This healthy sugar-free jello is perfect for Easter. It is paleo-approved, dye-free, and your kids won’t even notice the difference.
It is no secret that we do things a little bit differently over here, but that doesn’t mean my kids are deprived. In fact, I try to let them have all the same things other kids have, just a different version. Feeding my children a healthy diet is very important to me, but I still love to spoil them and give them lots of treats.
Making healthy alternatives isn’t hard because you can pretty much make anything into a healthier version. Jello is no exception! I remember chowing down on jello as a kid, especially around Easter time. I remember how exciting it was to pick out the color and shape I wanted. As a mom and knowing what I know now, I can’t stand the thought of giving my kids sugary foods full of food dyes.
Good news! Making healthy jello is simple and still tastes great! My kids beg for this, and I won’t lie; we have this way more often than Easter Day. They love to help make it, and I love that they are getting a healthy treat.
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HEALTHY SUGAR-FREE JELLO FOR EASTER
INGREDIENTS
1 3/4 cup fruit juice ( My kid’s favorite is apple and grape juice.)
Bring the other 1/4 cup of water to a boil, remove from heat, and let cool slightly. You want the water to be very hot but not quite boiling.
Pour the hot water over the gelatin and whisk together.
Add in the juice of choice and continuing to whisk.
Pour the liquid into an 8 by 8 baking dish or into the silicon shape molds.
Place in the refrigerator for 6 to 8 hours or until it is fully set.
Pop the jello out of the molds or serve out of the baking dish.
WHAT KIND OF JUICE IS BEST FOR JELLO?
This is the fun part! You can make any flavor of jello by choosing different types of juice. Our favorites are apple and grape. I like to stick to organic fruit juice with no added sugar.
You can make the jello with freshly squeezed juice, too, if you want! Stay away from fresh fruits like pineapple, kiwi, and papaya. These fruits contain an enzyme that will make the gelatin, not gel.
Some juices to try:
Grape
Strawberry
Orange
Apple
White grape
Cranberry
ADD IN FRESH FRUIT
You can also add fresh fruit to your homemade jello. This adds a lot of flavor, looks pretty, and the kids love it! Slice up a cup of fruit and line your molds or baking dish with the fruit before pouring the juice in.
Our favorite combination is organic apple juice with fresh strawberries!
LET’S TALK ABOUT GELATIN
Gelatin is the protein that comes off of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons when boiled in water. Have you ever made homemade bone broth, and the next day when you grabbed it out of the fridge to make soup, it was solid? That is the gelatin!
Gelatin is known for multiple health benefits, and many health addicts add it to their daily menu plan. Making jello with grass-fed gelatin makes this special treat a superfood.
Anytime I buy chicken, I make sure it is bone-in so I can use the bones for broth. I strive to serve bone broth at least three times a week. We buy beef from a local farmer, and I buy beef bones from him just to keep up. Sometimes we rely on gelatin powder to get our weekly intake, and making jello is my kids’ favorite way to consume it. I also add it to smoothies sometimes.
TOP BENEFITS OF GELATIN:
It is great for the gut lining and can help heal a leaky gut by restoring a healthy mucosal lining in the stomach.
Gelatin can improve digestive health by producing gastric acid secretions allowing your body to digest food properly.
It is amazing for healthy hair and skin because it promotes your body to produce more collagen.
Gelatin is great for bone and joint health.
It can help with stress, anxiety, and sleep. Studies have been done showing that taking gelatin before bed can improve sleep, help people to fall asleep quicker, and stay asleep.
NATURAL FOOD DYES
When I ask my kids what kind of jello they want to make, they all respond with a color. They aren’t near as concerned about the taste as much as they are about the color.
The different types of juices can change the color of the jello, but if you want to make more colors, you can use natural food dyes. You can make your own out of foods, or you can purchase natural dyes on amazon.
Try out these foods to make your very own food dyes!
This healthy sugar-free jello is perfect for Easter. It is paleo-approved, dye-free, and your kids won't even notice the difference.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Additional Time6 hours
Total Time6 hours10 minutes
Ingredients
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp gelatin
1/4 cup hot water
1 1/2 cups fruit juice
Instructions
Add the gelatin to 1/4 cup water and stir. The gelatin will thicken up quite a bit.
Bring the other 1/4 cup of water to a boil, remove from heat, and let cool slightly. You want the water to be very hot, but not quite boiling. Pour the hot water over the gelatin and whisk together.
Add in the juice of choice and continuing to whisk.
Pour the liquid into an 8 by 8 baking dish or into the silicon shape molds.
Place in the refrigerator for 6 to 8 hours or until it is fully set. Pop the jello out of the molds or serve out of the baking dish.
annika patterson says
it looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it!