Low Sugar Southern Muscadine Jelly Recipes

WILD MUSCADINE JELLY

Steps:

• 1. For one batch of jelly, use about 3 quarts of grapes and 3 cups of water. Do not use too much water it will ruin the flavor. Place in a pot and bring to a boils until skins are tender. Remove from heat and put through a fruit juice masher and strainer. When cool enough place in the refrigerator until next morning.
• 2. Strain through 2 thickenesses of cheesecloth. The juice is ready. Place juice in a large pot. Mix pectin with juices and bring quickly to a hard boil, stirring occasionally. Add the sugar at once. Stir sugar until it dissolves and bring to full rolling boil (a boil that can not be stirred down). Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; skim off foam using a metal spoon. Pour at once in sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
• 3. Wipe jar edge with a damp towel and seal with new lids according to manufacturer's instructions. Process 5 minutes in a boiling water bath. Makes about 8 half pint jars.

MUSCADINE JELLY

Steps:

• Wash muscadines and place in a stockpot. Just barely cover with water and bring to a boil for about 25 minutes. Stirring every few minutes.
• Once the Muscadines have finished boiling, strain to get your juice.
• Add juice and pectin to a pot and bring to a rolling boil, one that can not be stirred down. After it comes to a boil add sugar and butter (this keeps it from foaming up as much.) Allow to come back up to a boil and boil for 1 minute.
• To make sure your jelly will be the right consistency, keep a spoon in ice water while preparing the jelly. When you are ready to test just shake the water off of the spoon and dip out about half a spoon full of jelly. Allow to cool for a few minutes. If it sets up on the spoon you should be good to go.
• Can/ Preserve using desired method or refrigerate for immediate use.
• The yield for 1/2 gallon should be around 9 cups.

MUSCADINE JAM #1 (WITH SURE-JELL)

Steps:

• Prepare grapes by cutting partway through the skin and popping the pulp/seed capsule out of the hull. Put pulp into one pot and the hulls into another.
• Simmer the pulp, covered, on low-medium until soft enough to press through sieve or food mill ~ 10 minutes. Add just a little water if necessary to prevent sticking.
• Meanwhile, chop hulls very finely in the food processor and return to their pot. Add just enough water to make it possible to simmer without sticking. Cook slowly, covered, 15-20 minutes or until hulls are tender.
• Press pulp through a sieve or food mill to remove seeds. Stir sieved pulp into cooked hulls in a medium-large pot.
• Stir Sure-Jell into the fruit and bring to a full boil, stirring constantly.
• Add sugar all at once, stirring in well.
• Bring to a full, rolling boil, stirring constantly and boil for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat.
• Skim foam if necessary and pack into sterilized jelly jars.
• Process in boiling water bath for 5 minutes.