Healthy Fruit Snacks Recipe | Sugar Free Strawberry Fruit Snacks (2024)

Feb 26, 2017

Dairy FreeFat FreeGluten FreeLow CarbPaleoSugar Free

You’ve surely seen my Healthy Homemade Gummy Bears right?? Well, I keep getting asked, “What’s the difference between your gummy bears and fruit snacks?” The gummy bears are super chewy and “gummy” while the fruit snacks are softer and your teeth sink straight through (kind of like pate de fruit)! Both are amazingly delicious, but I had to make both because Ilove gummy bears but my sisterloves fruit snacks. I made these Healthy Fruit Snacks for my big sis because we’re going to the movie theatre soon and need to sneak in some healthy treats (we ain’t paying $9 for a big tub of trans fat-filled popcorn, naw thanks).

Those prepackaged “Fruit Snacks” from the grocery store and vending machines get on my nerves… with their shiny blue packages claiming they’re “Made With REALFruit” and “FAT FREE” (when in realityit’s really just straight up corn syrup, sugar, and artificial food coloring). Thishealthy homemade versionis actually made with real fruit, and no corn syrup, sugar, or synthetic food dyes in sight!

These Healthy Fruit Snacks are sweet, soft, chewy and packed with fresh strawberry flavor.

But wanna know what makes this recipereally great? It requires only 5 ingredients!! This recipe took quite a bit of tweaking to getjuuuust right. I think I made a trial batch every weekend for a little more thana month (the checkout employeesat Costco must’ve been wondering why I was buying so many darn strawberries on a weekly basis…)

In my 1sttrial(and probably the worst trial of them all), the fruit snacks were a complete disaster. I could taste the gelatin (EW… like, BIG ew) and there was gelatinized foam on the surface of the gummies. Not very appetizing. Oh, and I didn’t strain the mixture so there were eighty billion strawberry seeds in every gummy. I hate seeds with a passion. I’d like to have a treat without having to whip outsome floss! Plus, storebought fruit gummies are totally seedless (mostly because they are basically 100% corn syrup)

In my 2ndtrial, the texture was more like Pate de Fruit. I love Pate de Fruit so this wasn’t a huge issue with me, but I was aiming for thatslightly gummy fruit snack texture! Also, I didn’t strain the mixture well so some seeds ended upin the gummies, but definitely not as much as the first trial.

In my 3rdtrial, I used a little too much lemon juice so they were really tart. Delicious (and SEEDLESS thanks to my new nut milk bag!) but not authentic-tasting.

In my 4thtrial, I got the perfect amount of strawberry flavor and a really good texture… like in between Pate de Fruit and Gummy Bears. These Healthy Fruit Snacks are YUM!

These Healthy Fruit Snacks aretotally drool-worthy. BIG taste, minipackage.

Healthy Homemade Strawberry Fruit Snacks

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr

These Healthy Homemade Fruit Snacks are sweet, soft, chewy and packed with fresh strawberry flavor!

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Wash your strawberries, slice the greens off and puree in a blender. Measure 1¾ cups of the puree and place in a medium-sized bowl.

  • Stir in the lemon juice, stevia extract, and natural food coloring.

  • Hold open a nut milk bag over a large bowl while you pour the strawberry mixture into the bag. Squeeze the bag to get as much liquid out as you can. You should get 2¼ cups of the mixture after straining.

  • Pour the strained mixture into a nonstick saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin overtop, and let sit for 5 minutes. Stir it together and smush any big clumps of gelatin, don't worry about the small ones, they'll dissolve).

  • Place the pan over medium-high heat and stir occasionally, until it comes to a light boil. Stir constantly when the mixture boils harder. When you can't stir the bubbles away, keep it on the heat for 30 seconds and then remove from the heat.

  • Let the mixture sit for a few minutes so the foam/bubbles have a chance to dissolve. Carefully scoop the mixture into your silicone molds of choice (I used a variety of gummy bear molds, Hershey "Kiss" molds, and square molds). Let cool slightly on the counter, then transfer the moldsintothe fridge. Refrigerate until firm. To store, keep the gummies in a tightly sealed container in the fridge.

Course: Dessert, Snacks

Cuisine: Candy

Keyword: DIY, Fat Free, Gluten Free, Low Carb, Paleo

I really want to make these fruit snacks with other flavors soon (like raspberry, blueberry, grape, orange, maybe even lemon or lime) but I think I’ll stick with what I know is good for now 😉

.

With love and good eats,

.

