You might say I’m a bit gelatin obsessed. You might be right.
My husband and I lost over 65 pounds each when we switched to a paleo diet and our family of 5 improved more health conditions than I can count in the process. But it wasn’t until we started focusing on nutrient density and including nourishing super-foods like organ meats and tons of broth into our diet that our health improvements skyrocketed.
My gelatin obsession started when my oldest (then 14 years old) was about to have major spinal surgery for her severe scoliosis. That sent me down the rabbit hole of what the optimal nutrition is for bone health and surgery recovery. It’s what eventually led me to create The Gelatin Secret, because I just couldn’t believe how something so simple as homemade bone broth and homemade jello could be so impactful to every single part of our bodies.
It didn’t hurt to find out that regularly consuming gelatin and collagen work as “botox” for the skin as well!
Preventing and reversing wrinkles, cellulite and stretch marks may not be essential but it’s certainly a nice bonus.
The list of conditions and symptoms that gelatin is helpful for is astonishing:
- Multiple allergies
- Food sensitivities
- Joint and mobility pain
- Chronic abdominal pain
- Abdominal tenderness
- Acne and blemishes
- Dull and fragile hair
- Tooth decay and sensitivity
- Brittle nails
- Stomach cramps, bloating, and constipation
- Hormonal imbalance
- Rollercoaster weight gain
- Stress-induced insomnia
- Wrinkles and stretch marks
- Anxiety and fatigue
Luckily, adding gelatin to your diet and your kids diet is not only easy; it’s delicious! This recipe is from my book, The Gelatin Secret, which goes into detail about how gelatin nourishes each part of our body and includes many recipes, both savory and sweet so you can jumpstart your journey to health right away.
Tangerine Gummies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup strained fresh-squeezed tangerine juice
- 7 TBSP gelatin
- ¼ cup honey
- silicone molds
Instructions
- Bring the juice and honey to a low simmer (don’t let it get too hot as it will kill the probiotic awesomeness of the honey!).
- Add the gelatin and mix quickly with an immersion blender or with a whisk and some patience until it's fully dissolved.
- Pour into molds and place in freezer for 20 minutes (for easy transport, place the silicone mold on a cookie sheet).
- Take out and enjoy!
Nutrition
Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!
I think your family will love these healthy gummies as much as mine does!
Ever made homemade “gummy bears” Ready to give these a try? Share below!
Caribbean Jerk Chicken Recipe
»
Hi Katie, I live in South America and I can’t find kosher gelatin here, all I can find is very cheap ones that have many additives. Do you know if agar agar is a good replacement and if it can be used with your recipe? Thanks a lot!
Hi Nina,
Where in South America are you so I can do some investigating for you? Agar agar does not have the same benefits as gelatin and I haven’t tried using it as a replacement in this recipe so I can’t say but I do know that iherb.com has reasonable shipping rates on Great Lakes and other items. I would suggest ordering from them.
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
I have been trying various recipes this week for homemade gummies using fruit juice and Great Lakes Gelatin (in the red can). The last batch I made used about 1 cup fruit juice concentrate (that I made), 2 tbs. raw honey, 2 tbs. lemon juice, and 3 tbs. gelatin. Like the other recipes I have tried I can taste the gelatin in the end product, a taste I don’t really enjoy. Am I doing something wrong? I always let the gelatin bloom first in about 1/3 cup water before adding it to my warmed juice/honey. They always LOOK great, but I can’t get paste the taste. Do you have any ideas?
Hi Christie,
I would suggest using a stronger overpowering juice flavor, perhaps like the tangerine above to mask the flavor.
If that still is too strong for you, you could make “jello” instead since that recipe will use a lower juice to gelatin ratio. Here is a recipe for you: https://wellnessmama.com/3803/healthy-jello/
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
I just made these and based on the couple concerns about gelatin flavor, I added a half inch piece of fresh grated ginger to the tangerine juice. I definitely don’t taste ANY beefiness. Might not work for kids who aren’t accustomed to ginger (unlike my 2 year old cousin who likes pickled ginger with his sushi…), but for adults it’s definitely a good fix!
I would try using a blender verses whisking it. This has really helped me.
That’s a great tip, Danielle!
Thank you!
Sylvie
We use Great Lakes gelatin. I agree…the gummies smell and taste like the gelatin. Can’t get anyone to eat them! Is there a different gelatin that doesn’t have such a strong offensive flavor and smell?
Do these keep at all? If so, what’s the best way for me to store them and for how long? Thanks!
Hi Sarah,
At my house they disappear in minutes 🙂
I would suggest storing in the fridge. The “shelf life” when using fresh ingredients like fresh squeezed juice will be as long as the juice’s shelf life so just a few days.
I suppose you could try freezing but I’ve never attempted it. I would make half a batch if you think you won’t consume them in a few days (4-5).
