I’m not a fan of most gummy vitamins since they’re full of sugar and other unhealthy ingredients. A yummy and healthy way to get that fun gummy texture though is to make your own! These great-tasting probiotic gummies are a hit with kids and provide good bacteria for the digestive tract.
Probiotic Gummy Pitfalls
Most of the probiotic gummies on the market are full of sugar, corn syrup, or sugar alcohols. The same goes for prebiotic gummies, fiber gummies, and any other kind of gummy supplement. While there are some health benefits, the other ingredients aren’t great for the immune system or digestive system.
I don’t think it’s too much to ask that my probiotic supplement not sabotage my gut health!
Kid’s probiotic gummies aren’t much better. The natural fruit flavors (like orange flavor) and added vitamin C make them a tempting option, but not something I feel great about giving my kids. Thankfully I’ve found an easy way to make my own daily probiotic gummies for digestive health.
Probiotic Strains
There are a lot of options out there when it comes to digestive support, but my favorite is always going to be real food. I try to get plenty of beneficial prebiotics + probiotics from fermented foods like kefir and kombucha. But sometimes it’s nice to have them in a fun gummy form, especially for kids.
For this recipe, I use milk kefir and/or yogurt. According to a 2022 study, milk kefir has quite a few beneficial probiotic strains. Yogurt is also full of healthy probiotics, including lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacillus coagulans.
Prefer to Buy It?
While I don’t recommend gummy supplements, here are some pre-made probiotic supplements I can get behind.
- Baby Probiotics Powder from Ther- Biotic
- Liquid Daily Probiotics for Kids from Probonix
- Probiotic and Antioxidant (spore-based) from Just Thrive
Benefits of Probiotics
Most of us know by now that probiotics are a good thing, but what exactly do they do? Probiotics help support immune health for general wellness. In addition to immune support, they’re also helpful for digestive issues, like bloating and constipation. Our ancestors thrived on natural probiotics from fermented foods and contact with probiotics in the soil. Chewable dietary supplements aren’t quite the same.
Rather than turning to a processed option, consider making a simple protein and probiotic-rich treat!
Gummy Probiotic Snacks: A Treat Kids Can Make
My kids love helping out in the kitchen. And this is a recipe I feel great about them making! They love the taste and I love that they’re getting protein, probiotics, and fruit. These gummies are naturally gluten-free and easily non-GMO. For a dairy or lactose-free version, try coconut milk yogurt.
Its 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 a better texture and more intense flavor in this recipe. We prefer strawberries.
- Fresh or bottled organic juice: For natural sweetness and color. Some gummy brands use citric acid for tartness, but juice works just as well. We prefer grape, apple, or orange juice in this recipe.
- Gelatin: One of my favorite ingredients as it helps these treats gel. It also provides protein and amino acids like proline and glycine which help digestion and sleep. I use this one.
- Yogurt or kefir: Adds probiotics and a creaminess to the recipe. I like organic or homemade yogurt or milk kefir.
A Note on Gelatin
Some recipes use pectin to thicken, but I prefer grass-fed gelatin for the health benefits. Be sure to use gelatin, NOT collagen, or the recipe won’t thicken. It also helps to sprinkle the gelatin on top of half of the juice first. Let it “bloom” and absorb the liquid before adding it to the other ingredients. This goes a long way toward preventing gelatin clumps.
Gummy Making Tips
These are easiest to set in the fridge. I’ve found popping them in the freezer for about 10 minutes makes them easier to remove or cut. As long as they’re not in the freezer too long it doesn’t affect the texture.
Some people have issues with the gummy mixture setting up in the blender. It helps to use room-temperature yogurt or milk kefir and juice to prevent this.
Also, be sure to use frozen fruit that’s been completely thawed and strained. You could reserve the strained juice to use as part of the 2 cups of juice in the recipe.
Where Do I Get the Molds?
