Healthy Homemade Gummies

Have you tried making your own gummies? I've been wanting to try making them for a couple reasons ... I wanted a healthy treat to satisfy my sweet tooth while I detox sugar post-holidays, find a way to bring gelatin into my diet for the joint and skin benefits, add a little honey to my day, and find a new recipe using onGuard essential oil over the winter months to naturally support my immune system. This recipe checks all the boxes and is SOOO simple. Let me share some insights so you have a great experience and a really yummy, beautiful final product. These ingredients are easy to find, inexpensive, and simple to work with so even kids and partners can make this treat!

Ingredients

100%, no sugar added pomegranate, apple, acai berry, or blueberry juice

Pomegranates contain two unique compounds that make up most of its outstanding health benefits – punicalagins and punicic acid. Punicalagins are powerful antioxidants that are found in the juice and peel. Punicic Acid is the primary fatty acid found in the arils (seeds). #Pomegranates are known to have anti-inflammatory properties, help fight bacteria, lower blood pressure, and reduce joint pain due to arthritis.

organic honey

Honey is rich in polyphenols and anti-oxidants, super for skin health with healing and anti-bacterial properties, and is well researched for it's benefits as a cough suppressant.

grass fed gelatin

Gelatin is created by dehydrating different parts of animals (skin, bones, and tissue). It is then made into a powder which is virtually color-less and tasteless. It's the main ingredient in Jello but Jello contains a crazy amount of sugar. Did you know gelatin can help improve your gut health, digestion, sleep, and the appearance of your skin? It's rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, and sulphur. Gelatin can help everybody stay healthy and happy.

doTERRA wild orange essential oil

Wild Orange is known to help improve your mood and emotions, but it’s also an incredible and cleansing boost for the immune system! Plus, the delicious citrus flavor is pretty hard to turn down.

doTERRA onGuard protective blend essential oil

A blend of Clove Bud, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Leaf, Rosemary Leaf/Flower, and Wild Orange essential oils. This blend is known to help support a healthy immune system, protect against environmental threats, and improve the body’s natural defense system. We personally use OnGuard by doTERRA daily and love the slightly cinnamon, citrus flavor.

In my first attempt, I used 5 clementine fruits which I processed in my blender to get "juice". Two observations on this ... it was pulpy, which I don't mind, but made it a little more difficult to pour into smaller, delicate heart molds. They still came out really well and taste DELICIOUS but I'd use a clear, pure juice next time.

1/3 cup pomegranate, apple, acai berry, or blueberry juice

3 tbsp gelatin

3 tbsp honey

3 drops wild orange oil

3 drops onGuard oil

This recipe yields about 25 x 1.5 tsp #gummies.

Instructions

1. Lightly spray your molds or ice cub tray with olive oil or fractionated (liquid) coconut oil for easy removal.

2. In a small saucepan on low heat, whisk together the juice, gelatin, honey, until there are no lumps (the mixture should all be one consistency). Probably 2 minutes.

3. Take off heat, make sure the liquid in consistent, and let stand 3 minutes to cool.

4. Add essential oils.

5. Pour mixture into an ice cube tray or silicone molds. You can find some fun ones at your local craft store. Look to add about 1.5 - 2 tsps of gelatin mixture per mold.

6. Place your gummies in the freezer for 7-10 minutes until they set.

7. Serve or place in your fridge to store for up to a week for peak freshness.

One gummy a day is fine for kids and adults could consume 2 per day. They're best consumed first thing in the morning on an empty stomach but will benefit you whenever you add them to your day. They don't still in teeth like commercial gummies and you can experiment with different juices, essential oils, or adding #applecidervinegar for additional health benefits.

Let me know what you think and what combos you like.

Until next time,