Homemade Jello From Scratch (With Gelatin)
With only 2 ingredients, this sweet, healthy treat comes together quickly and easily. You can use any choice juice/liquid in this recipe, making it very versatile. This strawberry lemonade jello recipe is great for spring time when strawberries are abundant, and we like to make homemade apple juice jello the fall with freshly juiced apples. You will love making this homemade jello from scratch as a high protein, satisfying snack.
Health Benefits of Homemade Jello With Gelatin
If you Google “health benefits of gelatin” or “health benefits of collagen”, you will find no shortage of high praise or research claiming these miracle foods can cure ailments and promote longevity. I definitely agree with these claims, when we are speaking of the whole food sources of gelatin and collagen (like drinking homemade broth and eating bone marrow). In recent years, some health experts have been speaking out against the use of commercial gelatin and collagen powders. Despite the controversy, our family continues to enjoy homemade jello with gelatin.
Why You Will Love This Homemade Jello
- Taste. This homemade jello reminds me of childhood. We often ate jello as a snack and a soothing food when ill.
- Quick & easy to prepare. You can make this recipe in less than 5 minutes with only 2 ingredients.
- Healing diet friendly. This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, and egg-free. Whether you are eating GAPS, Paleo, whole food, Whole30, or just becoming more ingredient aware, this recipe is compatible with many healing diets.
- Naturally sweetened. Use any fresh pressed juices and veggies to eliminate the need for refined and processed sugar.
- Customizable. You can use any juice for the liquid. Substitute fruit purees or even water and honey.
Controversy About Gelatin and Collagen Powders
Commercial gelatin and collagen are processed foods. Some people do not believe consuming processed gelatin or collagen powders are healthy. They instead promote consuming actual (non-processed) gelatin and broth from broth and bone marrow. This debate may be considered somewhat similar to Vitamin C; many health proponents believe all vitamin C should come from whole food sources. Others are more lenient and feel commercial vitamin C is acceptable, so long as it is derived from whole foods, such as acerola or berries. Still others will have a more liberal approach and consume Vitamin C as ascorbic acid, which is devoid of essential minerals and nutrients that aid in bodily absorption.
Homemade Gelatin Recipes and the GAPS Diet Protocol
Many treats, such as healthy, homemade marshmallow fluff or homemade gummy bears have been recommended for those following the GAPS diet. Our family has made both recipes regularly, even in the very beginning when we had much healing to do. In 2017, Dr. Natasha, the creator of the GAPS diet protocol, recommended against the use of commercial gelatin or collagen powders. She instead recommends to use actual gelatin (as in from making broth). Again, our family continues to enjoy using commercial gelatin, but I want to mention this for those strictly following the GAPS protocol.
Homemade Jello From Scratch (With Gelatin) Recipe
Equipment
- saucepan
- whisk (or immersion blender)
- jello molds (or a 9×13 pan)
Ingredients
- 4 cups apple juice (or any preferred liquid)
- 1/2 cup grass-fed gelatin powder
Instructions
- In a saucepan, over medium heat, heat juice until warm.
- When juice is warm, slowly add gelatin powder to the sauce pan, mixing quickly with a whisk or immersion blender.
- Whisk or blend in pureed strawberries until mixture is smooth.
- Whisk or blend in freshly juiced apples until mixture is smooth.
- Pour into 9×13 pan or jello molds of choice.
- Refrigerate or freeze until hardened into gummies.
- Pop fruit snacks out of molds or cut into desired sizes and store in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Have all ingredients pre-measured and ready before beginning the recipe. If the mixture is not made fast enough, it becomes clumpy.
- Be sure to pour gelatin in slowly, while stirring/blending quickly, to prevent clumps of gelatin from forming/not incorporating into the mixture.
- This recipe calls for powdered gelatin, which is different than collagen. Collagen will not produce a gelled fruit snack.
- You can substitute any liquid, combination of liquids, pureed fruits, etc. to change flavor or nutrients. We enjoy pureed strawberries and lemon juice in the spring and fresh pressed apple juice in the fall.
I hope you and your family enjoy this recipe as much as we do! Please let me know your feedback and favorite recipe variations in the comments.
Resources
Posts
Strawberry Lemonade Fruit Snacks Recipe – GAPS, Paleo, Whole30
Healthy Marshmallow Recipe (GAPS, Paleo, Vegan, Sugar-Free)
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this is such a cool idea! I haven’t had jello in decades I think, for obvious reasons. Food coloring sounds just really gross and refined sugar is on my bad foods list. But this sounds actually healthy. How cool is that!
Thanks for sharing! I appreciate how simple this recipe is!
I’ve been wanting to try a jello alternative..thank you!
I always thought I’d hello as a sugary snack, but knowing it can be a health benefit changes things! Can’t wait to try this!!