These homemade tart cherry gummies are a delightful, naturally sweet treat that also deliver some healthful benefits. Made with unsweetened tart cherry juice and lightly sweetened with honey, they’re packed with antioxidants and nutrients. They’re a great option for a family-friendly snack you can feel good about serving to kids or enjoying yourself.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Candy without excessive refined sugar. These tart cherry gummies use just a few simple ingredients, with sweetness coming naturally from tart cherry juice and a touch of honey.
- A fun activity for the whole family. Making gummies is a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen and to create playful shapes and flavors together.
- If you prefer sour gummies, toss them in a quick mixture of granulated sugar and a pinch of citric acid right before serving. Don’t coat them in advance, as coated gummies don’t store well.
Chef’s Tips
- Store the gummies in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 10 days. These are preservative-free, so they aren’t shelf-stable like store-bought candy. To freeze, arrange the gummies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for an hour or two until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container.
- Work quickly when making these. Add the gelatin while the liquid is hot so it dissolves fully, and transfer the liquid to molds promptly so it doesn’t begin to set in the pan.
- Place silicone gummy molds on a baking sheet before filling. The baking sheet gives you a stable base to move the molds into the fridge and reduces the chance of spills or uneven molds.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Although unflavored gelatin is often made from animal sources, it is essentially tasteless in the finished gummy. The dominant flavors are tart cherry, lemon, lime, and honey, so you won’t detect any beefy taste.
Choose an unsweetened or organic tart cherry juice without added sugars. Less-processed juices retain more of the natural nutrients and antioxidants. Tart cherry juice contains vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that may support sleep and recovery thanks to natural melatonin and anti-inflammatory properties.
Other Sweet Treats To Try
- Healthy Chocolate Covered Almonds
- Easy Pumpkin Seed Butter
- Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
- Grilled Mango with Chili and Lime Salt
- Sugar-Free Keto Cookie Dough
- Peanut Butter Flaxseed Energy Balls
- Easy Keto Cream Cheese Fat Bombs
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Tart Cherry Gummies
Cheryl Malik
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups tart cherry juice organic or unsweetened
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice strained
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice strained
- 3 tablespoons honey see notes for substitutes
- ¼ cup unflavored gelatin powder
Equipment
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Small saucepan
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Whisk
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Gummy molds (or a glass baking dish)
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Dropper
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Airtight container or sealable bag for storage
Instructions
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Combine tart cherry juice, strained lemon juice, strained lime juice, and honey in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low, whisking constantly until the mixture is hot and the honey is fully dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes.
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Remove the saucepan from heat. Gradually add the gelatin powder in 1-tablespoon increments, whisking after each addition until it dissolves completely. If any gelatin clumps, press them against the side of the pan with the back of a spoon and whisk to incorporate.
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Once the gelatin is fully dissolved, work quickly and use a dropper to fill your molds with the hot mixture.
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Place filled molds on a flat baking sheet and refrigerate until set, about 2 to 3 hours.
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Remove the gummies from the molds and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Consume within 10 days.
Notes
- If you don’t have gummy molds, pour the mixture into an 11×14 glass baking dish, let it set, then slice into pieces.
- Yield depends on mold size. Small molds can produce many mini gummies; the author used very small molds and estimated about 215 mini gummies, dividing the batch into 10 servings for the nutrition estimate.
- Sweetener substitutes: use agave nectar, date syrup, maple syrup, or a keto-friendly honey/maple flavored sweetener. Powdered sweeteners will work if fully dissolved into the hot juice.
Nutrition Information
| Calories: 58 kcal
| Protein: 4 g
| Total Carbs: 11 g
| Sugar: 9 g
Servings are approximate and will vary with portion size. Nutrition values are estimates based on the listed ingredients and do not include optional additions.