Make These Edible Crystal-Like Gems — They’re Almost Too Pretty to Eat!
Fun recipe and craft idea for the kids!
Looking for a fun end-of-summer craft idea to do with the kids? Making Japanese Jellies is fun for the whole family! Hip2Save reader Holly introduced us to these colorful crystals inspired by her trip to Japan.
Before the summer is finally through, I want to share my recipe that’s fun to make and perfect for tabletop decorations—and they’re edible!
I learned how to make these edible gemstones when I visited Japan. I came back to the US and brought them to a party. Everybody loved how pretty they are and kids were thrilled to eat them. They are crunchy on the outside, and the inside is soft and jello-y.
Japanese Jellies
Ingredients:
-
- 300 grams of sugar
- 200 ml of water
- 5 grams of agar-agar powder*
- Food coloring of your choice + water
- A splash of flavor extract of your choice (optional)
*I found my agar-agar powder at my local Asian market. I made sure to get unflavored one with no sugar added, as the recipe calls for a good amount of sugar. Agar-agar is like gelatin but made with seaweed, so it can be used for vegan cooking as well.
Instructions:
1. Add all the ingredients except food coloring into a medium saucepan.
2. Bring it to a boil on high heat, stirring constantly.
3. Reduce heat to medium and let the agar mixture thicken a little, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes (be careful not to let it boil over).
4. Pour the mixture into a glass pan. Remove the foam on the surface for a prettier result.
5. Using a spoon, color the mixture with food coloring dissolved in a small amount of water (1-2 drops in 2 tablespoons of water). Or just drop the colorings straight into the mixture for more vibrant gems.
6. Let the mixture harden in the refrigerator for about an hour.
Instructions (continued):
7. Cut it into pieces with a knife or pull it apart with your hands and place them on a cookie sheet.
8. Let the surface crystalize, flipping them often to make sure all the surfaces are dry. It can take up to 4 days in a dry, cool place.
I made three batches with different color combinations and flavored two of them with lemon and mint extract. These gemstones look cute on a candy plate or in a glass jar. I also like to put them in a glass of carbonated water just for fun.
Enjoy!
Totally mesmerizing 🔮
Gorgeous gemstones you can actually eat?! Talk about the coolest edible DIY project ever!
Thank you, Holly, for sharing this super fun project idea with us!
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Wow! Never seen these before. My kids will love this. Thank you!
You are so welcome, Kathy! I hope the kids love it!
Great idea! Looks like a very fun kid-friendly activity.
It really does! Reminds me of the movie “Dark Crystal!”
Can’t wait to do this!! Thanks 😊
Woo hoo, Michelle! You are welcome!
Please let me know if anyone can convert the measurements for those of us that are metrically challenged!
Type it into your phone. 30 grams to cups. Or 100ml to cups. No need to do the math. 😜
Here’s a rough conversion:
300 grams of sugar = 1 1/2 cup
•200 ml of water = 3/4 cup + 1 1/2 Tbsp
5 grams of agar-agar = 1 1/4 tsp
FYI our WinCo stores sell Agar-Agar in the bulk spice area.
Thanks so much, Lisa! That’s great to know!
300 grams = 1.5 cups of sugar
200 ml = 1 cup of water
5 grams = 1 tablespoon of agar
So they are not sharp-edged, since the inside is soft and the outside is firm? These look great, but I’m prone to stabbing my mouth with things like peanut brittle, LOL
You have a sister in mouth stabbing, Jodi P! It happens to me all the time!
What is the flavor, if you don’t add a flavor extract?
Just a plain sugar taste with no extract. I think it would still be yummy, jacqui0802!
I was wondering the same thing. After letting them dry for 4 days are they hard like a rock?
Great idea! they look beautiful, gotta try them at next house party!
This is so cool . My grandaughter will love doing this. Thanks. Now just have to find a Japanese market .lol
How long will it last after it’s been made?