What kid, or adult for that matter, doesn’t love jelly sweets. Here is a version of pure fruit juice jellies that I like to make for my family. All the goodness of whole fresh fruits and none of the disgusting synthetic sugar! Under normal circumstances I am not a fan of fruit juice for kiddies or adults, you get all the sugar and none of the healthy fibre! Not a great combo. This is one of the few exceptions to my usual rule. By making these jellies, you get them to get some much needed vitamin C (immune boosting) in and some healthy fruit sugars in small portions.

You will need:

• Soft fresh fruit of your choice (I like to use plums, strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, peaches, apricots, oranges or nectarines). Enough to squeeze out 2 cups of fresh juice.
• 1 cup of water
• a sieve or a juice extractor
• 1/2 cup raw honey
• silicone molds for the jellies or a large baking tray and shape cutters

how to:

Place a sieve over a large bowl.

Cut your fruit off the pip and place it in a sieve. Use a fork to push and squash the juice through the sieve into a bowl below. This may take a while. Obviously a juice extractor is the easier route but either way works well in the end.

Once you are sure you have squashed every last drop of juice out of the fruit, put the pulp aside (I use the pulp for dried fruit roll, but that is another recipe on its own.) Measure out 2 cups of juice. You need a ratio of 2 cups juice to 1 cup water so If you have less juice then just adjust the water.

In a saucepan, mix the 2 cups of juice with 1 cup of water and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/2 cup raw honey and 4 tablespoons powdered agar (plant based gelatine) or gelatine.

Use a whisk and stir until you are sure everything is mixed well. Place the saucepan back on the stove and allow to simmer for 8-10 minutes, continually stirring. Remove from the heat and allow to cool enough for you to pour it over into molds. Not allowing it to cool completely because it will SET! EEK!

Pour over into the silicone molds or just into a large baking tray. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours. Pop the shapes out of the molds, carefully. I have decapitated more ginger bread men than I would like to admit to. IF you don’t have silicone molds then use a large baking tray and once it has set, use shape cutters to cut out jellies in various shapes.

Keep them in an airtight container and they will last ages.

Play around with different fruit combos (like mango and peach or berries) and find the combo that works for your family. Enjoy!

Live wholesome!