Gelatin is one of those slept-on miracle ingredients that deserve a lot more credit than what we normally give it. Many even use it as a supplement for its health properties. It's a great source of protein and it supports hair, skin, and nail growth, it improves digestion, and may even help with cellulite.
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It's one of the secrets to bone broth, but not only is it great for eating, it's got many wonderful uses in the home. Check out our top ten uses for gelatin below.
1. Jell-O Shots
Everybody knows the classic jello shot recipe of booze + flavored jello. But the secret to really tasty cocktail creations is unflavored jello.
Abandoning the artificial fruit flavors opens these shots to adapting any classic cocktail or new creation, like this boozy take on sugar cookies. Get the recipe here.
2. Immune-Boosting Gummies
Everyone's familiar with the gummy vitamins sold at the grocery store. They're often the only way to get kids to eat their vitamins! But full of flavors and dyes, they're not always the best option.
Thanks to gelatin though, it's easy to make your own, even in adult flavors like these anti-inflammatory gummies with turmeric and honey. Get the recipe here.
3. Cake Decorations
Gelatin is a secret weapon for cake decorators who want to make amazing creations without using non-edible ingredients.
It's easier to work than sugar or chocolate and can make amazing flowers, feathers, and fake plastic that looks like ribbons or any other structure your imagination can create. Find the recipe here.
4. Homemade Ice Cream
Anyone who has made homemade ice cream knows that feeling when the frozen treat becomes too hard to get out of the container. It's a common issue to home chefs who don't know the secrets of gelatin.
A little bit of gelatin dissolved in water add to the mix before churning will result in an ice cream or sorbet that stays as soft and fresh feeling as store bought ice cream, or in this case, Dairy Queen's iconic soft serve.
Get the recipe here.
5. Substitute for Eggs
Eggs are wonderful for a lot of people, but sometimes you need a way to make an egg-free dish either to avoid the eggs or play down the eggy taste. That's where gelatin comes in.
Mix it with a little water, then toss it in your batter, and in no time you can have anything from eggless banana muffins to eggless pancakes or chocolate mousse.
Get the recipe here.
6. DIY Pore Strips
DIY Bioré strips took the internet by storm, and for good reason. With a few simple ingredients, you can mix up your own face mask using gelatin to clean stubborn black heads and other impurities stuck in your pores.
Get the recipe here.
7. Whipped Cream
Anyone who has made whipped cream in the summer knows that sinking feeling when the whipped cream starts to warm and melt, slipping off the cake or simply deflating in the bowl.
All that can be avoided with a little bit of gelatin added at the right time. Get the recipe here.
8. Smoothies
Fortifying smoothies (or even coffee and teas) with gelatin is a great way to get a ton of benefits. First off, it does wonderful things for the texture, but also adds a boost of protein, making them more filling and satisfying.
Not to mention all the wonderful hair, skin, and nail benefits, too. Get the recipe here.
9. Homemade Marshmallows
Homemade marshmallows are one of those easy to make treats that amaze whoever you share them with. Especially when you make them with your own favorite flavors, like this Chocolate Irish Cream marshmallow recipe.
Elevate your s'mores or baked desserts with a quick batch of homemade marshmallows. Get the recipe here.
10. Deep Frying
Deep frying is a fun way to make dinner. It's kind of a production and feels like a special occasion. But what always stopped me from frying, even sporadically, was how wasteful it felt since I'd always throw away used oil, or let it sit until it went rancid. But not any more.
Simply adding the right proportion of gelatin and water to recently used oil will bind all the impurities, making them easy to remove and leaving the oil perfectly refreshed. Get the recipe here.
