Homemade Fruit Snacks
Posted: 02/10/2014
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Fruit snacks are easy to make at home — and you control the flavors and ingredients. You will love these homemade fruit snacks.
While fruit snacks are admittedly very much a “kid food,” I can’t help but love them myself. So what better thing to do than to make them yourself at home?
Clearly grape fruit snacks are the best. Followed by strawberry? I don’t know. All I know is that grape is the best flavor. Weirdly enough, I don’t buy fruit snacks often for my kids but when I make these, E devours them. I don’t think N’s really old enough for fruit snacks. He only has 10ish teeth, most of which are front teeth.
Looking for Valentine’s day ideas? Make red and white fruit snacks in heart shapes. Cookies are the one Valentine’s Day recipe I made.
If you’re looking for more ideas, take a look at this round-up of decadent chocolate recipes and one for you last-minute valentine’s day people. Oh, and we have red velvet cookies and skinny brownies so I think those both count as v-day recipes. And of course homemade sugar scrub for silky smooth skin and for gifting.
Anyyyyyways. These fruit snacks are fun because if you’re not obsessed with grape like I am, you can make these any flavor you’d like. Apple, cranberry, etc. Whatever kind of juice you can find, you can make it into a fruit snack flavor. Simple, fun, and delicious. Three things I live by and love.
And with no added sugar or preservatives! They are so simple, with only two ingredients: unflavored gelatin and any kind of fruit juice. Why pay top dollar for fruit snacks when you can easily make them at home?
Homemade fruit snacks are so easy to make: Simply soften unflavored gelatin and fruit juice of your choice in a saucepan for a few minutes, cook for five minutes more, and pour into a flat pan. Chill for an hour, and then flip the “sheet” of gelatin onto a flat surface. Using small “cookie” cutters, cut as many shapes out as you can.
They are ready to eat right away, or put them into a sealed container and refrigerate for up to a week.
Oh, and FYI: I use these cutters. (Affiliate link — you buy them, 1 penny goes in E & N’s college funds. Give or take.)
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Fruit snacks are easy to make at home — and you control the flavors and ingredients. You will love these homemade fruit snacks.
Ingredients
- six 1/4 ounce envelopes of unflavored gelatin
- 2/3 cup 100% white grape juice (see note)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, pour gelatin on top of juice. Let sit for about 3 minutes to soften gelatin.
- Turn heat on medium and stir gently until gelatin is dissolved. This should take 5-7 minutes. Pour into a small glass pan and place on flat surface in refrigerator until firm (about an hour).
- Run knife around edges and slide it out onto a cutting board. Using a knife or very small cookie cutters, cut into desired shapes.
- Enjoy immediately or store in fridge.
Notes
- Make different flavors by substituting fruit juice of your choice.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1/4 cup, Calories: 49kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 6g, Sodium: 16mg, Sugar: 6g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Amanda says
….sooooo basically these are just jello that you’ve re-named a “fruit snack”…i was hoping to find a shelf stable fruit snack. Can these be left out, or do they need to be stored in the fridge?
Rachel Gurk says
I would store them in the fridge because they have less sugar than normal fruit snacks. They’re different than jello, though. More firm and chewy like fruit snacks.
Mehul Teli says
Fruit snacks made unbelievably easy !! Great recipe Rachel…
Rebekah says
I made these and was not happy with how they turned out, my kids who normally love fruit snacks ate them and said they were excited as I was making them, but didn’t want me to ever make them again. I ended up throwing them away. I was very disappointed.
Rachel Gurk says
So sorry to hear that! May I ask what they didn’t like about them?
Laura says
Hi Rachel! Finally taking a moment to write here – thank you so much for visiting my post and commenting. I love your flavors and the shapes you’ve made with these jelly snacks, and when I saw your enticing photos and description, I knew I had to try making them! Thanks again for the inspiration, and I look forward to exploring more on your site. -Laura
Rachel Gurk says
Ditto! Just added your site to my Feedly — looking forward to following along :)
Elizabeth says
These look very neat and easy! I”ll be trying them on my toddlers. What is the layer of white on the bottom of your fruit snacks? Is it gelatin that settled during cooling, or is it just some trick of the light/camera?
Thanks!
Rachel Gurk says
Yeah — just a little foam/bubbles on the top. :)
malaura says
These sound great. Do you think they will work well with fresh juice?
Rachel Gurk says
I think so! I don’t see why not :)
Megan {CountryCleaver} says
I’m a total sucker for fruit snacks – I’ve never even dreamed of making them at home! So brilliant!
alison @ Ingredientsinc.net says
OMG LOVE THESE. Sharing on my fan page
Natalai says
I loved!!!!!
Paula – bell’alimento says
I love how easy it is to make your own fruit snacks! Thanks for sharing! Pinning!
Phi @ www.sweetphi.com says
Aaaaahhhh these are like the coolest thing I have ever seen! I saw these on Instagram and commented there but just HAD to come back and comment here. My husband loooves fruit snacks, and I just so happen to have some juice in my fridge so i am going to have to try and make these soon! The photos and instructions are just awesome, thanks for posting!
Alaina {Fabtastic Eats} says
ohmy! I love this homemade version! I didn’t know they were so simple! LOVE these! My kids will tooo!