If your algorithm looks anything like mine lately, it’s wall-to-wall wobbly fruit. The snack in question is called “Botox collagen jelly,” also known as homemade Botox or a collagen fruit bar: a firm, sliceable gelatin packed with grapes, berries and basil seeds. And, according to the authority that is social media, people are eating it daily in the hopes of plumper, smoother skin.
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The recipe has been popping up on TikTok and Instagram, with @themarianasmith noted as starting the trend. You make it with unflavoured beef gelatin dissolved into fruit juice or tea, and poured over fresh fruit and soaked basil seeds. Then it sits in the fridge until firm enough to cut into bars. That’s the entire recipe. No fancy moulds, no candy thermometer, no oven.
After watching Mariana’s videos, I decided to try the recipe. Finding basil seeds was the trickiest part. I went to four stores before I tracked them down, and I almost gave up and swapped them for chia seeds. You totally can swap ’em, or you can save yourself the trip(s) and head straight to an Asian or South Asian grocer, or if you can’t be bothered, Amazon. You won’t likely find them at big-box stores like Loblaws, Walmart, No Frills and FreshCo.
Is Botox for you? Our editors weigh in.
But wait, can a snack actually replace your injection?
Short answer: no. Botox works by relaxing the muscles that cause expression lines, and nothing you eat can do that.
The skin claims come from collagen. Bovine gelatin (aka beef gelatin) is essentially cooked collagen, but a 2023 review of 26 studies with more than 1,700 participants found it improved hydration and elasticity in skin. Researchers, however, flagged bias in several trials and called for bigger studies. There’s very little research on homemade gelatin specifically, and even the American Academy of Dermatology says more research is needed to prove efficacy.
It’s a snack, not a shortcut to better skin.
Here’s a Botox jelly benefit: a real-food snack that is packed with nutrients, protein from the gelatin, and fibre from the basil seeds and fruit. And, when you choose an unsweetened juice for the recipe, the recipe has no added sugar. Think of it as a grown-up Jell-O (not referring to shots!).
One more thing worth saying: some corners of this trend lean hard into diet culture, with videos soundtracked by jokes about body size and weight. Botox jelly is a snack; not a fix for your body. Eat it because it tastes good, it’s easy and fun to make, and it gives you a bit of protein and fibre. It is not as a meal replacement or a way to shrink your waist.
It won’t freeze your forehead. But as far as 3 p.m. snacks go, it’s Instagram-worthy
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Botox Jelly Fruit Bars
Makes 6 bars.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp basil seeds
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup unsweetened grape juice
- 1 ½ cups brewed tea, such as clove tea or a fruity herbal blend
- 3 tbsp unflavoured beef gelatin (I used Organika Bovine Gelatin Powder)
- 1 tbsp honey (optional)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (optional)
- 2 cups seedless grapes, halved
Instructions
- Grab a square pan, glass container, cake pan, cake mould, or even ice cube trays (I made my jelly in an 8-by-8-inch square cake pan from HexClad’s new bakeware collection, and since it’s nonstick, it was the perfect pan for the job).
- In a small bowl, stir the basil seeds into the water. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes, until the seeds swell and turn gel-like.
- Pour ½ cup of the juice into a medium bowl and sprinkle the gelatin evenly over top. Let it sit for 5 minutes to bloom.
- In a small pot over medium heat, warm1 ½ cups of hot water for the tea until steaming but not boiling.
- Pour the steeped tea over the bloomed gelatin and whisk until completely dissolved. Stir in the honey and lemon juice, if using. Let cool for 10 minutes.
- Stir the soaked basil seeds into the gelatin mixture.
- Scatter the grapes in the prepared pan, then pour the gelatin mixture over top. Give the pan a gentle shake to settle the fruit.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight, until firm. Turn out onto a cutting board and slice into 6 bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
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Nutrients per serving: 75 calories, 5 g protein, 14 g carbs (11 g sugar, 2 g fibre) and 0.5 g fat.
FLEETSTREET TIP:
Basil seeds can be found at Asian or South Asian grocery stores. The package will read: “sweet basil seeds,” “sabja” or “tukmaria.”
Skip fresh pineapple, kiwi and papaya. The fruit enzymes prevent gelatin from setting. Don’t let the juice boil once the gelatin has been added, or the bars won’t be firm.
Also, this is beef gelatin, so it isn’t a vegetarian option.
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The Verdict
The jelly turned out pretty good. But I got lazy – weird considering I went to so many stores for the basil seeds, but alas – and I used grapes in the recipe. Turns out they aren’t as crunchy and filling as what I saw on TikTok.
If you try to make it, I’d recommend other fruit like blueberries, orange wedges and pomegranate seeds. That combo offers more colour and crunch.