Recipe: Homemade healthy fruit snacks (2024)

Homemade fruit snacks are at the heart of the story I’m about to share. It’s a story about being that mom.Sometimes I hate beingthat mom. You know, the mom who thinks her kid deserves onlytruly healthy fruit snacks.

Well, I don’t really hate being that mom.

But I do hate being the mom that tries to hide her look of fear and disgust as an innocent (and very kind) parent or child offers my child an artificial, store-bought, and full of fake dyes fruit snack. I grit my teeth and politely push a “thank you” from my lips while in my head I’m screaming: DON’T FEED THAT TO MY CHILD!!!!

Yeah, I don’t really like being that mom.

I try not to go too crazy… after all, I know my kids gets real food 99% of the time… so the rare non homemade fruit snack or handful of gold fish crackers won’t kill her. But still. Sundays are always the worse as we head off to church and then my parents’ home. I practice my deep breathing, picture lovely things, and wish I had a better alternative to the processed offerings that seem to come at every angle. Why can’t I just find a healthy fruit snack!?!

Fear not. I have found it. My healthy homemade fruit snack.

Not too long ago, Heather (aka: The Mommypotamus) posted a gem of a recipe for easy sour gummies. I made them. I loved them. And have since been inspired to create my own version of healthy homemade fruit snacks.

Why are these homemade fruit snacks healthy?

I’m glad you asked! Not only are these homemade healthy fruit snacks made from whole fruit, but they also use grass-fed gelatin. Gelatin has lots of benefitsand can help keep nails strong, hair beautiful, and skin young. It’s also a great source of high quality protein and amino acids. In fact, for my picky kids, these homemade fruit snacks are a heavenly gift. They love them. I love them. Everyone loves homemade healthy fruit snacks! (Clap your hands and sing along!)

Sweetened only with a little bit of honey, and colored by the fruit themselves, these snacks are simple, delicious, and very kid (and crazy mom) friendly. Blueberry is my favorite (which is saying something because it’s my least favorite berry of the bunch). Combined with the lemon juice… oh boy. They are good. Yes, these yummy treats are a truly healthy fruit snack.

Homemade healthy fruit snacks

Recipe: Homemade healthy fruit snacks (1)

Want your kids to actually have some healthy options as far as snacks go? Look no further! These homemade healthy fruit snacks are a favorite around here.

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time1 hour

Total Time1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice or fresh orange juice (if you don't like sour go with orange, but I definitely prefer the lemon!)
  • 2/3 cup frozen or fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries are all great.)
  • 1 - 2 Tbs honey
  • 5 Tbs gelatin (from grass fed cows...like this one)

Instructions

  1. Pour juice and berries into a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally until berries become tender and begin to soften.
  2. Add honey and stir until completely incorporated. You will want the fruit to dissolve quite a bit until you have a compote.
  3. Turn the heat off, and quickly whisk in gelatin one tablespoon at a time. Whisk vigorously until completely incorporated, mixing the gelatin in very gradually to avoid lumps.
  4. Puree mixture using a immersion blender or small blender (my magic bullet works great for this! Just be sure to cool slightly before moving over.)
  5. Pour into a 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 glass dish. Refrigerate until set (30 minutes to an hour). Cut in small squares. (You could also use some cute molds like this and create awesome shapes. I'm not awesome like that... but you could be!) Note: I like to keep these homemade fruit snacks in my fridge (I love cold things!), but they do transport and keep nicely at room temperature.

Tell me… Do you love making healthy homemade fruit snacks? How do you help your kids eat real food?

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A healthy homemade fruit snack… who knew it could be so easy?

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Recipe: Homemade healthy fruit snacks (2024)

FAQs

Which fruit snacks are the healthiest to eat? ›

The next time you're packing lunch for your kid or reaching for a healthy afternoon bite, consider this: only three types of fruit snacks – dried fruit, fruit puree and canned fruit with juice – meet the latest recommendations for high-nutrition snacks set by federal dietary guidelines, according to research by ...

