Heart-Shaped Collagen Gummies

With only two ingredients (gelatin and juice) this simple recipe is quick to make and a fun activity to do with the kids. 

The magic ingredient here is gelatin, which is just the cooked form of collagen. Gelatin’s job here is to set the liquid into a gel-like consistency, as well as supplies the amino acids to builds collagen in our bodies.  Gelatin is derived from the hours-long simmering of skin, cartilage, and bones from animals, I know that’s hard to imagine when you see these cute gummies. But did you know marshmallows are also made of gelatin?

Ingredient:

• 1 ½ cup (12 oz) juice or flavoured water (you can use sparkling water and add a few drops of stevia to sweeten, if desired)

• 1/8 cup plus 1 tbsp. unflavoured grass-fed gelatin (I use Great Lakes Gelatin)

Note: I made the gummies in the picture with my son, he wanted an apple flavour so  I used 1 cup Tropicana 100% Fresh-Pressed Canadian Apple Juice (which is the best-tasting apple juice on the market!) and diluted it with ½ cup water. I also added just a single drop of red food colouring to give a pinkish hue, this is optional.  

Special equipment (optional):

• silicon gummy mold 

• small cookie cutter (I used mini heart-shaped cookie cutter)

Instruction:

• Divide the liquid in half.  Heat half of the liquid is a small saucepan over medium-low heat.  

• While it warms, pour the other half of the liquid into a medium-sized mixing bowl and whisk in the gelatin, 1 tbsp at a time.  Whisk until the gelatin is well incorporated and the mixture is thick. 

• Pour the warmed water into the bowl with the water and gelatin and whisk thoroughly until dissolved, smooth and well combined.  

• If using flavoured sparkling water, add stevia to taste, if desired. 

• Pour the mixture into a 9 x 9 inch glass or ceramic dish or into gummy molds.  Place in the fridge until completely chilled and set, about 30 minutes.  

If using a baking dish instead of molds, use a small cookie cutter to cut out different shapes or simply cut the gummies into square or rectangles.  To release the gummies from the molds or baking dish, set the bottoms of the containers in warm water.