Beef Gelatin Lemon Jello (Naturally Sweetened + Real Juice)
If you are looking for a homemade lemon jello recipe that is a healthier alternative to the store bought, boxed variety, then you’re in the right place! With this recipe, there’s no food dyes or artificial flavors, just real juice, honey, and beef gelatin giving you a refreshing flavor. This DIY lemon jello gets its yellow color from real lemon juice and natural sweetness from the honey. It’s great as a healthy snack or to use in recipes.
My kids and I have been experimenting with different jello recipes this year. We made cranberry-orange jello in the fall and homemade orange jello this winter to try some different flavors. But I have to say that this homemade lemon jello recipe tends to come out on top every time!
ingredients to make homemade lemon jello
This recipe includes real ingredients. For it, you’ll need:
- lemon juice – fresh squeezed is preferred, but bottled can be used
- honey – real, local honey tends to taste better and not have additives like store bought
- beef gelatin – Azure Standard and Thrive Market both carry this
FAQs about beef gelatin jello
Do I have to bloom my beef gelatin?
Blooming the gelatin involves putting your gelatin into a small amount of liquid (in this recipe’s case: water). This allows your gelatin to rehydrate, dissolve evenly, and not leave clumps in your homemade jello.
Can I use boiling water instead of warm water?
You do not want to use boiling water when using beef gelatin. Boiling can break down the gelatin and now allow the DIY jello to set properly. If you do accidentally boil the water, allow it to cool or mix some cooler water in.
is jello dairy free?
Yes! There is no dairy (milk, butter, cheese, etc) in this recipe.
Why did my jello not set properly?
A few reasons this could happen are:
- The gelatin was mixed in with too hot of water.
- Once you mixed the gelatin was cooled slightly, it was stirred.
- It hasn’t been given a long enough time to set (colder temperatures = faster setting time).
- The amount of beef gelatin to liquid ratio was off.
other beef gelatin recipes…
- Healthy Cranberry Orange Jello (Made with Honey + Beef Gelatin)
- 3 Ingredient Healthy Orange Jello (Naturally Sweetened)
- How to make healthy marshmallows with honey (easy recipe)
Homemade Fresh Lemon Jello
This homemade jello is gut friendly and bright, tangy, and refreshing! Made with real juice, this gives your family a healthier alternative to the box varieties.
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼–⅓ cup honey or maple syrup (sweeten to taste)
- 3 tbsp beef gelatin
Instructions
- Add 1 cup water to a bowl and sprinkle gelatin over the top to bloom.
- In a saucepan, heat the other 1 cup water, lemon juice, and honey until hot (do not boil).
- Whisk in bloomed gelatin until smooth.
- Pour into a dish and chill in the fridge for 3-4 hours or the freezer for about 20 minutes.
Notes
- If your whisked jello has bubbles on top, allow it to sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to allow the bubbles to pop. If there are still some leftover, use a spoon to skim them off the top.
