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It drives me nuts that most “breakfast” foods are actually dessert in disguise. Many cereals have more sugar than donuts, which have more sugar than many desserts.
Snack foods often aren’t much better! Ignoring the fact that we don’t need to eat every 2-3 hours and that our modern fascination with “snack foods” is more a product of a multi-billion dollar industry than our own hunger, these junks foods are most often packed with refined sugar and processed ingredients as well.
Rather than turning to a processed option for breakfast or snack, consider making a quick and simple protein and probiotic-rich treat like these Jello snacks.
Jello Probiotic Snacks: A Treat that Kids Can Make
These days, while I’m spending much of my time being the sole food source for the youngest member of our family, I’ve been so grateful that my kids have been willing and able to help in the kitchen. This is a recipe I feel great about them making! They love the taste and I love that they are getting protein, probiotics, and fruit.
It’s minimal ingredient list includes:
- Frozen fruit: Choose berries for a boost of antioxidants and color without a lot of added sugar. Using frozen fruit that has defrosted provides better texture and more intense flavor in this recipe. We prefer strawberry.
- Fresh or bottled organic juice: For natural sweetness and color. We prefer grape, apple or orange juices in this recipe.
- Gelatin: One of my favorite ingredients as it helps these treats gel and also provides protein, including amino acids like proline and glycine which are beneficial for digestion and sleep. I personally use the green can of beef gelatin from here.
- Yogurt or kefir: Adds Probiotics and a creaminess to the recipe. I like organic or homemade yogurt or milk kefir.
Where Do I Get the Molds?
I usually get more questions about the molds for recipes like this than the actual recipe itself, so I figured it deserved its own section this time! In honor of a certain movie that my older kids are obsessed with and that comes out soon (hint: this one), I used these themed molds, but any silicone molds will work (here’s why I feel comfortable using silicone on cold foods).
If you don’t have molds, you can easily make this in a greased glass baking dish and just cut the finished result into squares to serve.
TIP: These set most easily in the refrigerator, but popping them in the freezer for about ten minutes before serving makes them easier to cut or remove from molds without affecting the texture at all.
Probiotic Jello Snacks
Ingredients
- 1½ cups frozen berries defrosted
- 1½ cups homemade yogurt or milk kefir
- 1 cup fruit juice
- ⅓ cup gelatin
- ¼ cup sweetener of choice optional or 1 TBSP lime juice (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the defrosted berries and yogurt or kefir in a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside.
- Place half of the juice in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer.
- Place the other half in a 2-cup glass measuring cup.
- When the juice in the saucepan is heated, remove from heat.
- Quickly pour the gelatin into the measuring cup with the cool juice and whisk quickly to combine.
- Immediately add the warmed juice and whisk until smooth.
- Quickly pour the juice and gelatin mixture into the blender with the fruit and yogurt and blend on LOW speed until just combined.
- Add the sweetener or lime juice if using and blend until just combined.
- Pour into silicone molds or into a greased glass baking dish and place in the refrigerator until gelatin has set.
- Serve when cool.
Notes
Nutrition
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What recipes do you like to make with your kids?
How many of these should each child (say a 40-pound kid) eat, either at once or in a day?
What an awesome and cute idea! I used to make probiotic jello with Kevita “mojito lime” beverage and gelatin powder. They add sugars to the mojito lime flavour now so it’s not low carb anymore. 🙁
I still like to make treats like this with regular fruit teas sweetened with liquid stevia drops, though.
There’s a Bigelow Probiotic lemon ginger tea that I have daily. I bet that + lemon juice + sweetener of choice would also make a delicious treat. The probiotics used in that tea are heat safe.
I don’t have forms like this, so I just make mine in a shallow glass dish and then cut it into cubes. I now have a box of adorable 4 oz mason jars that I bet would be perfect for this as well.
-T.
Are these more similar to jello or gummies? I’m looking for something for my daughter but for some reason she can’t handle the texture of jello?! Thanks
Definitely more like gummies. And you can always add more gelatin or less liquid to make them firmer according to your daughter’s taste 🙂
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Thanks so much for your beautiful compliment, it made my day! 🙂 Thanks for reading!
I already have a big collection of silicon molds of varied types of designs. My kids love jellies but I was always concerned about the hygiene. Now I’m relieved. I can prepare jellies at home in their favorite colors and designs.
Would this work with Greek yogurt, or should I add liquid?
I use Greek yogurt with everything from Jellos to Smoothies, and it works great. Don’t add any water to it.
My son has a milk allergy. Have you tried this recipe (or think it would work) with coconut yogurt? Looks like a fun treat!
I have never tried it with coconut yogurt. I think it would be worth experimenting with, and you may just have to tinker with the other ingredients until you get a consistency you like 🙂
Hi Katie! The link for the silicone molds is not working. Is there another way to see them? Thank you so much for all of your wonderful recipes and ideas and posts! These sound yummy! Hope you and the new baby are well!
I just checked and the link is working for me. What is it doing when you click it?
Sounds great! What is the difference between Vital Protiens gelatin and Great Lakes gelatin
Both are excellent products, but I was able to verify the sourcing from Vital Proteins, which also incorporates easier into some recipes.
Thanks for another great kid (and big kid) recipe! 🙂 Do you think you could add probiotic powder to boost the content? Maybe by stirring into the finished product? I’d love to know your thoughts.
I just want to say thanks for everything you do Katie. I love your blog and greatly appreciate the information you provide. You present credible and reliable information and are addressing issues that are often overlooked yet so impactful (like palm oil and deforestation, and fish farming). You’re empowering people with knowledge to help them make better decisions for their families and the planet. Amazing! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Chandra-Lee! And I’ve never tried to probiotic powder, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t dissolve 🙂