Do you love the flavor of the creamsicle push-up pops we grew up with but not the corn syrup, dextrose, polysorbate 80 and other questionable ingredients they contain? These gelatin cups are a yummy way to get the benefits of gelatin into your diet with all of its protein and amino acids for repairing your skin, hair, and nails… not to mention your digestive system.
And of course, they deliver creamsicle deliciousness . . . only in a more portable and less “drip all over your fingers” form. (Which, hey, I’m all for in the summer when I can send my kids outside to eat and hose them off if needed.)
How to Make Real-Food Creamsicle Gelatin Cups
These cups contain 5 — yes just 5 – ingredients: orange juice, vanilla, grass-fed gelatin, fresh cream or coconut milk/cream, and a touch of maple syrup or honey.
Set in layers in small mason jars, they’re a great option when we’re in the mood for a light, fruity dessert and it’s not hot enough for homemade popsicles.
The bottom layer is a mixture of fresh squeezed orange juice, gelatin, and a little honey and vanilla extract. You’ll need unflavored gelatin, which you can buy from a good, pasture raised source here. Just make sure you use the gelatin, not the collagen peptides that won’t gel.
Once the orange layer is made, it will need to chill for a while until firm. The process for making the top vanilla cream layer is exactly the same as the orange layer, just with cream instead of orange juice. Again, it will need to chill before being eaten.
These jello cups take only minutes to make but about 4 hours total to firm up in the fridge, so plan ahead.
I used these 5 ounce jars to make 7 snack cups. These 4 ounce jelly jars also work well, especially if you want to take them on the go. Of course, small glasses, pyrex bowls, or a large glass pan will work, too – just cut the jello into squares when it’s chilled.
This recipe is designed after the pre-made gelatin cups you can buy from the store – except made with real food ingredients. I made these in small glass storage containers that come with fitted lids which makes this recipe easy for grab-and-go, lunches, or afternoon snacks. It is creamy, smooth, flavorful, and is kid and husband approved!
Tip: Save Your Orange Peels!
There’s a quick way to turn your leftover peels into an inexpensive, all-purpose cleaning vinegar that’s perfect for kitchens and bathrooms, removing buildup and grime, and more.
Here’s how to make citrus-infused cleaning vinegar.
Creamsicle Gelatin Cups Recipe
Ingredients
Orange Layer
- 2 cups fresh squeezed orange juice
- 7 tsp grass-fed gelatin
- 2 tbsp raw honey (or more if needed)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (how to make your own vanilla extract)
Cream Layer
- 1 cup coconut cream or heavy whipping cream
- 1 tbsp grass-fed gelatin
- 4 tsp raw honey (or more if needed)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
To Make The Orange Layer
- In a small bowl mix together 1/2 cup orange juice and 7 teaspoons gelatin. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan combine the rest of the orange juice with 2 tablespoons honey and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Heat over medium-low heat until the mixture is hot but not boiling.
- Whisk in the gelatin mixture until completely it is dissolved. Taste and add more honey if needed.
- Divide evenly between ramekins or mason jelly jars. I placed 1/3 cup in seven of these jars.
- Place containers in the fridge for a couple of hours to firm up. Once the orange layer is firm it's time to make the cream layer.
To Make The Cream Layer
- In a small bowl mix together 1/3 cup cream and 1 tablespoon gelatin. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan combine the rest of the cream with 4 teaspoons honey and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Heat over medium-low heat until the mixture is hot but not boiling.
- Whisk in the gelatin mixture until completely it is dissolved. Taste and add more honey if needed.
- Divide evenly between ramekins or mason jelly jars. I placed just a little over 2 tablespoons into seven of these jars.
- Place back in the fridge and allow the cream layer to firm up for another hour or two before serving.
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Mention @mommypotamus or tag #mommypotamus!
Nutrition
More Healthy Gelatin Snacks
Homemade Strawberry Jello Recipe – If you love strawberry jello but not the congealed red #40 and artificial flavorings found in boxed versions, you’re going to love this recipe!
