This homemade Fruit Snacks recipe (which some call fruit gummies) have fruits and veggies, are easy to make, and taste super yummy. They even have protein and are soft enough for toddlers to safely chew. They’re a seriously fun snack!
Raise your hand if your kiddo loves fruit snacks! Mine sure does! We usually save the store-bought ones for family road trips or holidays because I like to make them at home when we’re needing a little something special.
This homemade fruit snacks recipe is made similarly to how you’d make Jell-O with dissolving gelatin and other ingredients stirred together. It’s very easy and you can adjust the sweetness according to what your kids prefer. I’m showing you how to make these using real fruit and veggies including strawberries and carrots—this is our favorite flavor combo—but you can try out a few flavor combinations I suggest below, too.
Call them fruit snacks or call them fruit gummies, but either way, this easy snack to make at home (or dessert, depending on the day) is nutritious and really easy for little ones to eat. They are firm enough for little hands to hold and yet soft enough for even young eaters to enjoy. They’re convenient since you can make them ahead and pull them out for snacks whenever you need them, and they stay fresh for weeks in the fridge.
(You may also like Graham Crackers recipes, Animal Crackers, Yogurt Drinks, and Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to make this homemade fruit snacks recipe so you know what you need to have on hand from the store.
- Strawberries: You can use fresh strawberries or thawed frozen ones according to what you have access to or prefer. Or use Strawberry Puree or another fruit puree.
- Carrots: I used no-salt-added canned carrots here to save the step of cooking, but any plain, unseasoned carrots will work once steamed or boiled. (You could also use Carrot Puree or another plain cooked vegetables option like cauliflower or beets.)
- Water or apple juice: Either one of these work to help the homemade fruit snacks fruit mixture blend. If you use apple juice, the gummies will be slightly sweeter.
- Honey or maple syrup: I like to add a little sweetener to ensure the fruit snacks taste sweet. You can use either of these, though always avoid honey for kids under age 1.
- Unflavored gelatin: Use your preferred type of unflavored gelatin here to help the fruit gummies have structure and shape.
Silicone Gummy Bear Mold
Make homemade fruit snacks easily in this super cute candy mold.
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Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a preview of how to make this homemade fruit snacks recipe so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full information, including the amounts and timing.
- Add the berries and carrots to a blender.
- Puree smooth.
- Add the berry mixture to a small pot or small saucepan set over low heat. Bring to a simmer.
- Dissolve the gelatin powder. Whisk into the fruit mixture. Add to the mold and set.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main ingredient in this homemade fruit snacks recipe is fruit and vegetables.
You can store these for about two weeks in the fridge in an airtight container.
You can try peaches, grapes, pineapple, oranges, or any other moisture-rich fruit that blends easily.
How to Store
Store homemade fruit snacks recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. They hold their shape fine at room temperature and aren’t sticky, but they will stay freshest stored in the fridge in a container.
Best Tips for Success
- Use fresh or thawed frozen berries and cooked or canned carrots according to what you prefer.
- Fully dissolve the gelatin in the liquid before stirring into the fruit mixture to ensure there are no clumps and the homemade fruit snacks recipe sets up properly.
- Sweeten the fruit snacks a little with maple syrup or honey (for kids over age 1).
- Trade in another berry if you prefer. Note that berries with seeds, such as raspberries or blackberries, may have a seedy texture. You can strain the puree through a fine-mesh strainer to make a smooth gummy. Or try using mango in place of the strawberries.
- I have many more kids food favorites, so check them out!
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please rate it and comment below.
Easy Fruit Snacks (Gummies)
Ingredients
- 1 cup strawberries
- ¼ cup carrots (canned and drained; or cooked until soft and cooled)
- ½ cup water (or apple juice)
- 2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup)
- 6 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
Instructions
- Add the berries, carrots, and water or juice to a blender. Puree smooth.
- Add the berry mixture to a small pot set over low heat. Add the honey or maple syrup. Bring to a simmer.
- (Plan to do this step and the next one quickly.) Add the gelatin to a bowl with ⅓ cup cold water. Stir well to completely dissolve the gelatin to ensure the fruit snacks are lump-free.
- Working quickly, whisk the gelatin mixture into the simmering fruit mixture to thoroughly combine. Whisk constantly for a minute or two as the mixture starts to thicken. Turn off the heat.
- (Alternatively, you can sprinkle the gelatin right over the simmering fruit and whisk vigorously to combine. Omit the water if you do that. Know you may have some small clumps of gelatin.)
- Portion out into a silicone gummy bear mold (or other silicone mold) set on a small baking tray (which is more stable than the mold on its own). Refrigerate for at least an hour and up to overnight to set up.
- Remove from the mold to serve.
Notes
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- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Use fresh or thawed frozen berries and cooked or canned carrots according to what you prefer.
