Suite Eats - home made gummies
Last night I posted my little home baking show, on my stories. Ok, so. it was just me madly scrambling to fill the preschool lunch box with food that fits into the no eggs no nuts requirements. I did actually have real life people asking me for more information on them - so here it is.
My go to since the boys were doing baby led weaning have been homemade gummies for a few reasons.
Why?
They're so easy. The boys love them and eat them. They're easy to hold and the texture is one toddlers like. And mostly because I believe that these are a good healthy option for kids. I believe they support good gut health and often offer immunity support. Even if you think it's woo woo, it's a better option than a lolly pop!
I use any fruit and veg combo I have in the crisper or freezer. I don't add anything else, some recipes suggest syrups, dates or honey but I don't think we need them. These are the blends I use most:
*spinach, apple, pear - like a basic green smoothie type.
*berries and spinach
*stewed apples and cooked carrots, mixed with ginger, turmeric and a splash of squeezed orange juice or some orange slices. I started the boys on this young, and they've never complained about ginger or tumeric.
I whiz them up in the blender, just like a smoothie as to avoid the wrath of a toddler seeing "bits".
The recipe is a simple ratio of liquid to gelatin powder - I like the gummies to be firm now the boys are a bit older but the rule of thumb is 1 and a half cups of liquid to three tablespoons of gelatin.
Some people like to add the gelatin to water and let it bloom first, and then add to the fruit or veg mix, but this is how I do it.
- Makeup 1 cup of fruit + veg mix blitzed like a smoothie.
- Heat half a cup of water on the stovetop and slowly add in the three tablespoons of gelatin. Stir it all in over a simmer, no lumps, please.
- Remove from heat and add in the cup of "smoothie", stirring it all together.
- Pour it into a flat based dish (like a glass food storage container) or for added fancy, try one of those shape moulds like these cuties which I totally wish I had when we were pureeing.
- Pop them in the fridge for over two hours and slice them out or pop them out.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge. I have no idea how long they last for, as we wolf through them.
A bit on gelatin for you.
Gelatin is traditionally an animal-based product that provides collagen protein with key amino acids for gut wellbeing and tissue building or repair. I can't tell you the evidence is overwhelming that they help repair gut health, but I believe they support it. As I said, better than a tim tam.
I use either of these two - great lakes or nutrorganics.
If you want a vegan or vegetarian product check out this guide here
These fruits don't work so well because they breakdown protein - which the gelatin is, so they won't set as well.
- Pineapple
- Kiwifruit
- Figs
- Papaya
- Mango
- Guava
Gummies aren't just for kids either, its a good snack for mamas too.
If you want some professional recipes, not just my throw together ones, have a look here for berry gummies and here for fancy choc ones