I usually get more questions about the molds for recipes like this than the actual recipe itself. I figured it deserved its own section this time! In honor of a certain movie my kids are obsessed with (hint: this one), I’ve used these themed molds in the past. But any silicone molds will work. Here’s more on why I’m okay using silicone for cold foods.
Probiotic Gummies
Servings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1½ cups frozen berries (defrosted, drained, and room temperature)
- 1½ cups plain yogurt (or milk kefir)
- 2 cups fruit juice
- ¼ cup honey (optional, or 1 TBSP lime juice)
- ¼ cup gelatin
Instructions
- Make sure the berries are completely thawed and drained. This recipe works best if the berries and yogurt are room temperature.
- Place the berries and yogurt or kefir, in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour half of the juice into a medium-sized stainless steel bowl or glass baking dish.
- Sprinkle the gelatin over the surface of the juice and allow it to bloom for 5-10 minutes.
- While the gelatin is blooming, pour the other half of the juice into a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer.
- When the juice in the saucepan is heated, remove it from the heat and stir in the honey or lime juice, if using.
- Add the warmed juice to the cool juice with the gelatin and whisk until smooth.
- Immediately pour the juice and gelatin mixture into the blender with the fruit and yogurt.
- Blend on LOW speed until just combined.
- Pour into silicone molds or into a greased glass baking dish and place in the refrigerator until the gelatin has set.
- Serve when cool.
Nutrition
Notes
- Make sure you are using gelatin in order to create the gelling effect. Not collagen peptides.
- If you have trouble removing the gummies from the silicone molds, stick them in the freezer until firm. It won’t affect the texture.
- Store in refrigerator for up to a week (they may last longer, but they’ve always been eaten faster than that in my house so I can only vouch for a week).
Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!
What recipes do you like to make with your kids? Leave a comment and let me know!
This is probably an old thread but I agree! You’ve got me through my 2 pregnancies with confidence!
I have no gelatin but lots of pectin left from Fall canning. Could I use pectin instead of gelatin? Would the process be the same?
My kids say these are the best gummies ever! Thanks for sharing.
What do you recommend for dairy free options?
Hi! I just bought Great Lakes Gelatin and assumed it was just gelatin and then when I get home, read that it was/has the collagen peptides or whatever. Is that something different? Will it gel?
The collagen peptides won’t gel.
They won’t gel, but they are great to mix in with your coffee or tea!
Trader Joe’s has started carrying the Great Lakes collagen peptides. It’s good for a supplement, but not for making gelled snacks.
Is it possible that’s that the 1/3 cup of gelatin listed in the recipe is a typo? The recipe tastes delicious, but it hardened so quickly that it was stuck in the blender.
On another note, thank you for all the wonderful information and yummy healthy recipes you provide!!
Great recipe I will have to try it! I love making Jello it is a lot easier then I though it would be. I usually use juice but using kefir is a great idea! I prefer Perfect Supplements gelatin, it’s cheaper and I like the taste of the jello better then when I used Great Lakes before.
Is there a way to make these dairy free? Could I use a DF probiotic at the very end after it cools or something similar?
That will work.
Isn’t jello the brand name?
Hi Wellness Mama. I love your jello recipes and have your new cookbook, which I love but I am looking for your beautiful jello recipe. I am pretty sure it is yours and I can’t find it on your website or in the cookbook. Could you please help me?
Hi Lisa! Is this the post your looking for? https://wellnessmama.com/3803/healthy-jello/
I just made these with frozen strawberries, great Lakes gelatin, bottled clean Apple juice, maple syrup, and homemade raw goat milk kefir. They setup before I even started my blender after adding the gelatin/juice. I tried to stuff it into my molds but realized they probably wouldn’t look good so I put everything in my saucepan and reheated it on low while stirring constantly. It only took a little while and then it was pourable again. They mixture was still cool so I don’t think the probiotics were affected. Anyway, thought that could help out someone if they feel discouraged! Oh and they taste great!
