With three simple ingredients, these Bedtime Gummies are sweetened with raw honey for extra nutrition and are overall a great Paleo & GAPS treat.
There isn’t a mom out there who hasn’t had the struggle of wrangling her children to bed. It’s almost like a badge of honor that we moms wear.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to make bedtime routine a smidge easier. These Bedtime Gummies call for only 3 simple ingredients and they are wholesome and nutritious.
Note: For gelly-type recipes, we use grass-fed bovine gelatin and collagen products from Perfect Supplements. They carry high-quality collagen products and are leaders in the industry. Click to see what my favorite gelatin products and how you can save with a special discount code.
3 Ingredient Bedtime Gummies
Let’s talk about the ingredients. Super easy. Super simple. Just three of them.
Tart Cherry Juice
Studies show that tart cherry juice (read: not regular cherry juice!) is rich in phytochemicals such as melatonin, the natural sleep hormone. (source) The consumption of tart cherry juice before bed enhances overall sleep quality. I love this brand that does not have added sugar and Trader Joe’s Tart Cherry Juice is also a good choice. As always, check the ingredients to make sure there’s no added sugar or preservatives.
Related: My Favorite Gelatin Products
Unflavored Grass-fed Gelatin
Would you believe me if I said that grass-fed gelatin is a superfood?
It’s rich in amino acids, minerals and is 98% protein. Gelatin is also naturally gluten free and has zero fat. Gelatin is sister to collagen which is the only thing I use to up the protein in bars, shakes and smoothies. They’re nearly identical in amino acid profile, the only difference is gelatin “gels” and collagen does not.
That’s why I love adding a few scoops of collagen to my coffee every morning (it’s tasteless and does not gel – I promise!).
We use Perfect Supplements for all our collagen and gelatin needs. It is exclusively sourced from pastured cows, is non-GMO and is free from hormones and pesticides. Truly a product you’ll feel good about.
Perfect Supplements has kindly given P+N readers a 10% discount. Enter PREPARE10 at checkout and get your grass-fed, non-GMO gelatin today!
Raw Honey for Bedtime
I like to preserve the nutritional benefits of using raw honey whenever I can so I avoid heating it whenever I can. I used THIS brand of honey in this recipe since it’s easier to dissolve than one that is solid and has been crystalized already.
When adding honey, make sure the gelatin mixture has cooled down enough to not destroy the live enzymes in the honey but you also want it to be warm enough to dissolve the sweetener easily. You want to keep it under 98F degrees to avoid denaturing the honey.
Healthy 3-Ingredient Bedtime Gummies
3 Ingredient Bedtime Gummies
Easy real-food, nourishing bedtime gummies that kids and adults will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup tart cherry juice
- 1/2 cup unflavored grass-fed gelatin
- 1/4 cup raw unfiltered honey
Instructions
In a small saucepan, pour half of the juice and sprinkle gelatin over the juice to "bloom." Whisk to combine and set aside. It will become very thick - that's a sign that the gelatin is blooming.
Set the saucepan on medium heat, add the remaining juice. Bring to a gentle simmer, while consistently stirring to make sure all gelatin is dissolved. Set aside for a few minutes to cool.*
When gelatin and juice is slightly warm to the touch, add honey and stir well.
Pour in silicone molds or in a shallow dish. Set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes, then transfer to refrigerator for 2 hours to set.
Invert the silicone molds to remove the gummies. If using shallow dish, simply cut the gummies into small cubes. Store in air-tight container for up to 2 weeks. Best be kept in refrigerator but not necessary.
Recipe Notes
*Setting the gelatin/juice mixture is very dependent on the temperature of your house. It's best to preserve the beneficial aspects raw honey, therefore, be careful not to add it to the mixture while it's still hot. On the flip side, you want to make sure the mixture is still warm enough to dissolve honey and avoid setting in the saucepan. If it does set prematurely, simply reheat until it melts and proceed.
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I did not know that tart cherry juice is a natural melatonin source, thanks for the great info and recipe!
It’s pretty awesome! Thanks Michala. 🙂
This brand of tart cherry juice has also apple juice, do u happen to know another brand that has only tart cherry juice as the only ingredient?
Hi Diana,
Trader Joe’s has one that is strictly 100% cherry juice. I would probably up the honey though to add a bit more sweetness. Enjoy!
Mine came out foamy and tasted like rubber. What did I do wrong?
Hi Kelly,
Did you whisk vigorously? Mine does have a little foam on the open surface of the gummies but not excessive. Have you seen the FB video of how I make them? (https://www.facebook.com/PrepareAndNourish/videos/1747783882190239/) Perhaps that’ll be helpful.
Hi Anya. I’m excited to try these gummies. My husband says I have an excess of “animal spirits”, which causes me to not be tired until about 2am and only need about 6 hours of sleep (I’m 61 but this pattern started around menopause). Hoping these gummies will help tamp that down. Question: have you ever added magnesium (like the powder called “Calm”) to these or other gummies intended to ease one into sleep? Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Christine,
I have not tried adding Calm to these gummies – that’s worth a shot though. I’ll try to remember to add it next time I make these. Thanks for your comment. 🙂
Mine turned out perfect and they seem to work only problem is there was no direction on how to store them. I placed mine in a Mason jar and in less than a week they were moldy. Not really happy about that. I’m going to try again, cutting down the recipe and keep them stored in the frig to see if that works.
Hi Jennifer,
I’m sorry to hear about the mold. In all the times I’ve made them – not once have they gotten moldy. Perhaps there was some contamination or condensation in the jar? Regardless, maybe keeping them in the refrigerator will keep them mold-free. Also, I do have suggestions on how to store them in the recipe card. 🙂
How many gummies are in a serving?
How many do u eat each night? I did little gummie Bears.
Hi Samantha, It’s up to you – I used to eat 2-3 at a time. 🙂
Hello! I am looking forward to trying these! Can you share a link to your silicone heart molds (and do I see a fish in that picture?)? I love the size and depth of those! Thanks!
Hi Sunshine,
I don’t remember where I purchased my molds as it has been a very long time. Here’s something comparable though that you can purchase on Amazon: heart mold and the fish mold. If you have an Ikea nearby – they have a great selection.
You always share with us very useful knowledge of how you can use a variety of ingredients for a positive effect on the body giving it health.
Instead of Cherry juice could you you use other juices like pomegranate?
Yes, it should work, Ed.