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.
We made these gummies and they are so fun and tasty! The only difficulty we had, is I had a hard time getting them out of the mold. I’m wondering if we need to add more gelatin next time – should they just pop out? Mine sometimes broke in half or partially stuck to the mold. Did you grease your silicone mold at all?
I didn’t spray the molds but you could either do that lightly with nonstick spray or use a smidge more gelatin. Either should help with this!
I think I followed all the instructions right but they turned out more like jello (or the old jello jigglers) than gummies. any suggestions for what I did wrong? I have two theories: 1. I missed the part about cooking the carrots and thawing the strawberries first. I just blended them all up. 🙁 2. Because of that the, it took a while to get them smooth and I added a bit more water/juice than suggested. Thinking maybe it was that second one?
So I got the taste down, but it doesn’t come out of the mold in one piece, it’s VERY sticky almost like it didn’t set all the way. I am using silicone molds, any advice?
My gelatin started to solidfy before I got it into my bwrry mixture. I still added it and I have it in molds now in the fridge. Should I restart ? Will it not work now?
It should be okay I’d think.
If I have way more mixture than I do molds, can I reheat the mix once first batch is done to make more or is the extra trashed now?
If you have more mixture than molds, you can add the extra mixture to an 8×8-inch pan and simply cut into squares.
Hi can I use frozen strawberries?
Yes, just thaw them first.
Hi, I follow the recipe, including dissolving the gelatin in 1/3 cup of water (so total 200 ml water). The gummies turn good in texture but I thought they didn’t have much flavor. Would this have been too much water and should I try sprinkling the gelatin next time instead?
Also, would it be possible to use store bought fruit pure and any suggestion on proportions and adjustments?
Thanks
You could try the apple juice option next time? I haven’t done it with store bought puree but you could experiment!
Hi! Do you use raw carrots or should they be boiled first? Thanks!
The carrots need to be cooked and soft, so boiled or steamed or canned.
Hi, Amy, do you have a gummy option that is vegan (no gelatin)?…using tapioca starch, maybe?
Hi- I haven’t experimented with that, but there might be options online you could try!
Hi! Wondering where the protein is coming from? Based on ingredients I’m not seeing it. Thanks :).
It’s in the gelatin.
These turned out great! Was trying to find a solid way for my toddler to eat yogurt- and there are perfect! Recipe was easy (I did 3tbsp natural gelatin- maybe a little too much?) and my kid loves them!
I’m so glad!
So I jus made these and I kind of messed up and did 2.5 tbspn rather then the 2.5 tbspn so then I jus added more milk to the pan and then doubled everything else but they turned out jus fine otherwise!
I’m so glad to hear that they worked out!
Hello,
Can these be frozen? Do they thaw well? Thanks!
I’ve never frozen something with gelatin so I’m not sure but my gut would be to say it’s probably better not to freeze them!
Can you use a lower fat milk?
Sure!
Hi again, nevermind, after scrolling all the way down in the comments i saw the answer 🙂
Hi there, please can you tell me how much is in a packet of gelatin? I’m in South Africa, i’m sure our packets may not be the same as yours. Tnx in advance.
1 pouch is about 2 1/2 teaspoons