Elderberry & Orange Jelly
A vibrant and yummy fruity jelly recipe for kids with a super-healthy twist for winter immunity. Jelly can be eaten as an everyday sweet treat or pudding, or you can bring it out on special occasions including Halloween, Bonfire Night and birthday parties. Naturally sweet with no added sugar or artificial sugars!
Jelly slips down the throat a treat, so it’s the perfect food for those who have gone off their food when they are going through a bout of tonsillitis, hand foot and mouth or a sore throat.
Both elderberry and orange naturally contain vitamin C and the elderberry has antiviral properties. You can use this elderberry syrup recipe during the elderberry season (September/October) and at other times of the year we recommend you use Sambucol Elderberry Syrup, which is suitable for children from 12 months plus. 1 serving provides one 10ml dose of Sambucol. There is no real downside to consuming too much elderberry syrup as the berries are cooked.
Gelatine is also an important nutrient for kids, as it contains protein and amino acids which can help to soothe a sore tummy as well as provide the nutrients needed to make collagen and nourish hypermobile joints. Gelatine contains the amino acid glycine which may help to regulate blood sugar levels in those with Type 2 diabetes. If your child does not like eating meat, then the neutral taste of gelatine in jelly can help to provide some of the missing nutrients.
Get our lovely Healthy Bites newsletter each week!
Each week, you’ll get an amazing recipe, a useful health tip, and an ingredient to jazz up your shopping basket! We don’t share your details with anyone else.
Elderberry & Orange Jelly
Ingredients
- 5 sheets Gelatine (sheets vary, but use enough for the volume of liquid)
- 250 ml Orange (juice, freshly squeezed!)
- 150 ml Raspberry & Apple Juice (such as Innocent or Copella)
- 100 ml Elderberry Syrup (such as Sambucol)
Instructions
- Prepare the gelatine sheets or powder as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Squeeze the oranges. Alternatively use bought freshly squeezed orange juice if you are in a rush.
- Gently warm the orange juice in a saucepan. Add in half the gelatine and stir well until it is combined and melted in. Do not boil.
- Pour the liquid into jelly moulds so they are half filled (best to have these placed on a small tray). Place in the fridge for an hour so it is mainly set.
- Gently warm the raspberry and apple juice in a saucepan. Add the last half of the gelatine and stir well until it is combined and melted in. Again, do not boil.
- Stir in the elderberry syrup.
- Carefully pour the raspberry and elderberry liquid on top of the orange jelly so that the jelly mould is filled to the top.
- Return to the fridge for another two hours until fully set.
- So that it is easy to release the jelly from the mould, soak the jelly moulds in hot water for a minute. Serve the jelly in a bowl or pop on a plate and eat with a spoon.
Notes
- The set jelly can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- You can get Sambucol here.
- Most gelatine you buy in the supermarket is pork based, however online it is easier to get grass-fed beef gelatine such as Planet Paleo Gelatine or Ossa Pasture Raised Gelatin.
- This recipe can also easily be made plant-based by swapping the gelatine for agar flakes – however agar does not provide the same nutrients or health benefits as gelatine. I recommend Clearspring Agar Flakes.
Thank you for this! Do shop bought jelly cubes contain similar health benefits from the gelatine? Many thanks, Katey
They often contain pork gelatine – but they also contain lots of icky sweeteners, flavourings and colours and are often ultra-processed.
Hi Lucinda. What kind of gelatin powder would you reccomend?
These are my two favourites Planet Paleo Gelatine or Ossa Pasture Raised Gelatin