Easy Red Currant Jelly Recipe (2024)

Red currants are a rare summer find. If you're lucky enough to have a bush at home, or your farmers' market carries these tiny and delicious berries when in season, try our recipe for a simple jelly and enjoy the sweet and tart flavor of this delicious fruit all year round. If the currants you find still have stems on, don't bother picking the fruit off as the stems themselves have pectin, which will further help the fruit to achieve a better gel. Plus, the stems add some tannins to the mix, which are the compounds at the root of the attractive astringent flavor in, for example, wine and coffee. If your currants are already picked, you'll still get a beautiful jelly.

Made with fruit, sugar, and water, this jelly doesn't need the addition of store-bought pectin, as the currants naturally possess a perfect combination of pectin and acidity, which ensures a good gel and texture without the need to add any stabilizer agent. The result is a delicious jelly with color as brilliant and bright as that of the fruit. We use measurements for a small-batch recipe as currants can be both difficult to find and expensive—unless you grow your own. But if you are blessed with an abundance of them, simply double the recipe.

This easy jelly is delicious serve alongside game, venison especially. But it pairs well with roast lamb, beef, and cornish hens. Use it on toast, scones, English muffins, or as an addition to your cheese plate. Before you start, make sure to have at hand jars that are suitable for sterilizing.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

Cook and Strain the Fruit

  1. Gather the ingredients.

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  2. Wash the currants, and if the stems are on don't pick them. You'll get rid of stems and seeds later when you strain their juice.

  3. Place the washed currants in a nonreactive pot—no cast iron unless it is enameled, and no aluminum. Add the water.

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  4. Cook, stirring, over medium-low heat until the red currants have released all of their juice, about 20 minutes. While they are cooking, gently crush the fruit with a potato masher or the bottom of a wine bottle; this will help the fruit release the juice.

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  5. Drain the red currants and their liquid overnight by pouring the mixture into either a dampened jelly bag or by lining a colander with butter muslin or several layers of cheesecloth. Pick your method and place a large bowl or pot underneath the bag or colander. Do not squeeze the jelly bag, muslin, or cheesecloth because that will result in a cloudy jelly.

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Sterilize the Jars

  1. Sterilize your canning jars.

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Make and Can the Jelly

  1. Once strained, measure the red currant juice. You should have about 2 1/2 cups.

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  2. Pour the measured juice into a large, nonreactive pot and add an equal amount of sugar—for 2 1/2 cups of juice, add 2 1/2 cups of sugar.

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  3. Bring the red currant juice and sugar to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar. Continue to cook until the mixture reaches the gelpoint.

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  4. If the jelly is ready before the jars are sterilized, simply remove the jelly from the heat until the jars are ready. Reheat the jelly just back to a simmer before filling the jars.

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  5. Ladle the hot, liquid jelly into the sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch headspace.

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  6. Screw on canning lids.

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  7. Process in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes. Keep in mind that the jelly will still be hot and liquid when it comes out of the boiling water bath. It will gel as it cools.

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  8. Once cooled, the jelly is ready to be used. Enjoy!

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What to Use in Place of Currant Jelly?

Finding currant jelly is not always easy, as it's seasonal, but there are some brands that you can find online or in specialized stores. If you can't find currant jelly, concord grape jelly or apple jelly are good substitutes to use; simply add a dash of lemon juice for some tartness. Alternatively, make a low-sugar cranberry sauce and add lemon zest and lemon juice.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
102Calories
0g Fat
26g Carbs
1g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories102
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 1mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 26g9%
Dietary Fiber 2g6%
Total Sugars 24g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 15mg77%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 0mg2%
Potassium 104mg2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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Easy Red Currant Jelly Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What jelly is closest to red currant jelly? ›

Top 9 Red Currant Jelly Substitutes
  1. Grape Jelly. Grape jelly, a classic favorite among jelly enthusiasts, is a wonderful substitute for red currant jelly and the best jelly for peanut butter and jelly sandwich. ...
  2. Apple Jelly. ...
  3. Blackcurrant Jam. ...
  4. Strawberry Jam. ...
  5. Raspberry Jam. ...
  6. Blackberry Jam. ...
  7. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  8. Dried Fruit.

