Recipe(tried): Crab Apple Jelly

Crab Apple Jelly
From: Marcia
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1993

There are recipes in both the Certo liquid pectin packages and the Sure Jell powdered pecting packages. Just happen to have the Certo package around; I have made this recipe.

3.5 lb. Apples or Crab Apples

Remove stems and blossom ends. Cut in small pieces (do not peel or core.)

Place in saucepan. Add 3 cups water. Bring to Boil. Cover and simmer 10 min.

Crush cooked apples, cover and simmer about 5 minutes longer.

Extract juice.

5 cups juice
7.5 cups sugar
1 pouch Certo pectin

Prepare jars. Measure juice for jelly into 6- or 8-quart pot. Measure sugar into separate bowl (*). Stir sugar into juice. Mix well. Add 1/2 tsp butter or margarine (helps reduce foaming). Bring mixture to full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Open Certo pouch and stir into fruit mixture. Bring back to full rolling boil and boil 1 minute, stirring constantly (**). Remove from heat. Skim off any foam. Fill jars and seal as directed, USDA water bath method.

(*) Measure into separate bowl in case you lose count of how many cups you've measured. Going back and remeasuring can be a problem if it's already dissolved...

(**) Sometimes you may have to boil for more than 1 minute. I time I minute, then do the "jelly drip" test: put in a cold metal spoon, scoop up some of the mixture, then tilt spoon over. The mixture should come off in a sheet if it's going to jel.

Or, if you prefer a boiled jelly without adding pectin, here's a recipe from the Ball Blue Book. NOTE: I have not tried this recipe.

4 cups crab apple juice (about 3 lbs crab apples and 3 cups water)
4 cups sugar

To prepare juice: Sort and wash apples, remove stem and blossom ends, do not pare or core. Cut crab apples into small pieces. Add water; cover, and bring to a boil on hight each. Reduce head and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, until crab apples are soft. Extract juice.

To make jelly: Measure juice into a large sauce pot. Add sugar and stir well. Boil over high heat to 8 degrees Fahrenheit above the boiling point of water, or until jellly mixture sheets from a spoom. Remove from heat. Skim foam. Pour hot into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4" head space. Adjust caps. Process 5 minutes in boiling water bath. Yield: about 6 half pints.