Homemade Fruit Snacks (with spinach!)

Store-bought fruit snacks are easy to grab, but with homemade you get to control exactly what goes into it. These homemade fruit snacks keep it simple—real fruit, a touch of natural sweetener, and even some sneaky spinach (don’t worry, no one will taste it!).

You may also be interested in making our homemade protein energy bars that actually taste amazing!

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When it comes to lunchbox treats and afternoon snacks for the kids, these fruit and vegetable snacks are right up our alley. They are much more like really thick jello pieces than your run-of-the-mill boxed fruit snack, but then again, these things are actually made out of real fruit and vegetables so of course they’ll be a bit different. My kids love them and it’s something fun we can make together.

Unflavored Gelatin: Where to Find It

Unflavored gelatin is the key ingredient that gives these fruit snacks their thick, jello-like texture. You can usually find it in the baking aisle near the flavored gelatin (like Jell-O) or in the natural foods section of the grocery store. It typically comes in small boxes with individual packets inside. If you’re buying in bulk, you may also find it in canisters.

Switching up Fruits

One of the best things about this recipe is how many different kinds of fruits you can use! You can use mango, raspberries, peaches, pineapple, and blackberries. If swapping fruits, just keep the total amount of fruit the same (around 3 cups). Some fruits are naturally sweeter than others, so you may need to adjust the agave syrup based on taste.

Chewier Texture

For a truly chewy texture, you can place the cut fruit snacks in a food dehydrator at 95-115°F for a few hours. This will remove more moisture and make them closer in texture to store-bought gummies. If you don’t have a dehydrator, set your oven to the lowest temperature and let them dry out on a parchment-lined tray for about 1-2 hours with the door slightly ajar.

Tips for a Silky Smooth Blend

Getting a smooth texture is key to making these fruit snacks appealing for kids. Nobody wants little bits of spinach!

Use a high-powered blender: A blender like a Vitamix or Ninja will give you the smoothest results. If using a regular blender, blend longer and scrape down the sides as needed.

Blend the spinach first: Start by blending the spinach with just the orange juice until completely smooth. Then add the fruit and blend again. This ensures no spinach flecks remain.

Thaw frozen fruit slightly: If using frozen strawberries or blueberries, let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before blending. This helps them break down easier and blend smoothly.

Strain if needed: If your blender doesn’t fully break everything down, you can pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any pulp or bits of skin.

Cutting, Shapes, and Molds

Once your fruit snacks are set, you can get creative with how you cut them! Classic Squares are the easiest option. Just slice them into squares or rectangles with a knife.

Use small cookie cutters to make stars, hearts, or other fun shapes. This can be a really fun activity for kids to get involved. Silicone or metal cutters work best.

Silicone Molds are an option if you want to go the extra mile. Pour the mixture into small silicone molds before chilling for perfect individual shapes. This works great for themed snacks!