These super easy turmeric gummies, crammed with ginger, honey and coconut milk, are a great way to help ward off the common cold or the dreaded flu. A great healthy snack for the winter months, and best of all kids love them.
TOTAL TIME INVESTMENT: 15 MINUTES + RESTING TIME
The Princess rarely gets sick, yet in the last school term she managed three colds within a ten week period. Unfortunately, when she gets sick we all suffer.
There is little I can do to prevent the illnesses, I know, but that will not stop me trying. I am now employing everything in my home remedy arsenal to ward off the common cold in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the last term.
Whilst it is difficult to get her to swallow large pills of olive leaf extract or zinc, she is more than happy to munch on these cold busting coconut gummie snacks.
And you know what, even if they do nothing to ward off illness, these turmeric gummies make the perfect healthy snack – something I am always looking for.
If healthy snacking is something you struggle with, make sure you grab my free Healthy Snacks cheatsheet from my Resource Library. Simply click the link below or request the password at the end of this post.
Everybody seems to have a home remedy to either keep colds and flu at bay, or to help ease the symptoms if you weren’t that successful in avoiding the virus in the first place. Most of these remedies seem to feature ginger, turmeric and/or honey. All I had to do was turn them into turmeric gummies.
Enter the coconut milk. Coconut oil is high in lauric acid, which is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory. A good coconut milk will be high in coconut oil, yet still thin enough when heated to dissolve the gelatin, making it the perfect base for these super easy coconut gummies.
The Princess has just started a new school term and has been enjoying a gummie or two after school each day. I know it is early days but so far there is no sign of a cold, whereas by this time last term she had already developed the first one. Fingers crossed!
Table of contents
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Ingredient Substitutions For Turmeric Gummies
These coconut ginger gummies are easy to make, making them ideal to whip up during the cold and flu season. I wouldn’t mess with the ingredients too much if you are really looking for that natural immunity boost, but you can still play with the ingredient list a little.
- A good grass-fed gelatin is my preferred setting agent for these turmeric gummies. However gelatin is not a vegetarian/vegan ingredient. If you wish to make a vegetarian version of my coconut gummies, use a good quality agar agar in place of the gelatin. You will need to read the packet instructions to determine the correct amount of agar agar required to set the liquid. Do not just make a 1:1 substitution with the amount of gelatin listed in the recipe below.
- I don’t use honey in my gummies due to a deathly allergy, so I can say with great confidence that both coconut sugar and maple syrup make ideal sweetener substitutes in these gummies.
- Fresh turmeric and grated ginger are the ideal ingredients for these turmeric gummies, but I recognise that fresh ingredients are sometimes more difficult to come by. If you cannot source fresh ingredients, then ground ginger and dried turmeric may be used instead. Be aware that the ground spices may alter the texture of the gummies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Coconut Gummies
How long do homemade gummies last?
Stored correctly, in an airtight container in the fridge, my homemade turmeric gummies will last for up to two weeks in the fridge.
Can you refrigerate homemade gummies?
Yes. Store your homemade gummies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Can you freeze homemade gummies?
Products made with gelatin do not tend to freeze well. Or rather they don’t tend to defrost well. The freezing process may affect the taste and texture of the defrosted gummies. If you do need to freeze these coconut gummies, I would recommend you eat the gummies frozen. The gelatin in the gummies should keep them soft enough to bite into frozen.
How long do homemade gummies last?
Homemade gummies will last for up to two weeks in an airtight container in the fridge.
How do you keep gummies from sticking to the moulds?
If your gummies stick to your mould, you can dust the moulds with cornstarch prior to filling the cavities. You can also dip the base of the mould briefly in boiling water to help release the gummies.
If you buy a good quality food-safe silicone mould, you should not have any issues with the gummies releasing from the mould.
Can I use jello instead of gelatin to make gummies?
No, jello is not a suitable substitute for gelatin. Jello contains sugar, flavours, colours and just enough gelatin to obtain a soft/medium set in the finished product. Gelatin is an unflavoured setting agent, and I have developed this gummy recipe with higher quantities of gelatin to obtain a firmer set in the liquid.
Tips and Tricks For Successful Turmeric Gummies
These coconut ginger gummies are easy enough to get the children involved in their making, and they require little time in the kitchen to produce a great, healthy snack that will also (hopefully) keep that cold or flu at bay. I leave you with a few final tips to help you make the most delicious gummies possible.
- The key ingredient in these turmeric gummies is the gelatin. It is what takes this recipe from a creamy drink to something you can really get your teeth into. The gelatin is so much more than just a setting agent though. Check out my strawberry marshmallows for a better explanation of its benefits.
- The gelatin to liquid ratio in the recipe below will give the ginger gummies a firm set that is not overly chewy. If you prefer a firmer set, increase the gelatin to 3 Tablespoons per cup of liquid.
