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As a mom, I’m all for recipes that simplify and save time. That’s why our dinner rotation includes simple one-pan dishes like beef and cabbage stir fry and Pakistani kima, and why I pre-make coconut oil pulling chews to do oil pulling every morning so that I don’t have to open multiple containers each day (ever tried to open a 5-gallon bucket of coconut oil? You’ll need Crossfit to prepare for it).
That’s why when my kids ask for things at night that I know help them sleep like tart cherry juice, gelatin in tea, or honey and salt, I’m happy to give it to them, but I wanted a simplified option …
All My Sleep Remedies in One …
I figured out a way to combine some of my favorite recipes and their favorite healthy treats: Tart Cherry Sleep Gummies.
These combine their chewable gummy vitamins, with the honey and salt remedy I use, and tart cherry juice for a simple nighttime snack that helps them sleep and that I can pre-make to save time.
I store these in a glass container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks and give each child one each night. I made them in this silicon mold for single serving size, but they could also be made in a coconut oil greased glass pan and cut into squares.
I didn’t add the salt to the recipe, but you could. I just sprinkled the final product with a mixture of salt and coconut sugar before giving to them.
Why It Works
- As this post mentioned, honey and salt together are great for balancing cortisol levels and blood sugar at night. Even alone, these two are great for improving sleep.
- That same post explains the beneficial substances in tart cherry juice (not the same as regular cherry juice) that make it good for improving sleep quality and length.
- Gelatin is rich in amino acids proline and glycine that help relaxation and sleep.
Tart Cherry Sleep Gummies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups tart cherry juice
- ½ cup gelatin powder
- 1/3 cup honey
- salt to sprinkle on top optional
- 1 tsp vitamin C powder optional
Instructions
- Pour juice into a small saucepan.
- Slowly mix the gelatin powder into the juice.
- Add the honey.
- Turn on low heat and stir as it begins to warm.
- Stir for 2-3 minutes or until mixture is smooth and gelatin has dissolved.
- Remove from heat and add vitamin C if using.
- Pour into silicon molds or a glass baking dish that has been lightly greased with coconut oil.
- Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours to harden.
- Remove from molds.
- Store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks (they never last that long at our house).
Notes
Nutrition
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Can Food Affect Your Mental Health?
Hi Katie! I am excited to try this. Do you recommend this VitalProteins brand instead of the Great Lakes brand for everything or only for this recipe? I am about to buy gelatin powder for the first time. Thank you!
They are both good brands. For this recipe, make sure to get either the orange can from Great Lakes or the Collagen Protein from Vital Proteins (the green can or collagen peptides will not gel)
Could you please share the link to the Vital Proteins Collagen Protein? I can’t seem to find the collagen protein, only peptides, collagen/whey combo, and the green can of beef gelatin.
Collagen peptides are the same as collagen protein.
i see you said the green one won’t gel…however, i added it to my coffee the other morning and then was distracted for a long time with the kids i never got back to it..and when i tried to rinse my cup my coffee was a giant blob! i have the vital proteins brand. i want to try this but a bit confused! thanks
These sound great. I just heard that honey should not be heated ever…have you heard of such a thing?
My understanding is that RAW honey has beneficial, natural vitamins and living enzymes that will die if honey is heated over 70 degF (pasteurized). If it is heated, you lose those particular benefits, but it does not harm the honey, nor can the honey harm you.
…As a side note, make sure you are buying natural, raw, local honey from your farmer and/or health food store. The honey you find in grocery stores is made by feeding the bees high-fructose cornsyrup (HFC). The manufactures get away with calling it a ‘natural product’ because it’s processed by the bees. I found this out when looking into CCD (colony collapse disorder) where bee hives suddenly die for no reason… probably because they are being fed HFC! …and feeding on crops covered with pesticide!
Will do thanks for your response!
I would just heat juice and gelatin, remove and add honey, for the beneficial factors from the honey.
I would think the benefits of Vitamin C would be neutralized or oxidized if you stir it into something hot right?
This sounds like a great recipe!
For sleep for the kids, I combine Lavender Essential oil, and Wild Orange with coconut Oil and rub it on their backs and the bottoms of their feet. It makes for nice bonding time before bed.
Would the Great Lakes Gelatin also work with this recipe?
I don’t see why not…
Which color can, orange or green?
My midwife has been trying to get me to take OTC sleep medicines to help me sleep better. I’m really against this though. I’m 34 weeks and absolutely exhausted. Would these be safe to use? If they are safe, I’d love to try them.
I’d personally try them but check with your midwife to be safe.
Hi Katie, I have the red label ‘Great Lakes’ brand of gelatin, would this work in this recipe? I’m unsure of what gelatin goes in different recipes as they all seem to be slightly different and have different instructions also….thanks, Lea 🙂
How many nights do you have to take it before it kicks in?
I so appreciate you and all your
Great advice and recipes thank you!!
How many is suggested before bedtime? How long before?
also wondering the same thing.. she posted that she gives one per night but then says they don’t last 2 weeks in her fridge….. was curious the same thing.
1-2 about 30 minutes before bed seems to work best. And as for using them up, I have six kids so they get used up quickly in our home.
How big should I make them so the dose is the same?
hi Katie
These look great. I’m just concerned about the honey (and the coconut sugar you mentioned at the end). If I remember correctly in your post about sugar you said that you don’t think added sugar is okay in any amount. Just wondering how often you and your family consume added sugar?? We’ve been off added sugars for about 6 weeks but I’m debating if I should start to incorporate back honey, pure maple syrup etc. but only very occasionally.
This is about the most we’d ever consume at once and it is because it helps with cortisol and melatonin levels.