I was on a mission today to use up some of the fruit and bits and pieces we already had at home, rather than letting them sit in the fridge until they’re past their best.
I had a heap of fresh oranges and some kiwifruit to use, and I’d seen a few videos floating around for homemade fruit gummies using them. The problem? They all seemed to be videos with no actual quantities or written instructions!
So, I decided to give them a go and work out the quantities as I went.
And while I was in the kitchen making those, I also tried another super-simple little treat I’d seen — Mini Jatz Freckles.
Both recipes turned out to be ridiculously easy, and they’re completely different: one is fruity and chewy, while the other is the perfect combination of sweet, salty and crunchy.
🍊🥝 Orange & Kiwi Fruit Gummies
These were the main reason I headed into the kitchen.
I wanted to use up some of our oranges and kiwifruit, and homemade fruit gummies seemed like a fun way to do it. They’re made with real fruit, a little honey for sweetness and gelatine to give them that lovely gummy texture.
Ingredients
- 2 oranges, juiced (about ¾ cup / 180 ml juice)
- 2 kiwifruit, peeled
- 3 tablespoons unflavoured powdered gelatine (approximately 25–30 g)
- 1–2 tablespoons honey, to taste
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice, optional
Method
Start by juicing the oranges until you have approximately ¾ cup (180 ml) of fresh orange juice.
Peel the kiwifruit and blend it until smooth.
There is one important little step when working with fresh kiwi: it contains an enzyme that can interfere with gelatine and stop it from setting properly. So, before adding the gelatine, place the kiwi puree into a small saucepan and gently heat it for around 3–5 minutes. You don’t need to boil it — just warm it through.
Add the orange juice, honey and lemon juice and stir to combine.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and gradually sprinkle in the gelatine, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
If needed, return the saucepan to very low heat and continue whisking until the gelatine has completely dissolved.
Don’t let the mixture boil.
Have a little taste at this point and adjust the sweetness if needed. Depending on how sweet your oranges and kiwifruit are, you may want a little more honey.
Pour the mixture into silicone gummy moulds. You can also use a small lined container and cut the gummies into little squares once they’re set.
Place them in the fridge for 2–4 hours, or until firm.
The verdict
These were such a fun little treat!
They’re fruity, slightly tangy and chewy, and I love that they’re made with fresh fruit rather than being based on a packet of jelly.
They’d also be a really fun recipe to make with kids, particularly if you have some cute little silicone moulds.
I ended up with approximately 30–40 small gummies, depending on the size of the moulds.
Keep them stored in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within about 5–7 days.
🍫 Mini Jatz Freckles
While I was already making a mess in the kitchen, I decided to try another recipe I’d come across: Mini Jatz Freckles.
If you’ve never tried the combination of a salty Jatz biscuit with sweet chocolate, you’re in for a treat.
These couldn’t be easier.
Ingredients
- 100s and 1000s
- Milk chocolate buttons
- Mini Jatz biscuits
That’s it!
Method
Preheat the oven to 150°C.
Line a baking tray with baking paper and sprinkle the 100s and 1000s over the tray.
Place a milk chocolate button on top of each little pile of sprinkles.
Pop the tray into the oven for just a few minutes — you’re looking for the chocolate to become glossy and soft, but not melted into a puddle.
Remove the tray from the oven and quickly press a Mini Jatz biscuit onto the top of each chocolate button.
Allow them to cool completely.
Once the chocolate has set again, they’re ready to eat.
The verdict
Oh my goodness.
These are so simple and so good.
You’ve got the crunchy, salty Jatz, the creamy milk chocolate and all those colourful little 100s and 1000s. It’s basically a homemade sweet-and-salty chocolate treat with almost no effort involved.
They’re also the sort of thing you could throw together when you need a quick little party treat, something for a kids’ afternoon tea, or just because you have chocolate buttons and Jatz sitting in the pantry!
And let’s be honest — sometimes the easiest recipes are the ones everyone gets most excited about.
Two recipes, very different treats!
I’m always a fan of recipes that don’t require a huge shopping list or hours in the kitchen, and both of these definitely fit the bill.
The Orange & Kiwi Fruit Gummies are a great way to use up fresh fruit and make something fun and homemade, while the Mini Jatz Freckles are the ultimate quick sweet-and-salty snack.
And the best part?
Neither requires complicated ingredients or fancy cooking skills.
Sometimes it’s nice to just make something easy, colourful and delicious. 🍊🥝🍫