- I colour my gummies with a natural orange food colouring. This is a totally unnecessary step but it does make the turmeric gummies look more appealing to a child. Just remember that the base colour of these gummies is the yellow-brown of the turmeric and honey (or unrefined sugar) so if you do wish to colour the gummies make sure to choose a colour that will work with this.
- Be wary when buying your coconut milk. Some are loaded with gums and thickeners, even the organic ones, so read the label before purchasing. Personally I purchase a non-organic coconut milk that contains a minimum of 70% coconut. I don’t stress about the organic factor here as research has found that even in plantations where pesticides are used, no pesticide residue can be detected within the coconut itself.
- If using honey, add it just before you stir in the gelatin to preserve the honey’s antibacterial qualities.
- Adding black pepper to the coconut infusion will enhance the anti- inflammatory properties of the turmeric. If you are making these for adults, or for children that will happily pepper, add at least 1/2 teaspoon of cracked black pepper to the initial spice infusion.
- I have made these turmeric gummies with minimal sweetener as we prefer them that way. If you prefer sweeter coconut gummies you may need to add additional sugar or honey. Taste the coconut mixture before adding the gelatin and add additional sweetener at this point if preferred.
- The number of gummies this recipe makes is dictated by the size of the moulds used. Select a suitable mould according to the age of your child, although I recommend you not make them too big or they become a bit too much to eat.
- Keep the coconut gummies in a sealed airtight container in the fridge. They should last at least two weeks.
Other Healthy Snack Ideas You May Like
Trying to find healthy snacks I am happy to feed to The Princess seems like a never-ending search. No sooner do I find something she likes than she tires of it and the search begins again. Some of the healthy snacks I have had success with over the years include:
- ‘Cheesy” Kale Chips
- Crispy Tamari Almonds
- Spicy Cheese Shortbread Biscuits
- Chunky Spinach & Basil Homemade Dip with Flatbread Crackers
- Apricot, Almond & Coconut Bliss Balls
Enjoy!
Made this recipe? Tell me how it went in the comments below.
And if you loved it, please don’t forget to rate it.
Cold Busting Coconut Turmeric Gummies
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 30 ml (2 Tablespoons) grated fresh ginger
- 30 ml (2 Tablespoons) coconut sugar or honey or more to taste
- 15 ml (1 Tablespoon) grated fresh turmeric or more to taste
- 30 ml (2 Tablespoons) powdered gelatin
You will also need silicone chocolate, candy or ice cube moulds.
Instructions
- Place the silicone mould(s) onto a baking tray and set aside
- Place the coconut milk, ginger, turmeric and coconut sugar (if using) into a small saucepan and slowly heat the liquid until it is just starting to simmer.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and set aside for 15 – 30 minutes to allow the aromatics to infuse the coconut milk.
- Strain the coconut milk into a bowl through a fine sieve. Press the ground ginger and turmeric with a spoon as you strain the coconut milk to ensure you extract all the liquid from the spices.
- Rinse the saucepan and return the strained coconut milk to the saucepan.
- If you are using honey as your sweetener, stir it in now.
- Sprinkle the gelatin over the surface of the coconut milk, whisking gently as you do so to incorporate it into the milk and to remove any lumps.
- Allow the milk to sit for 2-3 minutes, which allows the gelatin to absorb some liquid. This process is called 'blooming'. The coconut milk will turn to a thick paste, which is how it is supposed to look. Don't panic.
- Return the saucepan to a low heat, and whisk continuously until the gelatin melts and the mixture becomes smooth. You should not be able to see any little specks of gelatin remaining in the milk.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Gently spoon the infused coconut mixture into moulds.
- Place the tray into the fridge for 30 minutes or until the gummies are set. You can also put the tray in the freezer for 15 minutes before transferring the tray to the fridge to jump start the setting process. Just don't forget the gummies are in the freezer and allow them to freeze solid.
- Pop your gummies out of the moulds and enjoy!
Notes
- The gelatin to liquid ratio in this recipe will give the turmeric gummies a firm set without being overly chewy. If you prefer a firmer set, increase the gelatin to 3 Tablespoons per cup of liquid.
- I like to colour my gummies with a natural orange food colouring. This is a totally unnecessary step but it does make the turmeric gummies look more appealing to a child.
- Buy a good coconut milk that is not loaded with gums and thickeners. Try to purchase coconut milk with no less than 70% coconut.
- Adding honey after infusing the spices preserves the honey’s antibacterial qualities.
- These turmeric gummies are only mildly sweet. If you prefer sweeter coconut gummies you may need to add additional sugar or honey. Taste the coconut mixture before adding the gelatin and add additional sweetener at this point if preferred.
- The number of gummies this recipe makes is dictated by the size of the moulds used.
- The coconut gummies will keep in a sealed airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- The nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on a mould cavity of 20 ml, giving 12 gummies. Your mileage may vary according to the mould you use, which will affect the nutritional information.
Update Notes: This post was substantially updated on 25th September 2019 to include ingredient substitutions, FAQ’s, tips for success, nutritional information, a Table of Contents and to generally improve the readability of the text.
They sure look cute Tania.