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- Fully dissolve the gelatin in the liquid before stirring into the fruit mixture to ensure there are no clumps and the gummies set up properly. This step needs to be done quickly and immediately added to the simmering fruit mixture. If you put the bowl of dissolved gelatin down and step away from it, it will start to solidify.
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- Trade in another berry if you prefer. Note that berries with seeds, such as raspberries or blackberries, may have a seedy texture. You can strain the puree through a fine-mesh strainer to make a smooth gummy. Or use mango for the strawberries.
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- I have many more homemade versions of store-bought favorites, so check them out!
Nutrition
This recipe was first posted August 2015.
I feel like I am missing something. These are horribly gross. Rubbery and little flavor? I doubled the fruit, knocked out 1/3 gelatin and had much better but still not delicious results. The search continues on how to feed yogurt to kids who don’t want spoon fed.
I’m really (really) sorry to hear that you didn’t have good results. Ours have never turned out rubbery so I’m not sure what happened. Did you use regular gelatin or a natural kind?
If you want the good bacteria from the yoghurt, you do need to allow it to cool to room temp before adding yoghurt.
I am going to try these and I have the gelatin you posted in the comments. I hope it works after the review I saw from the other mom. I bought the wrong yogurt and I need to use it up. I bought a non-fat Greek yogurt. Do you think the fat content matters in the making of this other than it tasting better or having more nutritional value for the kiddos?
Thanks!
Connie
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008D6WBA/?yumtodfoo-20
Or as my mum used to make occasionally, pick a jelly flavour, make up with half the water content and half yogurt and blitz the yogurt in with a stick blender. Then set in the fridge as usual she used to just put it into individual bowls, could use pretty moulds too.
If you use the jam do you still have to heat, mash, and seperate? Or can you just mix the jam in?
Just stir it in when you add the yogurt!
How long can they be stored in the fridge for?
About 3-5 days for maximum freshness. You may want to line the bottom of your storage container with a paper towel or cloth napkin to absorb any excess moisture.
Do these need to be stored in refrigerator?
Yes! Store in an airtight container for 3-5 days. You may want to line the bottom of it with a paper towel or cloth napkin to absorb any excess moisture.
Would coconut milk or almond milk work? As well as coconut yogurt or almond yogurt? ? We don’t do dairy products just yet. …….
I have not tried those combinations so I can’t say for sure. I have plans to try a coconut version soon, so I can let you know when that’s up if you’d like.
I’m making some with almond milk right now and I’ll let you know how it turns out! We don’t use dairy either.
I’d love to know if it worked if you are able to share!
Can you substitute the gelatine with agar agar? If so would you know how much? Thanks
Hi Karina-
I have not tried these with agar agar and I am not familiar enough with it to predict how much you would need. The liquids in this are thicker than fruit snacks/gummies made with fruit juice though, so they tend to need more to make them gel.
Can you use Greek yogurt?
Any idea if you could substitute soya milk and yoghurt for whole milk and yoghurt as my daughter is cmpa. Thanks. X
I have not made these with nondairy milk or yogurt so I can’t say whether they would work. I do plan to try a coconut version soon and I can let you know when that recipe is up if you’d like. Thanks!
I choose option C: do whatever Amy does and call it a day. Ordering some pectin now. Thank you as always! 🙂
Gelatin! I mean gelatin.
Got it! (I have actually made REALLY firm jam before by mistake, so I bet it’s possible to use pectin…) This is one natural gelatin that seems to be highly recommended. If you wind up using one of them, let me know what you think! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008D6WBA/?yumtodfoo-20
I tried making this tonight with that brand of gelatin and it flopped. I’ve tried making gummies with it before using different recipes and I haven’t had any luck–maybe 2.5t per packet is too much? The texture was weird (almost curdled) and it also smelled really odd. I chucked it and made another batch with knox packets and it was perfect. My daughter loves them!
You mean the natural brand that I mentioned below didn’t work? I haven’t tried it, so it might not work the same as Knox—the way it dissolves might be different… BUT, I am glad that the second batch turned out well with regular Knox and that your daughter enjoyed them!
I bought that gelatin for a gummy recipe a few months ago. The kids ate the gummies right up, but I thought it all smelled horrible. Threw out the can.
I have seen that same comment on other posts that use that type of gelatin…it’s a shame since it’s pretty expensive.
Talk to me about gelatin vs. pectin. Can you use the latter? Gelatin gives us the heebie-jeebies.
I don’t think that pectin would result in a firm enough texture since it’s usually used in jam, but I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure. Maybe look into natural or organic gelatins that share more info on the source of their product? Or play around with pectin:)
Silly question, but do you need to grease the pan first or do gummies not stick?
You do not—they don’t stick!
Madeline is excited to make these! Quick question about the gelatin – how much is in 3 packets? I have a large container of gelatin for fun foods like these so I need actual measurements. Thank you!
Per the Knox website: 1 pouch is about 2 1/2 teaspoons. Enjoy!