• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work With Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Moments
    • Pregnancy/Baby
      • Baby Registry List
      • Thriving Postpartum: What to Expect & Postpartum Essentials for Mom
  • Shop
    • Best Kitchen Gifts
    • Baby Registry List
    • Kitchen Tools (Must Haves)
    • Pantry Staples (Baking & Cooking)
    • Food Photography Essentials
  • Instagram
JoyFoodSunshine
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Laura
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Never Miss a Recipe

  • ×

    Home » Healthy Homemade Fruit Snacks (with Whole Fruits & Veggies)

    Healthy Homemade Fruit Snacks (with Whole Fruits & Veggies)

    Published: Aug 28, 2017 · Modified: Oct 15, 2021 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    This homemade fruit snacks recipe is made with whole fruits & vegetables! A healthy, high-protein snack loaded with nutrients - better than store bought!

    a bowl of Homemade Fruit Snacks recipe

    These homemade fruit snacks are not your average fruit snacks. They are made with whole fruits and vegetables and naturally sweetened. Plus they are gluten and grain free and have a 45 grams of protein per batch! So much better than store-bought varieties.

    I also love that the gorgeous colors of these homemade fruit snacks come from the natural colors in the fruits, no food dyes required! Natural foods are the best "dyes" if you ask me!

    Overhead view of a plate of Homemade Fruit Snacks arranged by color (orange on top, then purple then green then magenta).

    How to Make Homemade Fruit Snacks

    Here are a few notes to ensure that your fruit-snack-making is a raging success!

    Lay out all your supplies & materials.

    Have the molds ready to go, the gelatin measured out and the fruits and veggies all chopped up. The molds I used (here) came with everything I needed - trays, droppers, etc. If your molds didn't come with trays, be sure to lay them on a baking sheet or another hard flat surface that can be used to transport them from the counter into the fridge! I highly recommend using a dropper to fill the molds as well, it makes it so much easier!

    If you don't have molds then simply spread the mixture in ax 8x8" pan lined with wax paper. Let the Homemade Fruit Snacks set and then cut them with a warm, sharp knife!

    Use a Vitamix. 

    This should go without saying, but a food processor won't cut it in this recipe. You want the fruit snacks to be silky smooth, and the only way to ensure this is by using a high-powered blender, such as a Vitamix.

    font view of a plate of Homemade Fruit Snacks recipe arranged by color in front of a vitamix blender filled with fruit

    Raw/Cooked veggies. 

    All of the vegetables used in these combinations were blended raw (including the beets). If you decide to use a vegetable like sweet potatoes, I recommend cooking it first and using the soft puree in this recipe.

    Make sure the gelatin completely dissolves. 

    When the gelatin is added to the fruit/veggie/juice mixture it will become cloudy. Cook over medium heat until the mixture is no longer cloudy, but do not let it boil.

    A great way to test for doneness is to put some of the mixture between your pointer finger and thumb and rub them together. If it feels even slightly grainy, continue cooking and whisking. If it feels smooth then you can begin to fill the molds!

    Work quickly.

    The fruit/veggie fruit snack mixture begins to thicken as it cools. As soon as the mixture is smooth use the dropper and fill the molds. I kept my saucepan over the warm burner (with the fire turned off) as I filled the molds. That way the mixture remained slightly warm and cooled much slower.

    homemade fruit snacks on a plate arranged in colors

    Homemade Fruit Snacks: Substitutions 

    The great thing about this recipe is that, while the method is pretty particular, the ingredients are fairly versatile!

    • Fruit: I have given suggestions for the different fruits I used to make each color, but you really can let your preferences drive you here. The only two fruits that you cannot use are Kiwi and Pineapple. They contain the enzyme bromelain, which breaks down the proteins in the gelatin and will prevent the fruit snacks from setting up.
    • Vegetables: the same freedom applies with the vegetables, use your favorites.
    • Juice: I tried making a couple batches of these fruit snacks with water and my kids wouldn't eat them. Once I caved and used unsweetened apple juice they gobbled them up.  I highly recommend using an organic, unsweetened juice variety of your choice. I chose apple because it has a neutral color and flavor, but you can use any flavor you like.
    Side view of a bowl of Homemade Fruit Snacks recipe

    Recipe FAQs

    Is Gelatin Good For you? 

    Yes, the protein in this recipe comes from high-quality, grass-fed, collagen beef gelatin which has 17 grams of protein per scoop (which is about 1 TBS).

    How do I store homemade fruit snacks?

    Store these in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

    How long do homemade fruit snacks last?

    They last for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer.

    Can I freeze these homemade fruit snacks?