What is red currant jelly used for? ›

Uses: Redcurrant jelly is traditionally served with roast lamb or venison. A tablespoonful of jelly also adds a delicious flavour to lamb or venison casseroles.

Why is red currant jelly hard to find? ›

Mistakenly thought to promote a tree disease, currant bushes across the country were systematically uprooted in the early 1900s, and production was prohibited for many years. But now you can find currants in the farmers' markets. Grab up some pints when you see them, because the season won't last long.

How long does red currant jelly last? ›

Pour into the warm sterilised jars to fill to the brim and immediately seal with screwtop lids. Store in a cool, dark, dry place for up to a year. Once opened keep in the fridge and use within 3 months.

Does Smuckers make currant jelly? ›

Smucker's® Currant Jelly 12 oz. Jar | Jellies | Festival Foods Shopping.

Are lingonberries the same as red currants? ›

Their ruby color, fall harvest time, and kinship to cranberries make them a great addition to your holiday table in lieu of cranberries. And if you can't find them, you can use cranberries in a lingonberry recipe. Similarly, they can be swapped for red currants, too, which are a tad sweeter than lingonberries.

Can you eat raw red currants? ›

These shiny little berries grow low on bushes, hanging from the branches like rows of miniature gems. Their flavour is a little tart but they're still sweet enough to be eaten raw, so long as they're sprinkled with plenty of sugar.

What does red currant do for the body? ›

Like many fruits with red pigment, red currants contain an antioxidant carotenoid known as lycopene. Lycopene reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer, especially prostate cancer. In addition, it protects the body from free radical stress that can damage DNA and other cell structures.

Are red currants anti inflammatory? ›

The antioxidants within the berries add a shield against skin damage. The benefits enhance you with glowing, young-looking skin. In addition, they are also anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antimicrobial, rich in fibre (both soluble and insoluble), nearly fat-free, and great for your eyesight.

Why can't you get currants in the US? ›

Black currant ban, risks, and health benefits. Blackcurrant bushes were grown in America back in the 1629s, but in 1911, the professional cultivation of the plant was banned. It is a carrier of a fungus called white pine blister rust. Hence, blackcurrant was declared illegal to protect pine forests.

What is the best red currant? ›

Many people consider 'Rovada' to be the best red currant cultivar.

How do you store red currant jelly? ›

Rich, smooth and bursting with fruit

Store in a cool place, away from direct sunlight. Once opened refrigerate and consume within 4 weeks and by best before end date.

Do redcurrants contain pectin? ›

Made with fruit, sugar, and water, this jelly doesn't need the addition of store-bought pectin, as the currants naturally possess a perfect combination of pectin and acidity, which ensures a good gel and texture without the need to add any stabilizer agent.

Is red currant jelly good for you? ›

Health Benefits of Red Currant Jelly

Red currants are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber, making them a nutritious choice for adding to your diet. The jelly made from these berries retains some of these beneficial properties, making it a tasty way to boost your antioxidant intake.

Can you freeze currant jelly? ›

Briefly blend the currants and sugar in a food processor or blender. Pack the jam into a jar, and cap it tightly. Store the jar in the refrigerator or freezer. Makes 1 pint.

Is red currant jelly cranberry? ›

Redcurrant sauce, also known as redcurrant jelly, is an English condiment, consisting of redcurrants (Ribes rubrum), sugar and rosemary.

What is the difference between black and red currant jelly? ›

Currant varieties come in shades of red, black, and white. Red currants are high in pectin, making them ideal for jams and jellies. Black currants have five times the Vitamin C of oranges and make wonderful liqueurs. White currants are typically sweeter and less acidic than red currants and are best eaten fresh.

Which jelly has chunks of fruit? ›

There are no pieces of fruit in jelly. Jam: Jam is made with mashed fruit. Preserves: Preserves have whole fruit or large pieces of fruit.

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