What are the main ingredients in fruit snacks? ›

These and most other fruit snacks are made of mostly sugars (whether from corn syrup or concentrated fruit juice), modified cornstarch, artificial flavors, and artificial color/food dyes.

How long do homemade fruit gummies last? ›

How long do gelatin gummies last? Gelatin gummies will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Make sure they are kept in an air-tight storage container. Since they are made with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives, be careful as they get close to 2 weeks as they could get some mold on them.

Is homemade fruit leather healthy? ›

When making fruit leather at home you can control how much sugar is added. For the diabetic fruit leathers without sugar are a healthy choice for snacks or desserts.

Are Motts or Welch's fruit snacks healthier? ›

Even though Welch's uses more natural ingredients, they're not all that more healthy due to the 7 grams of added sugars. Mott's may have 10 grams, but they also have added vitamins. And if you're vegan, you're in luck. Mott's are vegan, according to shoppingfoodie.com.

What is the number one healthiest snack? ›

  1. Mixed nuts. Nuts are an ideal nutritious snack, providing the perfect balance of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. ...
  2. Red bell pepper with guacamole. ...
  3. Greek yogurt and mixed berries. ...
  4. Apple slices with peanut butter. ...
  5. Cottage cheese and fruit. ...
  6. Celery sticks with cream cheese. ...
  7. Kale chips. ...
  8. Dark chocolate and almonds.

Are fruit snacks healthier than candy? ›

Although they are often marketed as a healthier alternative to regular gummy candies, the veracity of these claims is disputed, as fruit snacks typically contain fruit flavoring instead of actual fruit (though some brands do use fruit juice or puree) and contain added sugar more comparable to a typical candy.

Are Welch's fruit snacks healthy? ›

Many believe that Welch's fruit snacks are a healthy option. However, even though it contains added vitamins, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E, they also contain corn syrup, sugar, modified corn starch, and gelatin. When it comes to fruit snacks, there are MUCH better and healthier options than Welch.

How to make dry fruit snacks? ›

Strawberries

Sweet dried strawberries go great with granola. Hull strawberries, and slice ¼ to ⅜ inch thick, or cut in half if they're really little. Dehydrate according to the manufacturer's instructions, at 135°F for 7-15 hours, or in the oven at 200°F for 5-7 hours.

How do you make homemade gummies not chewy? ›

Storebought gummies get their chewiness from corn syrup. We can achieve that by using honey. If you reduce the amount of honey, gummies will become softer in texture. Add honey to the gelatin mix, and warm up over low heat while gently stirring.

Why are my homemade gummies hard? ›

If You find hard pieces in your gummies this is commonly caused by gelatin that is not fully bloomed. If you are using sheet gelatin be sure to separate all of the sheets individually before blooming in water.

Can you freeze homemade fruit gummies? ›

They last for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. Can I freeze these homemade fruit snacks? Yes, freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Can fruit snacks be healthy? ›

Yes? Fruit snacks run around 80-90 calories per small pouch—which is a reasonable amount of calories for a kids' snack. They're free of fat, cholesterol and are very low in sodium. Many also provide vitamins A and C.

Are fruit strips healthier than fruit snacks? ›

Fruit Strips & Fruit Leather

Some are made with fruit juice concentrate and have a few grams of added sugar but still less than most traditional fruit snacks.

Are Motts fruit snacks healthy? ›

While they're delicious and easy to eat on the go, there are quite a few ingredients in Mott's fruit snacks that may be harmful if consumed in large quantities over an extended period of time. These include both natural and artificial ingredients. Mott's fruit snacks are a healthy snack option for kids.

Is it OK to eat fruit snacks everyday? ›

Many fruit snacks contain added sugars and artificial flavors, which means they are high in calories with little to no nutritional value. Eating too many of these snacks can lead to weight gain.

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