    Yes, freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

    Kid's hands holding a handful of Homemade Fruit Snacks recipe

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Healthy Homemade Fruit Snacks (with Whole Fruits & Veggies)

    Laura
    This homemade fruit snacks recipe is made with whole fruits & vegetables! A healthy, high-protein snack loaded with nutrients - better than store bought!
    4.88 from 24 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Chilling time 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 20 mins
    Course Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 Servings
    Calories 57.7 kcal

    Equipment

    • Vitamix blender
    • fruit snack molds
    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • spatula

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup fruit chopped
    • ¼ cup vegetables chopped (and peeled if necessary)
    • ¼ to ½ cup pure apple juice no added sugar
    • 2 TBS raw honey
    • ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
    • 3 TBS gelatin preferably collagen, grass-fed

    Green:

    • 1 cup green grapes
    • ¼ cup spinach

    Red:

    • 1 cup strawberries diced
    • ¼ cup beets

    Orange:

    • 1 cup peaches chopped
    • ¼ cup carrots

    Blue/purple:

    • 1 cup blueberries
    • ¼ cup zucchini
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Place silicone molds on a large baking sheet or line an 8x8’ square dish with wax paper and lightly grease, set aside.
    • Place fruit, vegetable and ¼ cup apple juice in the container of your Vitamix and secure the lid.
    • Turn the machine on and slowly increase the speed to high. Blend until mixture is smooth. (add more juice 1 TBS at a time if necessary, until the mixture reaches a smooth consistency).
    • Add honey and vanilla and blend until just combined.
    • Taste mixture and add more honey if desired, blending until it’s completely combined.
    • Transfer mixture to a small saucepan and whisk in gelatin.
    • Heat on medium heat until gelatin is dissolved and mixture is no longer grainy when touched (about 3 minutes). Make sure it does not boil.
    • Using a dropper, fill the silicone molds. Or pour your mixture into your prepared baking pan.
    • Transfer to the refrigerator to set for at least 2 hours.
    • Once set remove from molds and enjoy. These homemade fruit snacks can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week!

    Notes

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Fruit: I have given suggestions for the different fruits I used to make each color, but you really can let your preferences drive you here. The only two fruits that you cannot use are Kiwi and Pineapple. They contain the enzyme bromelain, which breaks down the proteins in the gelatin and will prevent the fruit snacks from setting up.
    • Vegetables: the same freedom applies with the vegetables, use your favorites.
    • Juice: I tried making a couple batches of these fruit snacks with water and my kids wouldn't eat them. Once I caved and used unsweetened apple juice they gobbled them up.  I highly recommend using an organic, unsweetened juice variety of your choice. I chose apple because it has a neutral color and flavor, but you can use any flavor you like.

    Store

    Store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.25cupCalories: 57.7kcalCarbohydrates: 10.5gProtein: 4.5gFat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 28.8mgPotassium: 84.7mgFiber: 0.8gSugar: 9.1gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 20.4mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Here are a few more delicious & nutritious back to school snacks to consider making this year!

    • Peanut Butter Coconut Energy Bites
    • Peanut Butter Granola
    • Chocolate Almond Butter Energy Bites

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

    « Peanut Butter Waffles (Gluten-Free)
    Healthy Homemade Granola Recipe »

    Did you make this recipe?

    Leave a comment and review below, then take a picture and tag @joyfoodsunshine #joyfoodsunshine on Instagram so I can see it! Sign up here to receive weekly e-mails!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brittany

      September 22, 2022 at 6:59 pm

      4 stars
      Hi Laura, these fruit snacks are toddler approved. My little guy loves them. They really are tasty, Though I am trying to figure how to make them more chewy. As of now, this is my 2nd batch & they're more jello-like & "rubbery" vs chewy as traditional fruit snacks. I'm following the recipe exactly except I'm using a regular blender & not a Vitamix, if that makes a difference lol. Help please, Thank you ❤️.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Search

    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

    Click here to read more >>

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Most Popular Recipes

    • The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever
    • Best Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (Better than Cinnabon)
    • Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe
    • Easy Dutch Oven No Knead Bread
    • Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (5- Minutes)
    • Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
      Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Better than P.F. Chang's)!

    Trending now

    • Blueberry Baked Oatmeal Recipe
    • Healthy Pineapple Carrot Cake
    • The Best Banana Cake Recipe
    • Egg Casserole (Egg Bake)
    • Baked French Toast Casserole
    • Best Carrot Cake Recipe
      Best Carrot Cake Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Joy Food Sunshine Logo
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Never Miss a Recipe

    13021 shares
    • 1638