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Tart Cherry Sleep Gummies Recipe

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Sleepytime gummies with tart cherry and honey and salt for deeper sleep
Wellness Mama » Blog » Recipes » Snack Recipes » Tart Cherry Sleep Gummies Recipe

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.
Sleepytime gummies with tart cherry and honey and salt for deeper sleep

Tart Cherry Sleep Gummies Recipe

Gummies made with tart cherry juice, honey, salt, and gelatin to help promote relaxation and quality sleep.
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 3 minutes
Calories 102kcal
Author Katie Wells

Servings

24 gummies

Ingredients

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).

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Tart Cherry Sleep Gummies Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 gummy)
Calories 102
% Daily Value*
Sodium 18mg1%
Carbohydrates 23.9g8%
Sugar 22.5g25%
Protein 2g4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

Make sure you are using gelatin such as the one in the green can from this source, not collagen peptides, or your gummies will not firm up. 

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These tart cherry sleep gummies combine all of the natural sleep remedies I use: honey and salt, tart cherry juice and gelatin, into one delicious gummy.

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

122 responses to “Tart Cherry Sleep Gummies Recipe”

  1. Katie Avatar

    We are 4 weeks in to cleaning up our diet and lifestyle. Most of this is new to me. We made the probiotic marshmallows yesterday and LOVED them. So excited to try these! I do have a vitamin question though. What do you think about adding vitamin D instead of C? Do you know of any downfalls of that? Thanks!

  2. Erin Avatar

    4 stars
    Hello Katie!
    Will this work for adults too??? I’m on 3 days of practically no sleep 🙁

  3. Holly W Avatar

    Hi Katie, I have been trying to remember to give my boys natural calm before bed, but I often end up forgetting, or they complain of the “sour” taste. Do you think it would be beneficial to add a few teaspoons of Natural calm to this recipe?

    1. Christa Upton Avatar
      Christa Upton

      I was wondering the same thing! 🙂 Magnesium really helps two of our kids. Can’t wait to try this recipe!!

  4. Erica Avatar

    If I include salt in the recipes, how much would I add? Also, do you recommend other options for Vitamin C powder. That one is kind of pricey. Would any vitamin C powder work?

    1. Melissa Avatar

      I realize this reply is a year later ago I’m not sure you’ll get it, but I make my own vitamin c powder from the peels of organic oranges. Dry them out in a low oven temp 200* and then grind them up. I use a nutribullet or mortar and pestle. Store in a jar in the fridge.

  5. Gwyn D. Avatar

    Love this idea. My mom has eaten 15 sour cherries daily for as long as I can remember. She insists they reduce inflammation. I’ve never been able to eat the tart cherries, but the gummies will make it a lot easier. I love all of your ideas and love it more that everything is so easy to make. Thank you so much for all of the hard work you put into getting us all of this wonderful information.

  6. Julie Avatar

    Thanks for the recipe! I made up a batch (with the Great Lakes gelatin) and they have been sitting in the fridge for almost 6 hours. They are still completely liquid! Any ideas??

  7. Rosie Avatar

    5 stars
    Thank you for posting this recipe! I was just trying to figure out how to make a tart cherry gummy to help me get to sleep, but I bought cherry juice concentrate. Do you know how you adjust this recipe for concentrate?

  8. Kayti Avatar

    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!

    1. Katie - Wellness Mama Avatar

      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)

      1. Avery Avatar

        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.

      2. Courtney Avatar
        Courtney

        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

  9. Natalie Avatar

    These sound great. I just heard that honey should not be heated ever…have you heard of such a thing?

    1. Genie Avatar

      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!

    2. Mandj Avatar

      5 stars
      I would just heat juice and gelatin, remove and add honey, for the beneficial factors from the honey.

      1. Karen Avatar

        I would think the benefits of Vitamin C would be neutralized or oxidized if you stir it into something hot right?

  10. Jackie Stutman, Avatar
    Jackie Stutman,

    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.

  11. Layla Avatar

    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.

  12. Lea Avatar

    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 🙂

  13. Deborah Packard Avatar
    Deborah Packard

    I so appreciate you and all your
    Great advice and recipes thank you!!

    1. marisa Avatar

      5 stars
      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. Wellness Mama Avatar

        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.

  14. Jackie Avatar

    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.

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