–Jess

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posted in 5 Ingredients or Less, Bite-Sized Treats, DIY

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Healthy Fruit Snacks Recipe | Sugar Free Strawberry Fruit Snacks (2024)

FAQs

Which fruit snacks are the healthiest to eat? ›

Of all the commercially available fruit snacks, defined by the USDA as “products made with fruit and fruit juices, which may or may not contain added sugar, artificial colors and flavors, and preservatives,” the UMass Amherst team found that dried fruit has the best overall nutritional profile – the highest nutrient ...

Is it OK to eat fruit snacks everyday? ›

Eating too many of these snacks can lead to weight gain. That's not all–research has shown that added sugars increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic health problems (7).

How do you sweeten strawberries without sugar? ›

An alternative method is to soak the strawberries in a bowl of cold water with 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of salt added into the mixture. Let it rest for 30 minutes then rinse and dry the strawberries. The salting process will draw out the natural sweetness within the fruit.

What is the main ingredient in fruit snacks? ›

These and most other fruit snacks are made of mostly sugars (whether from corn syrup or concentrated fruit juice), modified cornstarch, artificial flavors, and artificial color/food dyes.

How unhealthy are Welch's fruit snacks? ›

Many believe that Welch's fruit snacks are a healthy option. However, even though it contains added vitamins, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E, they also contain corn syrup, sugar, modified corn starch, and gelatin. When it comes to fruit snacks, there are MUCH better and healthier options than Welch.

What is the number 1 healthy fruit? ›

Blueberries take the title of healthiest fruit. Blueberries' stunning hue comes from their anthocyanins — an antioxidant believed to be responsible for their numerous health benefits. Long-term studies suggest that including blueberries in your regular lineup may lower the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Are motts or welchs healthier? ›

Even though Welch's uses more natural ingredients, they're not all that more healthy due to the 7 grams of added sugars. Mott's may have 10 grams, but they also have added vitamins. And if you're vegan, you're in luck. Mott's are vegan, according to shoppingfoodie.com.

Why am I craving fruit snacks? ›

Fruits are full of important vitamins, nutrients, and fibre, but craving fruit can be a symptom of dehydration, low blood-sugar levels, or even a change in hormones, such as pregnancy.

Can dogs have strawberries? ›

Yes, dogs can eat strawberries. Strawberries are full of fiber and vitamin C. Along with that, they also contain an enzyme that can help whiten your dog's teeth as he or she eats them. Like all fruits, strawberries contain natural sugar, so offer them in moderation.

Why aren't strawberries sweet anymore? ›

Certain pesticides might be responsible. A team reporting in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has found that two common strawberry fungicides can affect cellular mechanisms, creating berries with subdued flavour and sweetness, as well as a lower nutritional value.

What is the least healthy fruit snack? ›

Gummies were the least nutritious fruit snack, followed by canned fruit packed with something other than juice and dried flavored fruit, both of which have a lot of added sugar.

Is there pork in Welch's fruit snacks? ›

We use both pork and beef gelatin in the production of Welch's® Fruit Snacks.

What was the first fruit snack? ›

The first modern fruit snack was Joray Fruit Rolls, which were developed by confectioner Louis Shalhoub in the 1970s. It was used by backpackers as a lightweight, high-energy food.

Which is healthier Mott's or Welch's fruit snacks? ›

Even though Welch's uses more natural ingredients, they're not all that more healthy due to the 7 grams of added sugars. Mott's may have 10 grams, but they also have added vitamins. And if you're vegan, you're in luck. Mott's are vegan, according to shoppingfoodie.com.

Can fruit snacks be healthy? ›

Yes? Fruit snacks run around 80-90 calories per small pouch—which is a reasonable amount of calories for a kids' snack. They're free of fat, cholesterol and are very low in sodium. Many also provide vitamins A and C.

Are packaged fruit snacks healthy? ›

Are fruit snacks healthy for children? If you're looking to give your kids a well-balanced snack with plenty of vitamins A and C, choose REAL fruit instead (you'll also get fiber and potassium). Most fruit snacks are nothing more than sugar and dyes—it's right there in the ingredient list.

What is the number one healthiest snack? ›

Tips for Healthy Snacking
  • Fruits canned in water or their own juice.
  • Whole grain bread, crackers and cereals.
  • Lower fat yogurt.
  • Lower fat cheese.
  • Unsalted nuts and seeds and their butters.
  • Hummus.
  • Hard boiled eggs.
  • Single serving canned fish.
Mar 1, 2021

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