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
Katie,
We LOVE your gummy recipe but my kids won’t eat them anymore 🙁 After a few days in the fridge they really started to get a very beefy taste and it seems to have scarred them for life lol. I kept them in tupperware and in a plastic baggie-both times they were in the door…could this cause any issue? Have you had the same problem and if so HOW do I fix it???
Hi Morgan,
How about easing them back in with a “jello” recipe instead. Since jello contains less gelatin than gummies that might be a good way to test the waters with them. Also, when you do attempt gummies again, perhaps use strong flavors like the tangerine ones above that will overpower the gelatin flavor.
Here’s a jello recipe in the meantime: https://wellnessmama.com/3803/healthy-jello/
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
Based on the molds recommended, how many should I eat in one sitting?
Hi Tiffany,
Eat as many as you like, but not more than you’d like. 🙂 There is no dose required. Just let your body let you know what it’s comfortable with.
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
Wish this was book was in Kindle.
You can open it in Kindle if you download it on an iPad
Hi Denise,
You can definitely view PDFs on your kindle. Will that work for you?
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
Im getting married May 31 of next year. DOING. THIS.
Congrats Amy!
Hope you enjoy it!
Sylvie
Gelatin seems to break me out 🙁 do you know why that could be? I’d love to take it for all the health benefits but not at the expense of my face
Hi Amanda
Are you sure it’s the gelatin or could it be another ingredient in the recipe? Also, have you tried a different brand just in case? Great Lakes, Vital Proteins and Bernard Jensen are all great quality.
Hope that helps- I’ll check back here in a couple days to see if you’ve replied and I can help you further.
Thanks!
Sylvie
I have never tried to make anything with gelatin, but this recipe has me curious to try. I really love all the recipes you post btw! There are never too many ingredients, and I’m always shocked at how simple they are to do. Thank you!!
-Mae
Thank you Mae! Hope you enjoy it!
Sylvie
Hi Wellness Mama! I’m not too familiar with gelatin, but want to make it my top priority to make these to help my skin and joint pain. You said that also that “consuming gelatin and collagen work as ‘botox'”. Pardon my potentially silly question, but is collagen a part of gelatin or is this something I need to buy separately? And the product you recommended in your recipe, does that have both? Thank you!
Hi Mariel,
The one mentioned in the recipe works just fine. You can also buy the green can by the same brand but that one does not gel. You can add that one to things like tea, coffee, smoothies. There is more info on how gelatin and collagen can help your skin in the ebook mentioned above. Consuming plenty of bone broth and soups made with broth would be great too!
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
There are two different products on the link. Which one is for skin and hair and to make gummies?
Both are ok to take internally. Collagen Protein will gel and is used in this recipe. Collagen peptides will not gel but is good for adding to smoothies or coffee/tea.
Hi There.
I love reading your articles Katie & your passion for helping the working mother be healthy and happy. However, I find this recipe about gelatin gummies to be disheartening. I know as a mother I want my children to understand what gelatin is. Heck, for my whole life I was comfortable unaware of the horrible and inhumane process it takes to produce gelatin…..So, before we continue preaching to other women how “healthy” gelatin is for the skin we should really ask,”did this mother cow who was ripped from her baby have to die a horrible death(check out factory farming if you think it’s not so bad), only to enjoy a gooey treat that benefits the human health & well being….
We need to change the narrative. We need to help those who have no voice. We need to teach truth, and reverse out-of-sight-out -of-mind thinking.
I am not speaking in anger towards anyone who consumes animal products. I’m not getting an ego boost or on some kind of self righteousness trip. I was a animal eater for a long time. But it is morally wrong, we have to be the adults in the room and listen to our inner child. These animals cannot suffer anymore. It isn’t just the animals, it’s the health of our planet as well.
And if you just don’t care…..well, it’s very difficult to pull someone out of the mind washed matrix.
To sum up….you don’t need animal marrow or bone broth to make your bones, intestines, or face healthy. Eating animal body parts or flesh is not part of a well balanced diet…..you can get collagen building proteins from other plant based foods.
Be Happy By Evolution. As a species who is very much influenced by media, if one chooses to eat animal products they should have to witness how that animal was tortured before consuming.
Come out of the Cave, What you eat should be a bite of love….not tortured blood.
Carla,
There are animals in the wild, there are domesticated animals, and there are food on four legs animals.
Some animals are made to be eaten, and they are good for very little else. Let’s release the millions of cattle into the hills without any food, water and ability to fend for themselves. I hope you will be there to clean up the carcasses and “love” the maggots (maggots are animals too, right?) in the rotting carcass as they pile up around the roads and lakes.
On a side note – this recipe is fantastic, and i’ve done this with blueberry and acai berry juice (avoid pineapple juice – the bromelic acid prevents the gelatin from forming bonds and setting) for a vitamin & anti-oxidant loaded boost in the office.
Since you have to chew/eat it, it greatly reduces my snack-attach in the office by tea-time as well.
Great idea!