Description
Muscadine jelly from the Pioneer Woman celebrates southern grape traditions with a sweet and tangy spread. Home cooks can master this simple preserve that highlights regional flavors and culinary heritage.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 lbs (2.27 kg) whole muscadines
- 8 cups (1.9 L) water
- 6 cups (1.2 kg) white granulated sugar
- 1 box (1.75 oz / 49.6 g) low sugar pectin (or 6 tbsps bulk pectin)
Instructions
- Grape Preparation: Thoroughly rinse muscadine grapes under cool water, removing all debris and stems.
- Grape Cooking: Transfer cleaned grapes to a large stockpot, cover with water, and simmer for 20-25 minutes until fruits soften and start breaking down.
- Juice Extraction: Remove pot from heat, crush grapes using a potato masher to release juices. Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth-lined mesh strainer, pressing gently to extract maximum liquid while preventing solid passage.
- Pectin Integration: Combine extracted juice with liquid pectin, stirring to prevent clumping. Bring to a vigorous, rolling boil that cannot be stirred down.
- Sugar Activation: Add granulated sugar, stirring continuously until completely dissolved. Maintain intense boil for 60 seconds to activate pectin and ensure proper jelly setting.
- Jar Preparation: Remove from heat, skim surface foam with a metal spoon. Carefully ladle hot muscadine jelly into sterilized glass jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
- Preservation: Seal jars tightly with clean lids and rings. For refrigerator storage, cool completely and store up to 3 months. For long-term preservation, process jars in a boiling water bath, extending shelf life to 18 months when stored in a cool, dark pantry.
Notes
- Select Pristine Grapes: Choose ripe, unblemished muscadine grapes at peak freshness to ensure maximum flavor and natural sweetness.
- Control Boiling Intensity: Maintain a steady, gentle simmer when cooking grapes to prevent burning and preserve delicate grape essence.
- Strain with Patience: Allow juice to drain naturally without pressing too hard, which can make jelly cloudy and introduce unwanted solids.
- Pectin Precision: Stir liquid pectin thoroughly to prevent clumping and ensure smooth, consistent jelly texture throughout the batch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 207
- Sugar: 47 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg