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I’ve always wanted to try making some Dandelion Jelly – and this year, I did.
Spring is Dandelion season here in southern BC! And wow do we get a lot of Dandelions here; we run an organic homestead here so do not use any pesticides or commercial weed killers.
And, because of that, our native flowers and plants are left to grow, flower and reseed themselves.
Dandelions are not weeds, no matter what people say! They are nutritious for us – we often eat salads made up of young Dandelion greens in very early Spring here. They are one of the earliest blooming flowers here!
So in Spring, I enjoy making Dandelion Jelly and we love eating it year round on toast and spread on English muffins for breakfast.
It’s quite easy to make and doesn’t take a long time to put up a batch. It has a sweet and delicious taste – now I have 8 jars in my pantry for us to enjoy all year around.
Here’s how to make Dandelion Jelly from fresh dandelion flowers for your family; great for gifts too!
How to Make Dandelion Jelly
Note: One batch will make about 4 or 5 half pint jars.
With some fresh petals and just a few ingredients, you can easily make your own jelly!
First, you will need to go picking! For one batch of Dandelion Jelly, you will need 2 cups of dandelion petals.
You don’t need to compact the dandelion blossoms. Just pick two cups of loose flowers.
You do NOT want the green parts or stems on the backs of the flowers, you just want the yellow flower petals.
I found the easiest way was to take scissors and my measuring cup out into the yard and just snip the yellow petals right from the leaves into the cup.
Take 2 cups of boiling water and add this to the petals to make a dandelion tea. Leave for up to 24 hours to let the dandelions steep in the water.
I waited until the water had cooled down, then placed the measuring cup in the fridge.
When you are ready for the next step, pour the contents from the measuring cup and strain through a strainer into a large pot. I like to use a really big saucepan.
Boiling Dandelion Jelly
Add 1/4 cup lemon juice. Then add 4 cups of sugar and give it all a good mixing.
Bring this mixture to a full rolling boil, which is a boil that cannot be stirred down.
Once it boils, add 1 package of Certo liquid fruit pectin. You may also be able to use powdered pectin.
Bring it back to a boil, and boil it for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
If some foam develops from air bubbles, just skim it off using a metal spoon. Eat it if you like, it’s yummy. Kids usually love the skim!
You may find, as I did, that the liquid has a greenish tinge to it.
Since I wanted my finished jelly to be a bright yellow, I added drops of yellow food coloring. Just add a few drops, then stir and see if it is a pretty yellow.If not, add a few more drops.
You can also add some honey for natural sweet flavor and the golden color for your dandelion jam!
Canning Dandelion Jelly
Since I am going to be water bath canning these jars of jelly, I poured hot water over the seals. This helps soften them up, ensuring a better seal when you screw the lid on the jar. It may be easiest to leave hot seal or jars on a towel.
Ladle the jelly into clean half pint jars. Leave 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe the rims of the jars and add seals and rings. At this point, you can just let the jelly jars cool on the counter at room temperature with the lids on for 24 hours. Then, keep the jelly in the fridge – it will last several weeks.
If you want to store the jelly for a longer time, process the canning jars (right after filling and sealing) in a water bath canner for 10 minutes.
Here’s how I water bath canned Cherries. Different fruit but the process is just the same, so go ahead and read through how water bath canning works.
All kinds of jellies and jams can be safely preserved by using the water bath canning method. It’s easy to do and it’s a great way to learn how to safely can food at home.
DandelionQuestions:
Is it safe to eatdandelionsfrom your yard?
Yes it is safe to eatdandelions, as long as you can be assured no chemicals have been sprayed on your lawn!
Can you eatdandelionsright our of your yard?
Yes! All of thedandelionplant is edible (and delicious!) Again, be sure that the plants have not be sprayed or had any chemicals used on them at all. If in doubt, pass them by!
(And next year, don’t spray – this way you’ll be able to harvestdandelionsfor eating all season long)
Is it safe to eat frieddandelions?
Yes, and we have a delicious recipe for frieddandelionsin our book full ofDandelionRecipes!
How to safely eatdandelions?
Once you’re sure you are picking unsprayed flowers and plants, simply rinse well to get any dirt off. Then use in recipes!
Preserving Food at Home
If you want to read more about preserving and find our awesome recipes, take a look at this page all about Preserving Food. It has links to every preserving recipe on this site!
And it goes through all kinds of preserving including pickling, freezing food, water bath canning, pressure canning and even dehydrating!
Isn’t it pretty? That Dandelion Jelly is such a pretty colour of yellow – it’s sure to please.
Enjoy on homemade toast! It is also delicious as an appetizer – spread some softened cream cheese on a nice cracker and add a small dollop of jelly. Or try some spread on pancakes – yumm!
Want to try your hand at making Dandelion Wine? We have been making this for years and we often give a bottle as a hostess gift. Check the link for the complete recipe and process for making your own Dandelion Wine from dandelion flower heads!
Want even more Dandelion Recipes?
Grab my ebook Delicious Dandelions: a Recipe Collection!
Want to print the recipe for making your own Dandelion Jelly? Here it is:
Dandelion Jelly Recipe Card
Dandelion Jelly
Yield: 5 half pint jars
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Dandelion jelly, preserved in jars tastes wonderful and makes a pretty gift!
Ingredients
- 2 cups Dandelion petals (just the yellow petals)
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 4 cups sugar
- 1 pkg Certo Liquid Pectin
- 8 - 10 drops yellow food coloring
Instructions
- Add boiling water to dandelion blossoms. Let steep for up to 24 hours.
- Pour the liquid through a strainer into a large saucepan.
- Add lemon juice and sugar.
- Bring to a full rolling boil.
- Add Certo and bring again to a full rolling boil. Let boil for 2 minutes. Stir constantly.
- Skim any foam off the top of the liquid, using a metal spoon.
- Add food coloring, until you are pleased with the color.
- Ladle into jars, wipe the rims and seal. Keep in fridge if the jelly will be used within three weeks.
- Use a water bath canner to process the jars if you want to store the jelly for later use. Can for 10 minutes.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 204Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 9mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 0gSugar: 50gProtein: 0g
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originally published 2017; latest update August, 2023
