A favorite fall season jelly made from apple cider with a hint of caramel and cinnamon.
This jelly recipe takes advantage of the fresh apple cider that is available in abundance this time if year.
When shopping for your cider though, be sure to look at the ingredients. The only thing you want in your cider is apples.
To Make this Recipe You will Need:
- apple cider, natural, unfiltered – read the ingredients
- cinnamon sticks
- lemon zest strips
- whole cloves
- granulated sugar
- brown sugar
- low/no sugar pectin
- butter, unsalted
- Hot Water Bath Canner or Steam Canner
- jelly jars
- cheese cloth or spice bag
- Canning Tools
- white vinegar
- small bowls
- clean cloth or paper towel
Watch me make this recipe in the video below:
To begin, prepare your canning supplies and jars. The jars should be inspected, washed, and warming in your canner while you prepare the jelly. You will need about 6 half pint jars.
Measure 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar into a small bowl. Add in the pectin and mix thoroughly. This will prevent the pectin from clumping. Set it aside for now.
Tie the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and lemon zest in a muslin spice bag or cheese cloth.
Pour the apple cider into a large, heavy bottomed non-reactive pot and add the spice bundle. Bring this to a boil over high heat.
Add the sugar & pectin mixture and return it to a rolling boil, stirring constantly.
Add the remaining sugars and the butter.
If you do not wish to use the butter, you will need to skim the foam from the top of the jelly before jarring it up. Butter helps prevent the foaming action.
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Bring this back to a full rolling boil and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Remove the pot from the heat and discard the spice bundle.
Ladle the jelly into prepared, hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace.
Remove any air bubbles.
Wipe the rim of the jar with a damp cloth dipped in white vinegar to remove any residue.
Place a lid and ring on the jar, finger tight.
Process the jars for 10 minutes. See note below:
When canning in a hot water bath canner (or steam canner) always make note of the processing time. If the recipe only has one time shown, that is generally for 1-1,000 feet of elevation. Visit this article to learn how to make adjustments to the recipe for YOUR elevation: How to Adjust Canning Recipes for Elevation
Carefully transfer the jars to an out of the way place away from drafts. I generally line the counter with a folded dish towel or use my canning mat that a subscriber made for me.
Allow the jars to cool undisturbed for 24 hours, or at least overnight.
The next day remove the rings, test the seals, label the jars, and store in your pantry.
If a jar didn’t seal, place it in your refrigerator to use.
Enjoy!
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Caramel Apple Cider Jelly
Ingredients
- 5 c apple cider, natural, unfiltered – read the ingredients
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 strips lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
- 2 c granulated sugar, divided
- 1 c brown sugar
- 1.75 oz low/no sugar pectin, packet
- 1/2 teaspoon butter, unsalted, optional
Instructions
- To begin, prepare your canning supplies and jars. The jars should be inspected, washed, and warming in your canner while you prepare the jelly.
- Measure 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar into a small bowl. Add in the pectin and mix thoroughly. This will prevent the pectin from clumping. Set it aside for now.
- Tie the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and lemon zest in a muslin spice bag or cheese cloth.
- Pour the apple cider into a large, heavy bottomed non-reactive pot and add the spice bundle. Bring this to a boil over high heat.
- Add the sugar & pectin mixture and return it to a rolling boil, stirring constantly.
- Add the remaining sugars and the butter. (See note)
- Bring this back to a full rolling boil and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Remove the pot from the heat and discard the spice bundle.
- Ladle the jelly into prepared, hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace.
- Remove any air bubbles.
- Wipe the rim of the jar with a damp cloth dipped in white vinegar to remove any residue.
- Place a lid and ring on the jar, finger tight.
- Process the jars for 10 minutes. (Adjust for elevation)
- Carefully transfer the jars to an out of the way place away from drafts. I generally line the counter with a folded dish towel or use my canning mat that a subscriber made for me.
- Allow the jars to cool undisturbed for 24 hours or at least overnight.
- The next day remove the rings, test the seals, label the jars, and store in your pantry.
- If a jar didn't seal, place it in your refrigerator to use.
- Enjoy!
Equipment Used
- jelly jars
- cheese cloth or spice bag
Notes
Nutrition
If nutritional values are provided for this recipe, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands of ingredients you use. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste or for serving. If nutritional values are very important to you, I suggest using your favorite nutritional calculating tool with the brands you use.
How many half pints does this recipe make?
If I’m making my own apple cider with different spices by means of a slow cooker, where would I step in on the recipe after measuring out 5 cups of said cider? And may I use cider made in a slow cooker or must it be made on the stove?
My thanks!
If you are using homemade cider to make the jelly, you would simply substitute your homemade for the store bought. You would have to do the jelly on the stove though. A slow cooker will not get hot enough, fast enough to bring the ingredients to a boil to activate the pectin.