Pumpkin Gelatin Snacks (or Pumpkin Gelatin Shots if you are on-the -wagon)

Halloween is finally upon us! The weather down in Charleston has officially become “sweater weather” and pumpkin-spice-everything is all over town. My neighborhood goes bonkers when it comes to Halloween, and neighbors set up trick-or-treating for both the kiddos and the parents! We decided to step up our game and made a twist on the college-favorite Jello shot.

I made virgin for my pregnant, TTC, breastfeeding and abstaining friends, and boozy options for my other friends. The virgin ones are actually a sneaky way to get in some nutrients that pregnant and nursing mamas need. Certain ingredients offer some cool benefits, like:

-Grass-fed, pasture raised gelatin provides moms with glycine-an amino acid that is needed in higher amounts during pregnancy and postpartum

-pumpkin provides beta-carotene, a nutrient that is needed in higher amounts (especially when lactating)

Check out this super-easy recipe and try them out for yourself! They are already a hit in my house.

PUMPKIN GELATIN SNACKS (makes 12 “shot” size snacks, or varies according to any molds or holders you choose)

Ingredients:

1.5 Tbsp grass fed and pasture raised gelatin (I used Vital Proteins brand)

1.5 cup boiling water

1/2 cup cold water

3 Tbsp organic pureed canned pumpkin

1 Tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp pumpkin spice

optional: 1/4 cup Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey

Steps:

In a medium bowl, whisk the gelatin and boiling water until gelatin dissolves. Whisk in remaining ingredients until blended. Pour into 12 small Dixie cups on an even surface, and transfer to refrigerator to set overnight. (If you have any gelatin molds this can be a fun time to break them out and use them). Once they are set, top with whichever toppings you enjoy (candy, whipped topping, etc) and have a blast on Halloween!

TIP: Keep track of which ones contain the whiskey by color coding the cups!!!