Thanks Glenda 🙂
I love the Koala Bears! They are super cute!
Thanks Dora. Glad you recognised what they were 🙂
Where did you find the Kola mold? It is sooooo darn cute!
Hi Julie, I picked it up in a souvenir shop in Melbourne, but I have also seen them in souvenir shops in Perth. So if you are in Australia I would think they are reasonably easy to find. They are cute aren’t they 🙂
Would using powdered ginger and tumeric work, as I just dehydrated all my ginger for tea. Thankyou.
Hi Debbie. Sorry but to be honest I don’t know. No reason why it shouldn’t work but I haven’t tested it myself as I always have access to fresh ginger. My only thoughts would be that I find powdered ginger slightly mellower than fresh, so the ginger hum may not be as evident, and that powdered spices may change the texture of the gummie slightly. I would use a lot more of the dried powders as they are not as strong as the fresh (in my opinion), and possibly infuse the coconut milk for longer. You may not notice the powders at all in the finished gummies. Let me know how it turns out if you try it.
Where can I find the silicone mold.
Hi Crystal. The mould I used is a koala bear ice cube tray that I picked up in a tourist shop in Melbourne. If you were after that specific mould, the company that makes them is http://www.e3products.com.au/ However any silicone ice cube tray will do the trick. Hope that helps.
What brand of gelatin did you use?
Hi AnnaMaria. I have used a number of different gelatines, but my recommendation would be to use a good grass pastured gelatine if you can source it. However I have also successfully used gelatine from the local supermarket when I ran low.
could you give more than 2 a day in acute cases?
Hi Cassandra. First of all I need to stress that these gummies are food, not medicine. Having said that, we have eaten more than two in a day with no ill effects. I make quite large ones, so they are a decent snack, however if you are making smaller gummies you might wish to eat more to be satiated.
Hi! I am really excited to try these as I’m just coming off of a 3 week horrible sinus cold/infection and really want to ward off any other nasty surprises my son brings home from school 😉 If I cannot find fresh ginger and tumeric, could you suggest a quantity substitute for dry versions of the spices? Thanks so much
Silly me! You already answered my question in a previous question from someone else. Sorry about that – I was just so excited to find your recipe that I didn’t even read the comments lol
No problems at all Debra 🙂 I hope you manage to avoid further illness.
I am vegetarian and was wondering if you think agar agar would work in place of the gelatin in this recipe?
Thank you (:
Hi Lexie. I haven’t made these with agar, so I can’t say for sure. However, I would have thought that it would work if you use the appropriate amount of agar for the amount of liquid. If you do try it, I would love to know how it works out.
Hey Tania,
These are absolutely adorable, and, I imagine, so so helpful! We’ve recently started learning about the awesome health benefits of turmeric and ginger, so I am super excited to give these a try. Thank you so much for sharing <3
I hope you like them Savannah. If nothing else, they make a tasty treat 🙂
Cannot find powdered gelatine here. Is there any way to use sheets of gelatine? I would love to make these. Thanks.
Absolutely Nelly. Just follow the instructions on the packet of leaf gelatine. I can’t give you specific instructions as different brands vary in strength, but you will need to use enough to give you a firm set in 1 cup of liquid.
Tried these with powdered turmeric and fresh ginger yesterday. Taste is great but the powder makes the texture a bit pasty and interferes a bit with the gel-ing. I’m betting using powdered for both ingredients would not be very pleasing. Also, this is similar to golden milk just in gummie form; I would think adding the cinnamon and black pepper would be nice and increase the potency of these as well. Thanks for the recipe out littles loved them!
Thanks for the feedback. I’ve not tried golden milk. I will have to look the recipe up. I’m glad your kids liked them.
Yes, I agree. Adding a gram of black pepper will help the body absorb more of the turmeric. Trying your recipe today – thanks for the great idea
Pleasure Anna. I hope you enjoy them.
I made these today. They taste great. I actually made them for myself as I work in a hospital and want to boost my immune system. I know all of my coworkers are going to love them!
I’m so glad you liked them Katy 🙂 Thanks for letting me know. I hope your coworkers like them as well. My daughter is back to school this week, so I might need to make another batch for her to ward off all the germs 😉
Hello! wondering what type of coconut milk you use? Canned or in a milk container?
I always use canned Valerie. I have never seen it in a milk container, but if it has a similar consistency to the canned variety then it should work just as well.
Hi, I just made these for my almost 3 year old and they were too “spicy” for her. I’m wondering if maybe I should lower the amount of ginger. What do you suggest? Thanks!!
Hi Mayra, I would absolutely lower the amount of ginger if she found them too “spicy”. I can’t tell you by how much though, as that will be a completely personal preference.
Thank you! I will try that. ?
Can you freeze them?
Hi Sisi. I’ve never tried to freeze them – gelatine generally doesn’t freeze well and the taste and texture may be affected if you do. I would say only freeze them if you absolutely have to, and I would probably eat them from frozen rather than defrost them.