How to make Wine Jelly by jomoncon
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Here are the instructions for making some great wine jelly. You can use any type of wine - red, white or rose, and it can be sweet or dry. If you like to drink it, you can use it in a jelly. I've used a ruby port that made a delicious jelly, but this Instructable uses an inexpensive blackberry wine since I wanted that blackberry flavor.

 
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Step 1: Ingredients, Tools & Utensils

The ingredients are very easy & very few.

2 cups wine (Blackberry in this case)
3 1/4 cups sugar
1 pouch liquid pectin.

The pectin can be found in many supermarkets around the canning supplies, but you may have to hunt around for it. There is dry pectin and liquid pectin. The liquid comes 2 pouches to a box. The recipe uses only one, but this jelly is so good, you'll want to make another batch.

You're going to need 2 big pots, 1 smaller pot, large tongs for lifting jars, something to stir the jelly as it's cooking, canning jars with lids & bands. I used 4 jars, 1/2 pint (1 cup).

Some optional, but handy, tools are a canning rack, a large ladle, jar tongs, and a magnetic lid lifer. Unless you plan on doing a lot more canning, you can do without these.
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taransa says: May 26, 2012. 8:34 PM
Most reference materials I have read recommend checking the seal on the jar lids after the jar has cooled (12-24 hours), rather than while it is hot ... if it didn't quite seal just pop it in the fridge.

I do look forward to trying this though! Never made a jelly :)
mecheris says: Dec 17, 2011. 5:32 PM
Just have to say, made this recipe to fill redneck wine glasses for Christmas gifts... wonderful!! Thank you for posting this!!
arodríguez3 says: Apr 4, 2011. 3:44 PM
Do you find it very sweet, since you're using kosher wine? Do you think you could get away without adding as much sugar?
jomoncon (author) says: Apr 4, 2011. 6:35 PM
While it was sweet, it wasn't too sweet. I don't know enough about jelly making to start altering recipes. From what I understand, changing the proportions could alter how the jelly sets. If you want to use less sugar, then I'd suggest doing a web search for other wine jelly recipes & maybe you can find one with less sugar.
Old Silverback says: Dec 5, 2011. 1:16 PM
I wonder if this would work with a sugar substitute such as Splenda or Equal? if so would the amount used change ? I just made a batch and it looks like it came out great so far ! Being diabetic I will have to wait and see what the other members of my family say about how it tastes. Thanks for the post.
jomoncon (author) says: Dec 5, 2011. 7:01 PM
This is what the Splenda website says: Regular pectin needs sugar and acid to gel. When sweetening homemade jams and jellies with SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated, you must use pectin specifically manufactured for sugarless or low-sugar recipes. These are low methoxyl pectins. The SPLENDA® Product test kitchen team recommends using Sure Jell For Less or No Sugar Needed Recipes Premium Fruit Pectin*. For more information on the product please visit http://www.kraftbrands.com/surejell. In addition, always consult a reliable resource for sugarless canning procedures.

Website: http://www.splenda.com/cooking-baking/granulated. Look under Canning.
arodríguez3 says: Apr 4, 2011. 7:30 PM
Cool; maybe I'll just have to experiment with some different wines until I find a good one. I'm thinking a nice Zinfandel ought to fit the bill just right!
mmessenger says: Nov 26, 2011. 11:37 AM
Today is the day I'm going to try this! I'm using 4oz jars to spread it out a bit, if all goes well, Wine Jelly for everyone on my Christmas list this year!
jomoncon (author) says: Nov 26, 2011. 4:00 PM
They will absolutely love it!!
mmessenger says: Nov 27, 2011. 6:59 AM
It came out perfect! This is a great recipe! I just gave one as a birthday gift last night. This goes prefect with goat cheese and those super thin gourmet wafers, all packaged together an instant high end gift! Thank you for this instuctable!
jomoncon (author) says: Nov 27, 2011. 9:27 AM
So glad it worked out well for you. Sooner or later, I'll post a jalapeno jelly recipe that's also makes killer gift.
aanderson20 says: Nov 14, 2011. 7:18 AM
Hey I was just wondering is it possible to replace the liquid pectin with gelatin?
Booyaka3 says: Aug 11, 2009. 5:40 PM
Only if it wasn't Alcohol... :( Any Substitute to wine that will make it taste more that the usual Jello??
fangorn81 says: Oct 11, 2009. 6:12 AM
 I am pretty sure the alcohol boils out.
Broom says: Sep 24, 2010. 9:51 AM
Actually, only most of the alcohol boils off. See here for details:
http://www.ochef.com/165.htm

From that, it looks like only a little over 50% will boil off. If you want it more alcohol-free, you can boil the wine longer - but you should probably do this before adding the pectin. Once reduced, add back in enough water to reach the original quantity of wine, so the taste isn't over-concentrated.

Of course, the wine will change flavor when boiled this long.

