Toss Blueberries With This Pantry Staple To Make Them Taste Like Candy

If ever I'm offered the choice between a piece of fruit and a piece of candy, you better believe I'm going with the candy 100% of the time (then I'll eat the fruit). Many people with a sweet tooth find it tricky to sidestep candies in favor of things that are better for their health, but what if there was a way to get the best of both worlds? Blueberries are often called a superfood, and we know this condiment can really boost their flavor, but pantry staple Jell-O turns them from a healthful treat to a sought-after sweet.

There's almost no prep involved, either. Rinse the fruit in water, scatter it onto a sheet pan, and shake over the contents of a box of Berry Blue Jell-O. It's crucial that your blueberries are wet at this point, which helps as much of that powder as possible to stick to them. Pop the coated berries in the freezer and, when they come out, you've got a zingy, fruity treat that tastes just like candy! A single box of Jell-O goes a long way, too, as you're only looking for a light dusting on the blueberries. If you do have any left over, close the packet up tight, and it should keep in a cool, dry place for around three months, ready for your next batch of blueberries.

Unsurprisingly, this fruity hack has gone down about as well with some people as the idea of bringing a Jell-O salad to a dinner party (that last is a particular red flag for Ina Garten, in case you ever invite her over). Many folks were charmed by the concept and were eager to try it out, but there's no ignoring the many, many comments about the sugar in Jell-O and why it's healthier just to eat the gosh-darned blueberries. We think that's a valid point, but there's also a balance to be struck, especially if fruit really isn't your bag. The amount of Jell-O powder coating each blueberry is relatively small, and even with it, we're still getting all the nutritional benefits of the berries, including the fact they are lower in sugar than some other fruits.

The obvious workaround for anyone who wants to try this candy-flavored combo is to use a sugar-free powder. These days they come in a wide variety of flavors and are just as easy to make as the traditional kind. Because frozen fruit is widely available, too, you can sub out the blueberries for anything else that tickles your fancy. We think the sharp tang of raspberries sprinkled with Berry Blue Jell-O would taste yummy, likewise frozen cherries doused in black cherry-flavored jelly. Who knows, this might be the sweetest way yet to get the little ones (and maybe even a few grown-ups ) to eat more fruit.