Pepper Jelly

Our favorite Pepper Jelly recipe is sweet with a hint of spice, and delicious served over cream cheese, with crackers for dipping. You can freeze it, or can it, and it’s great for gifting.

If you love homemade jam and jellies, try our Blackberry, Strawberry, Peach or Raspberry Jam, or Orange marmalade.

Why I love this recipe:

• Favorite appetizer: My husband introduced me to pepper jelly served over cream cheese, and it’s always the most popular addition to our charcuterie boards.
• Gifting: Every year we gift a savory food for Christmas neighbor gifts, and the year we gave pepper jelly was my favorite (we placed it in a bag with a block of cream cheese and sleeve of crackers).
• Can it or Freeze it: Process it in a water-bath canner or shelf storage, or don’t can it, and store it in the freezer instead for up to several months.

Ingredients Needed:

• Bell Peppers: Use a combination of colors, like red and green.
• Jalapeños (about 10): remove seeds and veins from half for mild jelly, or leave them all in, for hot jelly.
• Sugar: I use significantly less sugar than most recipes do, and I find the jelly perfectly sweet. This has worked for me using Certo brand of fruit pectin. Other brands of pectin may require more sugar to help them set up, or you can use a no-sugar added pectin and follow the recipe inside the box. Do not use sugar substitutes (like Splenda) or it wont set up properly.
• Pectin: I use liquid fruit pectin. Here is a recipe that uses powdered fruit pectin.
• Vinegar: is used to help the jelly set and the acid in the vinegar helps make it safe for canning and long term storing. White or apple cider are my favorite varieties for jalapeño jelly.
• Lime
• Salt

How to make Pepper Jelly:

Chop Peppers: Finely chop bell peppers then use paper towels to squeeze out excess liquid. Measure out 1 ½ cups of diced bell pepper. Dice jalapeños then squeeze liquid out (make sure to wear gloves).

Combine diced peppers, sugar, vinegar, lime juice, and salt in a large, deep pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, but maintain boil for 10 minutes.

Stir in liquid pectin and boil for another minute. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Give a good stir then pour jelly into containers. Apply lids securely.

Cool at room temperature for 24 hours, then store jalapeño pepper jelly in refrigerator for up to 10 days. Read on for canning and freezing instructions.

Canning and Freezing Instructions:

To Can: Pour jalapeño jam into sterilized jars. Wipe the rims of the jars clean then secure with rings and new lids that have been washed in warm soapy water. Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes (or longer for high altitude—see notes below). Allow to sit at room temperature for 24 hours, then store in a cool dry place for 6-10 months.

To Freeze: Pour homemade pepper jelly into containers then apply lids securely. Store in refrigerator for 10 days, or freeze for up to 4 months.

Recipe Variations:

• Fruit Pepper Jelly: Replace bell peppers with chopped cranberries, strawberries, or raspberries (blot out excess moisture). Or, add a little lemon zest to the jelly for a lemon flavor.
• Steam Canner: would work in place of a water bath canner. Processing time should be the same (double check to account for elevation). 
• No Sugar Jalapeño Jelly: Try the Sure Jell recipe, using their special no sugar pectin.

Uses for Pepper Jelly:

• Appetizer with cream cheese and crackers (our favorite way to enjoy it!).
• Slathered on turkey burgers, grilled chicken burgers, pork, or grilled chicken.
• Glaze on hot wings.
• Spread on sandwiches, for an extra flavor kick!

I originally shared this recipe June 2021. Updated December 2023.

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