Description
These Healthy Hidden Veggie Fruit Snacks are a delicious and nutritious treat that cleverly incorporates fruits and vegetables into a kid-friendly snack. Made with fresh strawberries, blueberries, spinach, and carrots blended with natural sweeteners and gelatin, these snacks are perfect for a guilt-free indulgence. They require no baking and set firmly in the refrigerator, making them easy to prepare and store.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit and Vegetable Blend
- 1 cup strawberries, hulled and diced
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup finely chopped spinach
- 1/2 cup finely grated carrots
Other Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons gelatin powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Blend the Fruits and Vegetables: In a blender, add the strawberries, blueberries, spinach, and grated carrots. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth.
- Combine Ingredients in Saucepan: Pour the blended mixture into a medium saucepan. Add the applesauce, honey, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Stir well to combine everything thoroughly.
- Warm the Mixture: Heat the mixture over medium heat until it is warm but not boiling to prepare for gelatin incorporation.
- Add Gelatin: Sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the warm mixture to avoid clumping. Let it sit for about one minute to allow the gelatin to start dissolving.
- Stir Until Smooth: Continuously stir the mixture until the gelatin is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth without lumps.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the mixture cool down slightly to make it safe for molding.
- Pour into Molds: Transfer the mixture into silicone molds or a baking pan lined with parchment paper for easy removal later.
- Refrigerate to Set: Place the molds or pan in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until the fruit snacks are firm to the touch and have set properly.
- Remove and Cut: Once set, take the snacks out of the molds or cut them into squares if you used a baking pan.
- Store Properly: Store the fruit snacks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week to maintain freshness.
Notes
- You can substitute honey with maple syrup to keep the recipe vegan-friendly, but note that gelatin is not vegan.
- Ensure the gelatin is sprinkled evenly over the mixture to prevent clumping.
- Use silicone molds for easy removal of the fruit snacks without sticking.
- Make sure the mixture is warm but not boiling when adding gelatin to properly dissolve it.
- Store leftover fruit snacks in the refrigerator to maintain texture and freshness.
- Feel free to experiment with other fruits or vegetables as per preference.
