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Homemade sweet and spicy Jalapeño Jelly is easy to make and absolutely delicious!
This post is sponsored by Ball® Fresh Preserving. All opinions are 100% mine. #BallProudlyHomemade
We’ve been growing fresh jalapeño peppers in our backyard garden this summer – and today’s Jalapeño Jelly is a delicious way to enjoy their zesty flavors for months to come.
We found this easy Jalapeño Jelly recipe over on BallHomeCanning.com.
We already have a few family members and friends hinting around that they would love a jar or two (or three) of this sweet and zesty homemade Jalapeño Jelly for themselves. 😉 And really…homemade jams and jellies are a great gift idea for the holidays (which, as a friendly reminder, are just a few months away)!
How do you make Jalapeño Jelly?
You’ll start by cleaning and coarsely chopping about a dozen fresh jalapeño peppers. You have a choice here: If you want a very spicy Jalapeño Jelly leave the seeds in, but if you want milder jelly with just a hint of heat, leave the seeds out. (Either way, we recommend that you wear food-safe latex gloves when you cut the peppers, and avoid rubbing your eyes or skin.)
Puree the jalapeños in a blender with some apple cider vinegar, then simmer in a pot with more vinegar and sugar.
After the jalapeño mixture has boiled, add Ball® RealFruit™ Liquid Pectin, boil for another minute, then skim off any foam before ladling the Jalapeño Jelly into Ball® Half-Pint Mason Jars. (We used the Ball® Half-Pint Quilted Mason Jars in our photos, but any 8 ounce Ball® Mason Jar is great for this jelly recipe.)
Ready to can?
The Ball® Utensil Set for Preserving is a convenient solution for a canner who is looking for replacement utensils. The set contains a Jar Lifter, a Canning Funnel, and Bubble Remover/Head Space Tool. You can find that here.
Click here for a great deal on a 12-Pack of 16-ounce Wide Mouth Ball® Mason Jars too!
How do you serve Jalapeño Jelly?
Serve Jalapeño Jelly spooned over softened cream cheese as a dip with crackers – you’ll love the sweet and zesty flavors of the jam with the cream cheese and salty crackers.
Or click here for our Jalapeño Popper Bites recipe. You’ll see that we’ve spooned this Jalapeño Jelly on top of a dollop of cream cheese inside a cheddar thumbprint cookie – for a very delicious bite!
Visit BallHomeCanning.com for new, seasonal recipes from Ball® Fresh Preserving, as well as to find new promotional offers throughout the summer!
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Jalapeño Jelly
Homemade sweet and spicy Jalapeño Jelly is easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Recipe reprinted with permission from BallHomeCanning.com
Ingredients
12 ounces rinsed and stemmed jalapeño peppers (about 12 medium)
2 cups cider vinegar, divided
6 cups granulated sugar
1 3-ounce pouch Ball® RealFruit™ Liquid Pectin
Green food coloring, optional
5 Ball® (8 oz) half pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands
Instructions
Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars in simmering water until ready to use. Do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set bands aside.
While wearing latex gloves, cut stems from fresh jalapeños, then cut peppers in half. Remove the seeds from the jalapeños for a less spicy jelly (Helpful hint: Run a teaspoon along the inside of each cut jalapeno to remove the seeds), or leave the seeds in if you’d like very spicy jelly.
Coarsely cut peppers, then place in a food processor or blender with 1 cup of vinegar. Puree until smooth. Do not strain.
Pour pureed jalapeño mixture into a medium pot along with the remaining 1 cup vinegar and all of the sugar.
Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. (Be very careful here, this mixture WILL foam up and over the top unless you are careful.) Just as it starts to come to a boil, lower heat and with a ladle, skim off any foam. Then, increase the temperature under the pot to a point where it will gently boil, but not rise up and over the top.
Boil for 10 minutes then while whisking, add one pectin pouch and boil hard for an additional minute. Remove from heat, skimming any additional foam if necessary.
We chose not to add the optional green food coloring to our jelly. But if you’d like your jelly to be a darker green, add one or two drops and stir to combine.
Ladle hot jelly into hot jars leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip tight.
Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when pressed in center.
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Love this make it every year
So glad you are enjoying this recipe Denise!
I love that you you step by step on everything . Because when it comes to canning you don’t wanna miss a step or make anybody sick
Glad you found the information to be helpful Herlinda. The Ball Canning website is another great resource for you to get additional recipes and tips and tricks.
Can I add some fresh garlic and onion in small quantities.?
Hi Katz – I’m honestly not sure if that will improve the flavor or not. (I personally would not – it’s a sweet and spicy jelly, not savory.) I also don’t know if adding those vegetables will change the acidity level of the jelly, requiring additional tweaks to the recipe to maintain safe canning. Sorry I can’t provide more guidance.
Very good recipe.
Thanks Willow!
cani substitute sure jell powered pectin and how much
Hi Deb – you can although we’ve always had more reliable results with the liquid pectin. I’ve googled it for you – it’s two tablespoons powdered for 1 packet of liquid and the powdered pectin is added earlier in the process – it needs to cook while the liquid is added at the end.
Good stuff !!! 👍
Thanks Ray!
Me & all my friends loved this jelly. Was the first time ever making or tasting jalapeño jelly. I’m definitely making this recipe again.
Thanks Melissa!
This is my GO-TO recipe for Jalapeno jelly. I do keep the seeds in mine for a hitter jelly, and sometimes I add sweet red bell pepper to the batch for color. AMAZING!
Glad you enjoyed the jelly!
I am new to canning. Is the method you speak of in a pressure cooker or just a water bath?
Just a water bath – the Ball Canning website is a great resource for how to can!
My family loves the jelly. Thank you for this recipe
You’re welcome Don!