Halloween snacks don’t need to be all about sugar and lollies — sometimes the simplest ideas make the biggest (and healthiest) impact! These Blood Orange + Mandarin Pumpkin Jellies are naturally sweet, full of vitamin C, and are the perfect spooky addition for a simple lunch box surprise.
They’re made with real fruit juice, a touch of natural sweetness, and set in cute pumpkin moulds (we used the $3 ones from Woolworths!). A perfect make-ahead treat for the lunchbox or after school.
You’ll need:
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4–5 blood oranges or mandarins
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1 tablespoon gelatin powder
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1 teaspoon white sugar
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1 teaspoon marmalade (optional, no rind pieces — but adds great flavour!)
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2 silicone pumpkin mould trays
Method:
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Juice your citrus into a microwave-safe jug with a strainer to catch any pulp. You’ll need about 175ml of juice (roughly four large mandarins or four blood oranges).
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In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of gelatin with 2 tablespoons of the juice and leave to bloom while you heat the rest.
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Add sugar and marmalade to the remaining juice and microwave for 1–2 minutes, or until hot.
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Stir in the bloomed gelatin, mixing well to make sure there are no lumps.
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Carefully pour the mixture into your pumpkin moulds, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set.
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Once firm, pop the jellies out of the moulds and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.