Dandelion Jelly
Before you weed whip the edges of your lawn again, you really should whip up this recipe for Dandelion Jelly. I spent about half an hour picking and plucking dandelions to get the two cups needed to make jelly. The whole process was relatively easy start to finish, and the resulting jelly is like the best part of the smell of dandelions with a sweet edge.
My recipe uses Pomona Pectin which is the only pectin I use anymore. I love it because you can use honey or sugar or no sweetener at all in your jelly or jam and it will still set up. Plus they encourage you to to be adventurous and make your recipes up, I love that, and it’s just what I did.
Be sure you’ve read my post on Hot Water Bath Canning so you know what you need to water bath can THIS recipe to make it safe for pantry storage.
You’ll need these items for making jelly:
- something to strain the dandelion petals
- jars, lids, rings
- canning pot, a funnel, and a damp rag to wipe the rims of jars
Dandelion Jelly
this recipe is a two-step recipe of soaking petals and then making the jelly later
2 cups dandelion petals, picked the petals off the bud
2 cups boiling water
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Two teaspoons calcium water-from Pomona Pectin package
2/3 cup of sugar
Two teaspoons Pomona Pectin powder
pick over the dandelion petals you don’t want any greens leaves or bud parts only as much yellow as possible
place in a large nonreactive mixing bowl
boil water and pour two full cups over the petals
cover and let the petals steep for at least two hours I let mine steep 8 hours
drain through cheesecloth or a couple of coffee filters in a strainer
while the juice is draining set up your canning pot for a boiling water bath (directions there!), wash jars and fill with hot water and wash lid and rings well and keep hot in a small pan
you should have close to two cups of juice, add water to get to two cups if needed
pour into a medium size heavy bottom pot
add the lemon juice and calcium water
bring to a boil stirring occasionally
mix the sugar and powdered pectin together
when the juice is boiling and can’t be stirred down add the sugar/pectin mixture
stir to make sure the pectin gets completely dissolved
cook and stir for 30 seconds
remove from heat, skim any foam and pour into hot jars
wipe the rim, place a hot lid and a clean ring on the jar and carefully hand tighten(the jar is hot be careful)
process for 5 minutes in a boiling water bath or put in the fridge for immediate use
Mmmm nothing tastes better than weeds that annoy you; I call this revenge eating.
I have made this before but I like your recipe better. Where do you buy that pectin up here? I haven't seen it but have looked around a bit.
Straight from the company! 🙂
I also harvest the dandelions from my lawn. I have never made dandelion jelly before, but the next time I have a good crop, I will give it a try. I can just see my husband asking me why I am encouraging the kids to blow the dandelion seeds around the lawn. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this frugal and delicious recipe with the Hearth and Soul Hop.
BTW, I am your latest follower.
Interesting recipe and something that I'd never heard of before. I've bookmarked this page for next year (alas, I have mowed already!).
Are there any health properties to dandelions?
I'm also taking part in the Hearth & Soul hop and that's how I found your blog 🙂
I wonder how many dandelions it takes to make two cups? This sounds like a great family activity!
About 100 per cup
I picked two HUGE bouquets of large blossoms and that made enough.
Your dandelion jelly is such a gorgeous colour! The Pomona Pectin sounds fantastic as well. I must confess I have never made jam as an adult – only once with my Mom as a kid – but if I can find that pectin I might just give this a try! And I LOVE the idea of revenge eating 🙂 Thank you for sharing a great post with the Hearth and Soul blog hop.
I know my mother would have loved to of had this recipe for your jelly when we were kids as things were really hard in the 50’s& 60’s we picked dandelions for salad she tried making wine.. That blow up on her in the basement we thought a bomb went off.. 🙂 R.I.P.Mother…. & Lord help me to continue on learning even more from my Country roots..
What an awesome mom you had Nancy! I tried dandelion wine too and it got moldy! It must be picky?!? And I love the fact that you learning more from your country roots!