Serve up Vitamin C in a fun form with these homemade Orange Honey Fruit Snacks. They’re easy to stir together and may lift spirits when a cold or sickness strikes—or just to have fun at snack time on a normal day!
My oldest kiddo used to get really, really selective about what she eats and drinks when sick, which made it hard to feed her Vitamin C rich foods.
But, her love of fruit snacks was endless, so these went into rotation as a food for sickness we could rely on. (Right along with our Pear Pops and Sore Throat Pops.)
This fruit snacks recipe is as easy as stirring together a few ingredients, including orange juice and honey, and letting the fridge do the rest.
You can of course make these even if your child is feeling well—they’re fun on normal days too!
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Ingredients You Need
To make this orange fruit snacks recipe you’ll need to have the following ingredients on hand and ready to go.
- Orange juice: I prefer to use pulp-free OJ since it’s not as heavy as regular, which means that you don’t need to add a ton of gelatin to get them to hold together. You can use bottled juice or squeeze it fresh.
- Gelatin: I use regular gelatin, but you can try other options. I haven’t tried this recipe with grass-fed gelatin, but please comment below if you do.
- Honey: For kids over age 1, this balances the acidity in the juice and adds flavor.
Honey to Soothe a Sore Throat
While babies under 12 months need to always avoid honey, kids older than that may find some temporary relief from sore throats and coughs from honey. And that, plus the sweetness, is why I use it here.
Obviously, they are not meant to be a substitute for medicine or medical advice, and they will not cure a cold. But they are a good source of Vitamin C, which has been shown to be helpful for those in group childcare situations, and they are particularly soothing when served very cold. Which is reason enough for me to try them on a sick day! And I love to also serve my pear popsicles, and vegetable broth when my kids are sick.
Featured Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Love this go-to recipe when the kids are not feeling well!” —Emily
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the process involved in this orange fruit snacks recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full information.
Step 1. Sprinkle the gelatin over half of the juice and let stand.
Step 2. Warm the other half of the juice.
Step 3. Pour into the gelatin mixture and add the honey.
Step 4. Place into a mold or a pan and let chill in the fridge.
TIP: You can make these in a silicone mold or in an 8×8-inch baking pan and simply cut them into little squares.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — if you prefer not to use honey, you can swap in a small amount of maple syrup or omit it altogether.
These fruit snacks are packed with vitamin C from citrus and other fruits, which supports immune health as part of a balanced diet. The honey adds natural sweetness and antioxidants (for ages 1+). They aren’t medicine, but they’re a wholesome snack choice!
You can use any juice you like: apple, grape, mango—whatever your family loves.
Best Tips for Success
- Use pulp-free juice for the smoothest texture.
- You can use store bought juice or squeeze your own. (Strain it with a fine mesh sieve if desired.)
- Let the gelatin dissolve in the cold juice first before adding the hot. This helps to avoid clumps of gelatin.
- Add powdered probiotics if desired. (Learn more about probiotics for kids.)
- Let chill and set completely in the fridge before trying to cut or remove them from the molds.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback if you try this recipe, so please comment below to share!
Orange-Honey Fruit Snacks
Ingredients
- 1 cup pulp-free orange juice
- 1 tablespoon raw or local honey
- 2 packets (or about 2 tablespoons plain gelatin)
Instructions
- Pour ½ cup of the juice into a medium bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over it and let stand for 1 minute.
- Meanwhile, heat the remaining cup of juice in a microwave-safe glass or bowl until boiling, about 30-60 seconds.
- Pour into bowl with the cold juice. Add the honey and whisk until everything is dissolved, about 30 seconds.
- Pour into a silicone mold or an 8×8 baking dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
- Cut into squares and store in the fridge in an airtight container. Serve cold.
Equipment
Notes
- Use pulp-free juice for the smoothest texture.
- You can use store bought juice or squeeze your own. (Strain it with a fine mesh sieve if desired.)
- Let the gelatin dissolve in the cold juice first before adding the hot. This helps to avoid clumps of gelatin.
- Add powdered probiotics if desired.
- Let chill and set in the fridge before trying to cut or remove them from the molds.
- Remember that a sick child may not have their normal appetite, so focus on liquids and cuddles and always check in with your doctor.
Nutrition
This post was first posted June 2018.
Love this go-to recipe when the kids are not feeling well!
Can these be frozen? I know my little might eat one a day, and I’ve got ten now from this recipe.
I don’t think I would freeze these but they’ll last in the fridge for a while.
How many do you usually give your child a day?
These sound great! How long do they last in the fridge?
3-5 days
Is it a 1:1 if I use agar agar to make vegan?
I just put these in the fridge! I didn’t have the Immunity Boost, so I powdered some vitamin c and echinacea. We’re just coming off the flu so I’m trying to get some extra vitamins into everyone.
May I know howmany grams is one packet of gelatin? What type of gelatin did you use?
I use Knox unflavored gelatin. 3 tablespoons is about 42 grams.
I used the Knox brand gelatin. 1 small pack is equal to just about 1 tbspn. So 2 packs is how much I used. The gummies already set very quickly in under an hr. I’m leaving them in for another hour to really solidify them!
great idea!! 🙂