used a berry/apple blend, apple juice is great too, must be 100%
4. Honey – for sweetness, optional, omit for sugar free
5. A small pot – my small Farberware pot in my Neat Nest™ set works great
6. Silicone molds – we used a flower mold and building bricks seen here in yellow
7. Cookie sheet – my smaller Farberware baking pan works great

Using a small pot with a non stick coating is important for this recipe so everything combines well and nothing sticks to the side in the process. You will want some cute molds as well to take shape as we did here. If your child loves fruit snacks this is how to make them yourself.

What is the ratio of liquid to gelatin for gummies?

You will need about 3/4 liquid to gelatin mixture and heat is necessary in order for it to fully dissolve. If not enough time is given to get to a smooth mixture it will be gritty in texture and won’t set properly so don’t rush things. A slow consistent boil is what you want ideally.

That’s really all you need. You will need to do the cooking but let your kids choose which type(s) of molds they might like to use…there are tons out there! There are two ways to do this. They are both good but we think using pureed fruit brings a richer flavor to our homemade fruit snacks so we opt for that method. Healthy air fryer snacks are the bestest.

Tips

• Use only 100%  fruit juice – comes out more like jigglers
• Combine a combination of 100% fruit juice and pureed fruit – comes out more like fruit snacks with a bit more texture and flavor

The cookie sheet is a must so you avoid any spillage because the molds are very flexible and need to be kept flat during the freezing process. Pop them out of the molds and enjoy immediately, or store in a container and enjoy them all week long! In my house with 3 girls, and myself enjoying them, they never last longer than a day…even if I make a double batch!

How to make jelly fruit at home

1. Wash, cut off stems, and puree fruit. We used strawberries but you could easily use raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries.
2. Put your small saucepan on the stove on medium heat.
3. Add your 1/3 c. of 100% fruit juice
4. Add your 2/3 c of pureed fruit and honey (if you choose to add honey for a bit of added sweetness). Whisk together.
5. Slowly add your gelatin powder 1 -2 tsp at a time whisking to dissolve.
6. Once all of your gelatin is added continue to whisk until all of the mixture is smooth and liquid just begins to bubble
7. Turn off heat and take pot off the stove.
8. Pour the mixture into a measuring cup with a spout on it.
9. Lay your silicone molds on a cookie sheet.
10. Pour your liquid into the molds making sure not to overfill them.
11. Put your cookie sheet with molds on top into your freezer for 30 minutes, pop them out carefully, then enjoy!

How long can you store homemade fruit snacks?

You only want to leave them in the freezer for 20-30 minutes just to get them to solidify, no longer or else they will become frozen rather than a jiggly fruit snack you’re looking for. If they aren’t eaten immediately, pop out and store in a sealed freezer bag in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.

Are fruit snacks actually good for you?

Homemade gummy bears are healthy fruit snacks for on the go treats. They are way better than bagged from the grocery store for sure. Free from preservatives I would say they are healthier for sure but everything in moderation of course.

What is an alternative to gelatin?

If you’re looking for alternatives to gelatin, there are several options depending on the recipe and whether you need a vegan substitute or simply another type of thickener such as; Agar-agar, pectin is used to make our pressure cooker jam, whipped egg whites, chia seeds or cornstarch are sometimes used. Keep in mind a change will alter the consistency and may not work in all recipes.

How to Make Homemade Fruit Snacks for Toddlers

See what an easy recipe these strawberry homemade fruit snacks are to make, they turned out great! You can make any flavor you like too, I just use whatever is in season to get the best flavors….and they’re great for on the go snacks! For little ones you need to avoid choking hazards so don’t make them round, cutting into smaller pieces is the safest.

Other homemade snacks for kids

Are you ready to try these homemade snacks with fun candy molds yet?? You should make our homemade popsicles at home

• Or you can make air fryer beef jerky to take on your trips
• Protein packed air fryer edamame is my personal favorite though

What flavor do you think you’ll try first?? Jump to recipe and try a few combinations to see which your kids love the best.