Immune-Boosting Orange-Honey Fruit Snacks

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 (and boost immunity) when a cold or sickness strikes.

Homemade Fruit Snacks

My oldest kiddo gets really, really selective about what she eats and drinks when she’s not feeling well, which can make it hard to fill her up with things I know may help during illness like Vitamin C.

But: Her love of fruit snacks knows no bounds. And while I’m not in the habit of making homemade ones regularly, I will try almost anything to help my kids feel a little better…especially when it’s as easy as stirring together a few ingredients and letting the fridge do the rest.

TIP: You can of course make these even if your child is feeling well—they’re fun on normal days too!

Ingredients You Need

To make this recipe you’ll need:

• orange juice
• gelatin
• honey

TIP: 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. You could also stir in some powdered probiotics for an extra hit of goodness if you’d like. I haven’t tried this recipe with grass-fed gelatin, but please comment below if you do!

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!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at the process involved in this recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full information.

1. Sprinkle the gelatin over half of the juice and let stand.
2. Warm the other half of the juice.
3. Pour into the gelatin mixture and add the honey.
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.

Tips for Making the Best Homemade Fruit Snacks

• 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 here.)
• Let chill and set completely in the fridge before trying to cut or remove them from the molds.
• Remember that a sick child likely won’t have their normal appetite, so focus on liquids and cuddles.

I’d love to hear your feedback if you try this recipe, so please comment below to share!

Orange-Honey Fruit Snacks

These take at least an hour or two to set in the fridge, so plan to make them a little in advance of when you want to serve them.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 minute

Total Time 6 minutes

Author Amy Palanjian

Cuisine American

Course Snack

Calories 46kcal

Servings 4

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• ▢ 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 8x8 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

• Silicone Ice Cube Tray

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

Calories: 46kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 127mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 124IU, Vitamin C: 31mg, Calcium: 7mg, Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!