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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.
Tart Cherry Sleep Gummies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups tart cherry juice
- ½ cup gelatin powder
- ⅓ cup honey
- salt to sprinkle on top optional
- 1 tsp vitamin C powder optional
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).
Notes
Nutrition
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Is there a way to make these with a vegetarian source of gelatin? We are Muslim and cannot eat pork gelatin. Thank you!
The Vital Proteins brand collagen protein (the one she linked to in the recipe) is beef gelatin, not pork.
I just found you via Pinterest. I have Adrenal Fatigue and somehow haven’t come across the whole thing about honey and salt balancing cortisol. I’ll have to give these gummies a try!
Which brand of tart cherry juice do you use for this recipe the Cheribundi or Dynamic Health?
I use dynamic health: https://www.amazon.com/Dynamic-Health-Concentrate-Certified-Servings/dp/B007RC6J72/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=6cccd4fb07ace666bfe447afbf72b373&language=en_US
I use 100% Montmorency Tart Cherry Concentrate from A Taste of Michigan Cherries.
They have the highest level of concentration…68 Brix.
Hi! These sound great but my husband is a strict vegetarian so gelatin of any kind is a no-no. Can I use a substitute? And if so, what other changes will need to be for the recipe to set up properly? If anyone has any ideas, I’d love to hear them. Thanks!!!
Lissa,
I’m not sure how they would hold up since I haven’t made these yet, but I just googled vegan gelatin substitute and came up with a couple of different options. I’m assuming it will be trial and error till you figure out which works best. Good luck and please share when you find a successful alternative, I have many friends who are vegan/vegetarian, so they would love this option.
Hi Lisa, My family is vegetarian too and I can’t use gelatin either. I found three substitutes for gelatin on this website-
https://www.thekitchn.com/vegetarian-and-vegan-substitutes-for-gelatin-tips-from-the-kitchn-189478
1. Agar, Agar-Agar, or Kanten
What it’s made of: Cooked and pressed algae.
Where it’s often used: Asian desserts and firm jellies.
Flavor and texture: Flavorless and has a firmer, less jiggly texture than gelatin.
How to use it: Agar needs to be heated to dissolve properly. The powdered form of agar is easiest to measure and use; bars and flakes should be dissolved in water first or can be broken down into a powder using a coffee or spice grinder. It sets in about an hour at room temperature.
1 teaspoon gelatin = 1 teaspoon agar powder (this will set 1 cup of liquid)
1 teaspoon agar powder = 1 tablespoon agar flakes = 1/2 agar bar
2. Carrageenan, Carrageen, or Irish Moss
What it’s made of: Dried seaweed; carrageen extract called carrageenan is used in some vegan Kosher gel products like Lieber’s Unflavored Jel.
Where it’s often used: Soft jellies, puddings, mousses, soups, ice creams, and dairy products.
Flavor and texture: Flavorless and sets things more softly than regular gelatin; melts in the mouth. Use iota carrageenan for soft gels and puddings and kappa carrageenan in harder gel products.
How to use it: To use the carrageen in its dried seaweed form (look for whole, not powdered), rinse it well, soak it in water for about 12 hours until it swells, then boil it thoroughly with the liquid you want to set before you strain it out.
To set 1 cup of liquid, use 1 ounce dried carrageen
3. Vegan Jel
What it’s made of: Faith highly recommends Unflavored Vegan Jel by Natural Desserts, which is made of vegetable gum (we’re not sure what kind), adipic acid, tapioca dextrin, calcium phosphate, and potassium citrate.
Where it’s often used: Anywhere gelatin is used.
Flavor and texture: As Faith wrote in her panna cotta post, Vegan Jel “sets softly, melts in the mouth, and is by far the closest thing to regular unflavored gelatin that I have found.”
How to use it: Beat this powder into cold water until dissolved.
1 teaspoon gelatin = 1 1/2 teaspoons Vegan Jel
Maybe one of these alternatives would do the trick. I plan on trying the vegan jel.
Vasu
I am assuming just 1 gummy BUT how soon before bed and how long to take till you see the effects?
These look like they would also be great for my husband. He has one kidney and has elevated uric acid levels. Tart cherry juice is recommended to lower it. Of course, I’m always happy to try natural methods of getting all the boys to sleep at night.
Thanks!
I’m on my second batch of these, my kids like them but I can’t eat them. The texture is really thick…could I add less gelatin? I used an organic beef protien gelatin from our local food co op. The flavor is great though.
Thanks.
I had the same problem. They are sooooo hard and chewy! My oldest daughter won’t eat them and my toddler is to little to handle something like this.
I usually use 1.5 tablespoons of gelatin for 1 cup liquid. They aren’t very firm that way but still firm enough to get out of the mold without falling apart.
I’ve made three batches of different gummies from your recipes. One had a great texture, the other three have all been too firm. I thought maybe it was from over mixing with the immersion blender so the last batch I made sure to verrrry slowly whisk but same result. Would more liquid help or..?
Also interested in knowing how long before bed they should be taken.
More liquid should help..
I recall reading one of your posts that mentioned gelatin should be introduced slowly-especially to children. Our son is 2.5 now. How many ‘servings’ or pieces of a gelatin item would you recommend starting with? (We wouldn’t be loading him up with a bunch of these sleep aids haha-just in general with different flavors). This would, for now, be the only way he is having gelatin.
With this particular mold, I’d start with 1/4 or 1/2 of one and work up…
I just finished the cherry gummy mix and put a small pan into the refrigerator but can’t tell how many slices I should cut when they’re set. Your recipe says 2 weeks (that’s 14 nights) and you have 5 children…hmmm, I’ll try for lots and lots of little slices but I’m scratching my head trying to guess. Thanks. I’m sure it will come together. I need the sleep!
I have some left over lotion bars with bees wax, shea butter, and sweet almond oil in them. I also have some vitamin e body cream from dollar general I am wanting to make a thick cream lotion can I melt and mix them with a mixer? does anyone have a simple cheap recipe? or any ideas of things I can do with my left over lotion bars?