Support Immunity With These Easy DIY Vitamin C Gummies

As the weather cools down, it’s time to bring out the coats, heavy blankets … and cold medicine. The fall and winter months are prime time for colds and flus to strike, so it’s especially important to give your immune system a little extra support this time of year. These easy-to-make gummies are a delicious way to do just that.

Freshly-squeezed juice from your favorite citrus fruits delivers vitamin C, and high-quality, grass-fed gelatin provides protein and key amino acids. To amp up immune support, add in your favorite cold-fighting supplements. Most can be found in powder or liquid form, or simply break open the supplement capsule and pour the contents directly into the mixture.

But the real star of this recipe is raw honey, which has antioxidants and enzymes—just what your body needs when it’s battling a bug. In fact, a study from Penn State College of Medicine showed that honey may be as effective as dextromethorphan (DM), the active cough suppressant in many over-the-counter cold medicines.

One of the best parts of this recipe is that it can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. Don’t have small silicone gummy molds? No problem. Lightly oil an 8×8-inch baking dish and use that instead. After the gelatin mixture has set, use a sharp knife to cut it into small cubes. Only have lemons in your fruit bowl? Don’t sweat it—but you may want to add a little extra honey to offset the sour flavor.

DIY Raw Honey Vitamin C Gummies

Ingredients

1 cup citrus juice, freshly squeezed (suggested combination: ½ cup grapefruit juice, ¼ cup orange juice, ¼ cup lemon juice)
2 tablespoons raw honey
7 tablespoons unflavored, grass-fed gelatin
1 teaspoon vitamin c powder (optional)

Instructions

In a small saucepan set over medium low heat, whisk together juice and honey until dissolved. Very slowly pour in gelatin powder, a little at a time, whisking the whole time until all the gelatin is dissolved and the mixture becomes syrup-like in texture. Remove from heat and whisk in the vitamin powders or contents from an opened vitamin capsule, if using.

Pour the mixture into silicon molds or a lightly oiled 8×8-inch baking dish and freeze for 10 minutes. Pop the gummies out of the molds or slice into small bites if using a dish. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Photo credit: Paul Delmont