It took me ages to work up the courage to make gummies fir my kids. I don’t know why… (actually, I do. Every time I’ve attempted to make a cheese cake with gelatine leaves in the past, I always ended up with a lumpy cheesecake)…
BUT… working with powdered gelatin, and making THESE gummies, could. not. be. more. simple.
Stir water and gelatin powder together, warm some juice, combine the two and mix until dissolved. Done.
I love giving my kids these gummies as an alternative ‘treat’ to lollies. They’re high in amino acids, especially glycine which can help support sleep, help protect the liver, and may assist in the prevention of many chronic illnesses. Whilst gelatin is not a complete protein (it has all the essential amino acids except tryptophan), you can boost your school lunchboxes with a combination of gummies and tryptophan rich foods (also great to help promote sleep), such as banana, oats, dairy, prunes and turkey.
Plus, I like to get them involved to choose what juice they’d like to use each week. I choose brands that are 100% fruit or vegetable juice (not from concentrate, no sugars or sweeteners added). This plum juice was particularly yum.
I use silicon folds from Kmart (not sure if they stock anymore) and Ikea, but these look really cute. If you don’t have silicon moulds, you can just pour the mixture into a glass tray (preferably with a flat base), then cut the set mixture into squares or shapes later). I tend to use Nutra Organics powdered gelatin.
Preparation time: 10mins
Setting time: 1+ hours
Ingredients
1/4 cup gelatin powder
1/2 cup water
250ml fruit or vegetable juice (avoid pineapple, kiwi, guava and papaya*)
Instructions
- Combine the gelatin and water in a small bowl and mix until combined and you have an even texture. This will only take a few seconds, but is quite forgiving.
- Next, gently warm your juice in a small saucepan.
- Add your gelatin mix (which will now be solid) into the warmed juice and stir until the gelatin is dissolved.
- Pour your mixture into your moulds (I find it easiest to use a small jug with a little spout, but you could just spoon it into the moulds). Put into the fridge and allow to set.
- When serving or adding to a lunchbox, make sure they are kept cool (especially over summer) as they will turn back into liquid when warm.
Add more plants
- Use a mixture of juices or purees in place of the juice. If you decide to use purees, you may need to thin with a little liquid to get the right texture.
- Stir through some chia seeds for extra fibre.
- Replace some of the liquid with coconut cream for a creamier texture.
Alternatives
- *These fruits contain proteases, which are enzymes that break down proteins (great for digestion, not for setting gummies).
- To make jelly instead of gummies (more wibble wobble), increase the amount of liquid.