--

My girlfriend warns that high-tannin wines (some dry reds, for instance) can ruin the pectin after a day or two. Just an FYI.
yggdrazil says: Aug 12, 2009. 7:17 AM
Great Instructable. looks yummy! I'm sure you could boil it longer to evaporate all the alcohol?
nachobobs says: Aug 12, 2009. 7:44 AM
Most alcohols boil at around or before 82c. Once the wine reaches a full boil over 95% of the alcohol would have evaporated anyway, with the rest escaping as the pectin is activated for the minute of rolling boil.
vanmankline says: Aug 11, 2009. 8:59 PM
There are plenty of recipes for jellies made of juices and juice concentrates. For small batches it can be a more cost-effective method. I like to use frozen or canned concentrates. I use less water to get a stronger flavor than if using regular strength juice.
jomoncon (author) says: Aug 11, 2009. 6:32 PM
As a substitute, you could try grape juice, cranberry juice or even a sparkling grape juice.
brooklynlord says: Aug 3, 2010. 7:21 PM
Where did you get the jars?
jomoncon (author) says: Aug 3, 2010. 11:33 PM
You can find canning jars, bands & lids in most grocery stores, Walmart, Targets, and many discount stores. If your name means you live in Brooklyn, you may have to look harder. When I lived in Manhattan, I had a hard to look hard them. I finally found them in a store in Harlem.
brooklynlord says: Aug 4, 2010. 1:52 PM
Nah, i dont live in Brooklyn. It was just the name of a ship i really liked. Anyway, thanks for the info.
jomoncon (author) says: Sep 16, 2010. 7:06 PM
I'm going to be putting out another instructibles on jalapeno pepper jelly soon. And maybe my habanero pepper jelly.
caeric says: Jan 15, 2010. 3:35 PM
Just made a batch, and will post pics later... Am eager to try it out once it's set!!
ayavaska says: Sep 11, 2009. 10:23 PM
If you use dry pectin, I suggest dissolving it into hot water, or it has to be stirred in for 3 to 5 minutes, instead of 1
Hellchild says: Aug 18, 2009. 3:24 PM
do you think this would work with coffee, or monster? I'm more interested in the coffee part
picturedragon says: Aug 24, 2009. 7:40 PM
Dunno about jelly, but I have made gelatin out of coffee before- follow instructions on packet of knox gelatin and just use strong, sweet coffee in place of fruit juice
astrong0 says: Aug 20, 2009. 8:14 AM
dude i would use a coffee jelly or a monster!
Hellchild says: Aug 20, 2009. 7:10 PM
i would too!
trinity224 says: Aug 21, 2009. 4:30 PM
I've had wine jelly before with the native varietal 'Niagara' grapes (the same that Welch's uses for their white grape juice) & it's excellent. A boutique jelly-making business close to me makes several wine flavors, & they're all very good. This recipe doesn't take very long to make at all. Btw, as the jars fully of hot jelly cool off, the lids will seal with an audible "pop." If your jar/s don't seal, it's still ok - store it in the fridge. Store any opened jelly in the fridge. This jelly makes a really nice gift, & Christmas is closer than any of us wants to think! :-)
jhoughtaling says: Aug 20, 2009. 6:38 PM
At what point do you put the lids and bands on the jars? Definitely going to try this! Thanks!
jomoncon (author) says: Aug 21, 2009. 8:11 AM
The lids go on as soon as you pour the jelly into the jars. Then the bands right after. Since the jelly is still hot, the lids start sealing. Then, you either process the jars in the hot water, or store them in the refrigerator.
amfisher says: Aug 21, 2009. 6:47 AM
I have always loved wine jelly now I can make my own...Thanks! Does anyone out there know how to make Sumac Jelly I; really loved it when I was a kid and would love to make it.
godsdog69 says: Aug 13, 2009. 6:58 AM
Wonder if it would work with juice of watermelon?Would be good for a marinade for shrimp or seafood.
capricorn says: Aug 12, 2009. 7:47 AM
This is one of those crazy Ibles that I simply have to try once Thanks for sharing mate :)
SinAmos says: Aug 11, 2009. 11:08 PM
Wait, how tiny are those jars? My jars are a pint. Are those jars half pints?
jomoncon (author) says: Aug 12, 2009. 6:44 AM
The jars shown are half pints. Pints are fine. You'll wind up with 2 pint jars - 4 cups in total.
TRIPLEC says: Aug 11, 2009. 10:40 PM
this sounds awesome. i gotta try it sometime. but if you dont mind me asking: whats the point of boiling the jars and lids?
jomoncon (author) says: Aug 12, 2009. 6:41 AM
Boiling the jars & lids sterilizes them. In addition, the jars need to be heated so that they don't break when the hot liquid gets poured into them. The canning lids have some sort of "glue" around the edges that helps seal the jars. This needs to be heated & softened so that the jars will seal properly.
SinAmos says: Aug 11, 2009. 11:07 PM
I'm totally going to do this. I'm actually working on an instructable that includes a specific kind of jam.:)
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