Sour Gummy Snacks – These yummy gummies only take five-minutes of hands-on time to make and are perfect for snacking on-the-go.
Strawberry Cream Gummy Snacks – If you already love the flavor of oranges and cream, chances are you’ll love this recipe, too!
Easy Coconut Panna Cotta – This four-ingredient recipe from Megan of Detoxinista is super easy and delicious.
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oh yum! these sound great, we make sugar-free marshmallows all the time. Next we need to try these!!
Would the cream layer work with coconut milk? This recipe sounds awesome we just don’t have access to raw milk:(
Hello Sarah,
Yes, coconut milk should work just fine and would taste delicious!
Enjoy,
Katie
I was coming down to ask this same question. 🙂 Thanks for the answer, Katie. This recipe looks amazing!
These look delicious! I cannot wait to try them. I remember when I was a kid eating these but with raspberry instead of orange. Yum yum.
Cleansthenewblack.com
I just made these and noticed that the recipe doesn’t mention when to add the maple syrup or vinalla. Can’t wait to try them!
Step 2 in both orange and then cream tell to add honey/maple and vanilla.
Im going to make this! Thank you for sharing. Same instructions if I will be using the hydrosolate (great lakes green can?)
Hi Nancy, unfortunately the hydrosolate won’t work for this recipe. It doesn’t gel well.
The link for the cups doesn’t work. …
Hi Susanna, I think I missed something. Which cups are you referring to?
The glass cup with which to freeze these in. I was actually looking for glass cups with lids. Hoping you can fix the link
Is it safe to assume that the honey and vanilla is added with the col cream at the end of step 4?
Mmmmm! Definitely going to make these for a treat! Just need to get some oranges to juice. 🙂
Can we make this with orange juice from the bottle and pasteurized cream, or would that not work? Thanks!
Hi Lisa,
That should work for this recipe. 🙂
Do you put the maple syrup and vanilla in the cold cream or do you put it in the pot with the cream you warm and then add the gelatin to? Recipe is delicious but I realized after I made it that we never added those 2 items in 🙂
Hi, if I am not mistaken I think they are simply written under the wrong group in the ingredients as they are mentioned (as in used) when preparing the orange layer. Hope it helps.. am off to trying this recipe!
These look delicious! I’m sure my kids would love them. What size container is being used?
I think there was supposed to be a link to the containers in step 2 above: “Pour into 5 small glass cups with lids (like these).”
Tried these tonight. They were pretty good. I used coconut milk instead of cream, and I made the amount in the recipe, but I didn’t have enough to cover the orange in all my ramekins, so I poured it back and added more coconut milk, and it was still barely enough. I think next time I will make the same amount of the cream layer as the orange layer. Also, the orange layer was a little bitter, as OJ tends to be. I think next time I’ll add a little honey to the orange juice too. And use no pulp OJ…the pulp gives it a slightly odd texture. (I drink high pulp OJ because I prefer it, but don’t like the texture in this)
Any reason this would not work with other juices? I’m thinking of using this recipe with blueberry juice so I can make healthy gelatin with a blue hue. What do you think? Knudsen has blueberry juice.
Can anyone tell me how much protein per serving?
This “blooming” just makes my jello lumpy. Can’t I just warm the gelatin in the juice? Will try it next time.
How do you think these would freeze? Preparing for vacation and would like to make these ahead and stick in the freezer.
I’m not sure – please let us know how it works out if you try it!
Will this taste good without vanilla ? I can’t find one that has a grain free alcohol content…so I’m making own but I haven’t even started it and it won’t be ready for 3 months! Will sour cream work as a sub instead of cream? We can’t have lactose..
These were SO incredibly yummy! I had no orange juice but did have pineapple juice. Together, with the coconut milk, it ended up tasting like a pina colada! A real treat and so nice to know it’s not full of chemicals and icky stuff! Thank you for sharing the recipe. I look forward to experimenting with different flavor combos 🙂
Could you please give a rough estimate as to how many oranges are needed to make the 2 cups of fresh-squeezed orange juice. It would be very nice to have that included in the recipe.