Healthy Homemade Jello

Yes, homemade jello can be made. No more processed jello from a box! This recipe was adapted and can be further explored here for more details.

I had to see for myself, so I searched online on how to make your own jello at home. It was so easy and just as quick as if you were to make it from a box, but is so much better and healthier for you. You get to choose what you put in your jello. It can be a better sweetener (honey, agave, cane sugar, stevia) option or none at all. The juices you use can provide that natural unadded sugar you might be looking for when trying to cut that out of your diet. You can even use a veggie fruit juice blend to make this jello.

There is one juice though that can not be used and that includes pineapple. Why? Because the enzymes in this fruit can break down the gelatin so it won’t gel properly.

All you need is 2 – 3 ingredients for this recipe. For example you can use a peach and mango veggie juice blend that that can be found in V8 product blends. Or you can just simply use 100% pear juice that I used. Another ingredient that can be added is honey. Keep in mind using a sweetener is totally optional! Last and most important ingredient is the gelatin. You can use grass-fed beef gelatin (unflavored) or pectin as the vegan and vegetarian-friendly option. Pectin is derived fruit. I used grass-fed beef powdered gelatin NOT gelatin protein based powder. You must use unflavored beef gelatin or it will not work.

BENFITS OF HOMEMADE JELLO

1. It is fresh tasting, colorful.
2. There are no additives or dyes.
3. Free of all main allergens (dairy, soy, nuts, egg, fish, etc.)
4. Commonly used to heal the gut when it coats the small intestine.
5. Great for strengthening bones, joints, and fingernails.
6. Also helps improve hair quality.
7. Shortens recovery after exercise and sports-related injury.

Let’s check out the recipe!

Ingredients:

4 cups of juice

2 TBSP unflavored beef gelatin (such as Vital Proteins brand or Great Lakes brand)

2 TBSP honey or agave (optional, I omitted this)

Instructions:

1. Take 1/2 cup of the juice and put into to a small bowl and sprinkle in the gelatin. (Must be “bloomed” first in cold liquid) This helps to plump and thicken the gelatin granules, which then is dissolved in hot liquid.)
2. Stir together to combine and allow to sit for 3-5 minutes to “bloom.” The granules will plump. This mixture will look like thick applesauce.
3. Take the remaining 3 1/2 cups of juice and place it in a medium saucepan. Heat the juice over medium heat until almost boiling.
4. Remove from heat and stovetop. Stir in honey, agave, or cane sugar (if you are using) and the bloomed juice/gelatin mixture into the saucepan. Stir to dissolve.
5. Pour into an 8″×8″ or 9″x13″ baking dish or into individual small serving dessert bowls for individual portions. You can also choose to place in a large bowl if not wanting to serve as cubed jello.
6. Refrigerate for about 3 – 4 hours, or until set.

This recipe serves 8. 1/2 cup will give you 60 calories. The juice I selected was 100 % pear juice. This had a total of 18 grams of Carbohydrates in 4 cups. If you want to cut the carbohydrates down you can take 2 cups of juice and 2 cups of water and mix. I have done this and it still has a great taste to it. There was no fat or cholesterol in this recipe. There was total of 10 milligrams of sodium in it, which is very minimal.