Homemade Gummy Snacks

Who doesn't love a good gummy snack? I know my kids certainly do (and yeah, I do too). The major problem with buying something like this is the grocery store is all the added junk that comes along with most of them. Many gummy snacks have added food dyes that are NOT good for anyone, and have also been linked to many health issues such as certain cancers and ADHD. I would rather do without that, for sure. These homemade gummies are easy to make and have only all natural ingredients so you can be sure they are safe for you and your family - not to mention, they are delicious and fun to eat!
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So we start out with 3/4 cup of fresh orange juice and pour into a pot on the stove. Then add 3/4 - 1 cup of fresh (or frozen works too!) strawberries. Heat these together on low, stirring until the strawberries become soft.  Then add 2 Tablespoons of raw honey and continue stirring. You want the fruit to dissolve a bit until it becomes somewhat like a compote. Next, remove from heat and puree all ingredients together using an immersion blender (or empty contents into a regular blender).  Then let mixture sit for 5 minutes to cool.
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Now for the gelatin! This is the magic ingredient for these gummy treats. This gelatin is a great source of protein and makes for excellent homemade treats. This  is different from the Great Lakes Collagen that I use in other recipes. Look for this gelatin here. This gelatin will GEL, so it cannot be added to liquids for drinking or other recipes. 
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The next step is to SLOWLY add 5-6 Tablespoons of the gelatin into the mixture (the more you add the more firm your gummies will be), using a whisk the entire time you are adding the gelatin. This will get clumpy if you add it too quickly and are not whisking enough. Small bubbles will form on the top, and you can skim them off with a spoon if desired so your gummies look more smooth.
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Now the fun part! Divide the mixture out into these cute little silicone molds and create adorable gummy shapes! You can find these here. Refrigerate for about one hour to fully set. Then pop them out of the molds, and enjoy! These keep great in a sealed container in the fridge for a week or so. 

​Last step: Enjoy your yummy gummy treats!