Make Homemade Fruit Snacks

Although fruit snacks sold at the store are a quick and easy treat, they are often mostly sugar and don’t contribute much to a nutritious diet. A healthier alternative would be to make your own at home. It takes a little time, but it could be a fun sensory experience to try with your kids.

We’re sharing a tried-and-true recipe to inspire you below. The fruit snacks it makes are a bit more gummy and chewier than the store-bought version. Please monitor young children when introducing this or any new foods to reduce the potential risk of choking.

You will need a few items that are less common in most home kitchens:

• A blender
• Small silicone molds
• A food thermometer

Berry Fruit Snacks (Serves 4 to 6)

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups frozen berries, defrosted and drained
1 ½ cups plain Greek yogurt
2 cups 100% fruit juice
1 Tbsp. lime juice
¼ cup gelatin

Directions:

1. Make sure the berries are fully thawed and drained without any remaining ice crystals.
2. Let the berries and yogurt both come to room temperature. This helps to create a smooth consistency vs. a lumpy mixture.
3. Blend the berries and yogurt until completely smooth, creamy, and evenly colored. Set aside for now.
4. Pour half of the fruit juice (1 cup) into a medium-sized stainless-steel bowl or glass baking dish. Sprinkle the gelatin slowly and evenly across the surface. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes so it can absorb the liquid and swell properly.
5. Pour the remaining fruit juice into a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer. You want it to be hot and gently steaming, not rolling or aggressively boiling.
6. Once the juice is warm, take the saucepan off the heat and stir in the lime juice.
7. Pour the warmed juice into the gelatin mixture and whisk until it is silky and fully dissolved. The liquid should look glossy and smooth. Let it cool.
8. Use the food thermometer to make sure your gelatin mixture gets below 110 degrees Fahrenheit before continuing.
9. Once at the correct temperature, pour the gelatin mixture into the blender with the fruit/yogurt puree. Blend at a low speed until everything is just combined. Don’t overdo it! This helps to limit the amount of air that gets mixed in.
10. Pour the finished product into your silicone molds. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill until fully set. Serve cold for the best chewy, sweet bite!

Store your homemade fruit snacks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. If you enjoy the process and result, try other flavors.

Other fruit and juice options can be substituted, but we do have an important tip to share. Never make this recipe using pineapple, kiwi, mango, papaya, or figs. Why? The enzymes in these fruits interfere with the gelatin, causing the mixture to become too runny or watery.