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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?
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I read that if you use sugar with your yoghurt it cancels out the probiotic effects. Do you know if that is true? There would be some sugar in the fruit and any sweetener you add.
Hi Katie. Can I use vital proteins collagen peptides ( the blue one) instead of gelatin. Would it work the same as gelatin.
No, it won’t work for this recipe because it won’t gel..
Katie, I tried this last night and before I could get it out of the blender, it set up completely (I used my lowest speed possible); there was NO pouring into my molds :(. Yours works in the blender fine and still pours? I am still struggling to find a recipe we all like. Every batch of homemade gummies I have made, have ended up such a weird texture, that no one wants to eat them :(. Can you increase the liquid to help, or are these ratios essential?
Thanks for any help you can offer!
You can definitely increase the liquid, that will make it easier to pour and possibly change the texture enough for your family to like them.
I, too, appreciate your posts and refer you to others for important, thoughtful information. Thank you so much! We have been big fans of making gummies since you posted the recipe for tangerine ones several years back.
Is there a reason you switched from calling them gummies to using the word jello as in jello snacks? Jell-o is a brand name to me–a product that is laden with sugar and dye, something we do not eat. Just wondering.
thanks.
It’s a term that more people are familiar with, so it’s a nice introduction to the real-food lifestyle for many 🙂
Ah–that makes sense. Thank you.
Hi!!!! Thanks for all of the amazing info you share…. I so appreciate your time and concern. I wanted to know how I could substitute the beef gelatin, because my family and I do not consume beef or pork. Also we have gone astray with our healthy and organic eating:( Do you have any suggestions or ideas (maybe prior posts) to jumpstart healthy eating and school lunch prep for children or families that are getting back into the swing of healthy eating?
This post should help: https://wellnessmama.com/76599/healthy-school-lunch-ideas/
Would it be possible to make this recipe using agar agar powder in place of the gelatin, as a vegetarian option? I’d like to make a healthy jelly for my son, but we can only have halaal gelatin, which is hard to come by… Not sure how much of the powder if have to use though. I guess it would have to be a trial and error thing…
I love the idea of the probiotic snacks, However my son, his wife and their little guys are all Vegan. I’d love to make these for them, but don’t know what I could use in place of animal bases gelatin?
You can try agar-agar, which is plant based, in place of beef gelitan and coconut yogurt instead of dairy. The ratios will likely change quite so I recommend experimenting in small batches to get a good result.
Yes, Katie, I agree with Kimberley: I have never said it, but really should have: you have researched and given all of us SO MANY great recipes and articles for thought!!!
THANK YOU!!!
Your articles are wonderfully full of recipes and great ideas.
We think a lot alike!
Thank you, again.
Just got my first bag of protein essentials and I was so excited to try this recipe since it’s hard to find snack foods or even just breakfast foods that aren’t grain based and acidic. When I read the recipe I was wondering how long it would take to firm up, then I went and made it with just-from-the-freezer dark cherries, yoghurt, kefir and coconut water and “poof” instant jelled snack! I was able to get Jabba the Hut to lay somewhat flat in a dish for the fridge, but no silicone molds could contain him this time. Next time I’ll defrost fully if I want some semblance of form and beauty! 🙂 Thanks for all the great info. I was wondering about silicone baking mats, too, and appreciate your take on them.
Thank you so much. I bought the gelatin. All is can say is WOW on the aminos that are in it! It will be fun to see what else I can put it into as I’ve never used gelatin before. My hair has thinned a bit because I’ve been anemic several times over the last several years, but that’s another story! Looks like it might help my hair, too.