This is awesome!!! I just read a great book called “Let them eat Dirt” https://www.amazon.com/Let-Them-Eat-Dirt-Oversanitized/dp/1616206497/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=379a0f64a0874305e91986bd52011bb1&language=en_US), talking about we are killing our micro biome with antibiotics and “too clean” lifestyles. In my practice, I always asses the gut and bacteria when treating depression/sleep disorders and immune health. The is such a fun way to get our kids, (my boys are 4 and 3) to repopulate their guts with a little beneficial bacteria. It will also be a fun thing to do together!! Thanks.
So I just tried this today, I made a few mistakes. I used vanilla Greek yogurt instead of plain or strawberry regular yogurt. This made it super thick. Instead of my blender I used a nutribullet so it can’t hold as much, so when I went to thin the mixture out with Apple juice I had to do it in several batches. I did a couple molds then put the rest in a glass dish. I would love for Katie to do videos on some of these, while it’s all pretty straight forward sometimes knowing details by seeing it would be helpful lol. I hope it turns out good but I’ll be trying again with all the right ingredients and I only have 1 child so I’ll be using only half recipe. Thanks for all the tips.
I just got my orange liquid fermented cod liver oil from green pastures, I saw this post and want to make some gummies for my son, have you ever Incorporated this into gummies or any other recipe to make it more appealing. Thanks for all your research! Love your posts!?
I love your blog! Thanks for the recipe. Is there a way to make it ketogenic? i.e.; high-fat and sugar free? Maybe substitute heavy cream or sour cream with the berries and stevia?
I haven’t tried, but test it out to see and let me know!
Hey there. I haven’t done this particular recipe, but I do make a keto friendly gelatin snack using:
Fruit tea (hibiscus based usually)
Unflavoured Gelatin
Liquid Stevia drops
For the fruit based ones, I top it with heavy cream.
Another variant I did was chai jellies and coffee jellies to which I added unsweetened almond coconut milk AND heavy cream.
I also did one with frozen pureed raspberries and just added some raspberry zinger tea for the liquid.
If you’re interested in the probiotic aspect, I used to make one with Kevita lime mojito sparkling beverage which USED to be keto friendly, but now it has too much carbs. Instead, try one of the probiotic tea or coffee products that’s out there. My local grocery store carries Bigelow lemon ginger probiotic tea, and also I recently found a couple instant coffee packets with probiotics! I also don’t see any reason why you couldn’t use some unsweetened Greek yogurt with these and a little heavy cream.
I also did one with a little pureed raspberry and fruity tea.
Just some ideas. You should be able to mix this around and sub whatever you want! Just try building the recipes in something like My Fitness Pal and adjust the amount of fruit and yogurt until you get the carbs in line with what you’re comfortable with. 🙂
-T.
How many and how often can kids eat these?
Hello Katie
I tried this with the Grate Lakes green gelatin but it didn’t gel at all and stayed a runny liquid! What might have gone wrong do you think?!! Its hard to get the Vital Proteins gelatin in the UK. Can’t wait to get this one right as it sounds lovely 🙂
Was it cool enough in the room in which you cooled them? Perhaps try putting them in the fridge?
It’s the red can you need with Great Lakes for gelling. The green can is the collagen hydrosalate, the red the gelatin.
I tried this and my gelatin started to gel immediately and never made it to the strawberry mixer. 🙁 I followed the directions but once I added the warm juice it was a done deal. All gelled up. Not sure what happened. My husband said aren’t you supposed to add it to the hot first?
Hi, I’m confused ! Many websites say to add the Great Lakes Gelatin to gummy recipes. Not the green container. It says beef . I have tried a few recipes and they are disgusting !!! It smells AND tastes like boys dirty FEET !!!!! What am I doing wrong ????? Help ! I am trying to follow AIP diet. Mary
I would recommend using Vital Proteins instead of Great Lakes, as it does make a difference in taste.
Very helpful and inspiring, thank you very much.