Crab Apple Jelly

Method

1. Wash the crab apples and cut them into quarters. Put them into a large pan with 1 litre of water (or enough to just cover the apples), and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for about 30 minutes until the fruit is completely tender.
2. Line a sieve with 2 layers of muslin, and set it over a large jug or bowl. Tip the pan of fruit into the sieve, and leave it to drip overnight. Do not press or squeeze the fruit, as this will make the jelly cloudy. (Don’t worry if the juice that drips through seems slightly cloudy: this will disappear when the juice is boiled and skimmed).
3. The next day, put a saucer into the freezer. Measure the juice, and for every 100ml add 70g granulated sugar. Put the juice and sugar into a clean pan with the lemon juice and bring to the boil, stirring gently to dissolve the sugar.
4. Keep the mixture at a rolling boil, skimming off any scum that accumulates on the surface. After about 40 minutes, test the set by putting a teaspoon of the mixture onto the cold saucer. Leave it for a few seconds, then push the edge of the puddle with your fingertip. If it has solidified, the jelly is ready. If not, return the saucer to the freezer, boil the mixture for another 5 minutes and test again.
5. When the jelly is ready, pour it into a warm sterilised 350ml jar (or several smaller ones) and seal while still slightly warm. Store in a cool dry place.

Credits

Recipe and photos by Otherwise for Wild Food UK

2 comments for Crab Apple Jelly

1. Valerie Theaker says:

   September 21, 2022 at 10:59 am

   Thank you, I used green crab apples, which produce the same beautiful, coloured jelly, which if hidden, is perfect with Christmas dinner.

   Reply
   1. Simon Daley says:

      September 21, 2022 at 11:29 am

      Thanks for the feeback Valerie! All types of crab apples work well for this.

      Reply