Molded Cranberry Jelly Recipes

NANNY'S CRANBERRY MOLD

Steps:

• Lightly oil a 1-quart nonreactive mold or a few smaller molds. Combine cranberries, sugar, zest, orange juice, lemon juice, and 1 cup water in a large saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and are completely softened, 12 to 15 minutes. Pass mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl, gently pressing on solids (pressing too hard will make the mixture cloudy). Skim any foam from surface; cover to keep warm.
• Sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup water in a bowl; let soften 1 minute. Stir gelatin mixture into warm cranberry mixture until gelatin is completely dissolved. Pour mixture into mold and refrigerate until set, at least 8 hours.
• Dip top of mold into a bowl of hot water 30 seconds, then run a paring knife around edge to loosen. Place a serving platter on bottom of mold; quickly invert platter and mold together. Tap to release; remove mold. (If gelatin doesnâ??t release easily, return to hot water for a few seconds.)

CRANBERRY GELATIN MOLD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in cranberry sauce and lemon juice until blended. Chill until partially set. , Stir in pineapple and celery. Pour into a 6-cup ring mold coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate until firm. Unmold onto a serving platter.

CRANBERRY GRAPPA JELLY

Steps:

• Bring cranberries, sugar, 1 1/2 cups water, and 3/4 cup grappa to a boil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then briskly simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until most of berries have burst and mixture is thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Strain through a large fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart measuring cup or a bowl, pressing hard on and then discarding solids. (You will need 2 1/2 cups liquid.)
• Stir together gelatin and remaining 1/4 cup water and let stand 1 minute to soften. Bring 1 cup drained cranberry liquid to a simmer in a small saucepan, then add gelatin mixture and stir until just dissolved. Add gelatin mixture and remaining 1/4 cup grappa to remaining 1 1/2 cups cranberry liquid and stir well. Pour cranberry sauce into lightly oiled mold and chill, covered with plastic wrap, until firmly set, at least 12 hours.
• To unmold, dip mold in a large bowl of warm water (water should reach halfway up mold) for 5 seconds, then run tip of a thin knife around edge of mold. Tilt mold sideways and tap side against a counter, turning it, to evenly break seal and loosen jelly. Keeping mold tilted, put a plate over mold, then invert jelly onto plate.

CRANBERRY JELL-O MOLD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in water. Stir in cranberry sauce and pineapple. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until slightly thickened. Stir in nuts. Pour into a 1-1/2-qt. gelatin mold coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate until set. Unmold onto a serving platter. Serve with sour cream if desired.

CRANBERRY MAPLE JELLY

Steps:

• Lightly oil mold; prepare an ice water bath in a large bowl.
• In a large saucepan, bring cranberries, sugar, and 3 cups water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and are completely softened, about 10 minutes.
• Pour cranberries through a fine sieve, set over a bowl, pressing to release as much juice as possible (you should get about 4 cups, if not add water to equal 4 cups).
• Skim off any foam from the surface; stir in maple syrup.
• Transfer 1 cup of the liquid to a clean saucepan and bring to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup water; let soften 1 minute.
• Stir gelatin mixture into hot cranberry liquid in the saucepan; mix gelatin mixture into cranberry maple syrup mixture and stir well to completely combine.
• Set bowl into prepared ice water bath, stirring occasionally, to cool.
• After about 15 minutes, it should be beginning to thicken, then pour into oiled mold, and refrigerate until set, at least 8 hours, but can be made up to 2 days in advance.
• To unmold, dip the top of the mold into a bowl of hot water and run a thin knife around the edge of the mold to loosen the jelly; place the serving dish on top and invert to plate (if it doesn't release easily, repeat).