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Homemade Orange Jello {No Refined Sugar}

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Have you ever made REAL + healthy jello? It’s so easy! Skip those box mixes and whip up a batch of your own delicious, naturally sweetened, Homemade Orange Jello in minutes.

Orange jello squares on a plate with orange slices.

Healthy homemade orange Jello is fun food!

Seriously … who doesn’t like jello? But lets face it, the commercial stuff in the box {that I grew up eating} is bad news. Have you read the ingredient list? Refined Sugar, Artificial Flavor, Yellow 6, Red 40, BHA … no thanks!

Jello is supposed to be a fun, delicious snack plus a healing remedy when you’re sick. But folks, there is nothing healing about the commercialized jello. There is another option … make your own!

Trust me on this one, it’s super easy to make + only takes minutes to prepare. All you need is some nourishing gelatin + some fresh juice and a little honey and you’re good to go.

Did you have a favorite jello flavor as a kid? I loved lime, strawberry and cherry … but my mom’s favorite flavor was orange. She’s been on my mind a lot lately {she is every day} and I’ve really been missing her. I wanted to make some jello for my family and it just seemed fitting to make orange flavored jello. I wish I could have made this delicious jello for her, she would have loved it.

The good news is I can make this for my family now. Tiny Love saw me cutting slices of the jello on the counter and stood on her tippy toes to reach up and grab a square. She took a bite and reached up for another square. I had some and was blown away by how good it was. I told my husband, “You have to try this” and he said, “This is the best jello I’ve ever had.” Made this real food mommy’s day.

So get yourself some healthy gelatin … please, not the commercial kind from the store. Knox and other commercial brands are not going to give you any healing benefits. You’re probably going to have to buy grass-fed gelatin online {that’s where I buy it}.

Benefits of Gelatin:

  • It’s known for helping restore gut lining.
  • Known to helping to build stronger bones, build stronger nails + improve dental health.
  • Helps hair grow strong.
  • It’s known to help reduce joint pain.
  • Known to help soothe the intestinal tract. This is one of the reasons it’s helpful to consume when you’re sick. It’s very gentle on the stomach.

Whip up a batch of this natural, healthy, homemade orange jello. It’s so good, you’re going to keep going back for more.

Orange jello squares on a plate with orange slices.

Homemade Orange Jello

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Healthy Homemade Orange Jello

Prep

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Total

Yield 12-15 squares (varies)

Have you ever made REAL + healthy jello? It's so easy! Skip those box mixes and whip up a batch of your own delicious, naturally sweetened, Homemade Orange Jello in minutes.

 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups freshly squeezed organic orange juice {approx. 4 medium oranges}
  • 2 tablespoons grass-fed gelatin
  • 2 tablespoons light colored honey {like clover honey}

Instructions

  1. Wash and cut oranges in half. Place a fine mesh strainer over a measuring cup or mixing bowl. Squeeze oranges until you have 2 cups of juice {see Notes below}.
  2. Pour juice into saucepan.
  3. Sprinkle gelatin on the surface of the orange juice. This is called "blooming" ... basically it just means that it helps prevent lumps from forming.
  4. Using a fork or whisk, stir the mixture and let sit for about 2-3 minutes.
  5. Heat the gelatin-juice mixture over medium heat until gelatin is dissolved, about 5-7 minutes.
  6. Turn the heat to low and add the honey stirring until the honey is completely dissolved.
  7. Remove from heat and immediately pour into glass dish, Jello mold, ice cube tray, ramekins ... whatever you would like.
  8. Place in the refrigerator and chill for at least 3-4 hours or until completely set.
  9. Enjoy!

Notes

YOU WILL NEED: Fine Mesh Strainer, Glass Measuring Cup or Large Mixing Bowl, Medium Saucepan, Measuring Spoon, Whisk or Fork, Glass Bowl/Glass Dish/Jello Molds/Ice Cube Trays 

  • You can also add filtered water if you juice your oranges and don't quite have enough to make 2 cups. I have used 1 1/2 cups fresh orange juice and 1/2 cup filtered water and it still tastes delicious.
  • I like to pour the Jello mixture into a rectangle glass dish and cut the Jello into square slices. You can also use cookie cutters to make fun shapes for your littles.

INGREDIENTS I USED: I used grass-fed Gelatin to make this Jello. I only recommend using a lighter colored honey. Wildflower honey will overpower the flavor ... just trust me on this, it won't taste good. I use a local creamed clover honey. I have also used this light colored raw honey + this honey is great too.

Courses Snacks

Cuisine American

Are you on Pinterest? I pin lots of yummy real food recipes + more there. I have a board just for Gluten Free Treats + Snacks and Small Bites too! Come follow along.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. I have to say that I have cooked with gelatin before. I need to pop to a health shop tomorrow and see if they have some in stock so I can experiment with it. Number 1 think I will use it for is your orange jello. It sounds sooo good I must try making it! Pinned!

    Reply

  5. Would you say that adding some zest from the oranges would be good too? I have made a similar recipe with oranges and another fruit with the grass fed gelatin and they didn’t come out. The gelatin overpowered the juice. Thanks.

    Reply

    • I bet you could add some zest, there’s so much lovely flavor in citrus zest. Hmm that’s interesting, did you use a similar ratio with the recipe you tried before? I have never found the gelatin to be overpowering at all. So far I have only made strawberry, cherry and citrus ones and they all have been amazing.

      Reply

  9. Perfect snack using REAL fruit juice and my favorite gelatin! Great way to get some of those collagen into kids (of all ages)! And no added sugar! Sharing on my FB page tomorrow!

    Reply

  10. I have had some sick kiddos this week, and am so thankful for the reminder to make jello for them. I used to drink Jello juice whenever I was sick as a child. Now I can make it healthier with juice!

    Reply

  12. When my kids see Jello part of them is like “What is this” and the other part is like “I want to try it”… which is totally understandable, I should make them some of this so they can try it and know there are real food versions, besides, I would never buy them the fake stuff… 🙂

    Reply

  15. Absolutely, I had resorted to making my own, so that my kids wouldn’t complain about me never buying them jello. I haven’t done it for a while, so I will really have to start again! This recipe is the best reminder. Kids are picky, they don’t like all the complex flavours us as adults enjoy. Well, I don’t know why I haven’t thought of making just straight orange juice jello. Great idea, simple, and I have a feeling the kids will love! Thank you <3

    Reply

  22. Gorgeous, nourishing and simple. Isn’t it crazy how commercial brands have ruined such perfectly good ideas. Thank goodness we can make them at home!

    Reply

  26. Yum! My kids would love this, and I think they’d enjoy helping to make it too! Thanks for giving the heads up about the honey choice, I usually have wildflower honey, so glad you’ve let us know to try a lighter flavoured one!

    Reply

    • Trust me lol I’ve tried it with wildflower and it’s just not as good lol … although there is one wildflower honey that tastes like marshmallows, I wish I could remember what flower variety it is, but I bet that one would be good.

      Reply

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