Plum Jelly

Marie Overton
Mar 16, 2022
2 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9cegpTiE_Q

Having 5 plum trees in my orchard allows me an abundance of plums each summer. One of the greatest items to make from this bounty is plum jelly. I really like to make plum jelly in the winter because all it takes is plum juice. So, I juice the plums up in the summer and make plum butter out of the pulp and save the juice for making jelly during the winter when it is the off-season for my garden. Plum Jelly has a beautiful color and flavor that makes it a wonderful gift or a fabulous treat for your family.

Canning Equipment Preparation

Start by preparing your boiling water bath with enough water to cover 8 half-pint jars with 1-2 inches of water. Place the boiling water bath canner on the stove on medium heat. Now that your equipment is ready, it is time to start making jelly.

Making the Plum Jelly

Top view of a person holding a dark bowl over a pot with red liquid and white powder on a granite countertop, preparing a mixture.

Mix 5 1/2 cups of plum juice with 6 tablespoons of pectin in a large pot.

If you want to reduce foaming add 1/2 teaspoon of butter.

Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil on medium-high heat. Stir constantly.

Hands stirring sugar into a pot with a wooden spoon. Another pot with a reddish mixture is nearby. Scene set on a dark countertop.

Add 7 cups of sugar and bring back to a full boil for 1 minute.

A ladle of dark purple liquid being poured from a pot into a funnel over a jar on a speckled countertop, surrounded by empty jars.

Using a jar funnel, pour or ladle the jelly into clean, hot, half-pint-sized jars leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe the rims off with a clean damp cloth. Place the lids and rings on fingertip tight. (For quality, American made Superb canning lids and jars follow this link and use the coupon code WP20 to get 20% off your purchase.) Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath canner at sea level or adjust for your elevation.

Chalkboard sign with "WATER BATH" instructions for altitudes. Canning jars and orange burlap are partly visible in the background.

Once your plum jelly has completed processing, turn off the heat and allow them to cool for 5 minutes. At the end of the cooling time, carefully remove the jars from the water bath with a jar lifter and place them on a heat resistant surface about 1-2 inches apart. Allow them to sit on the counter for 24 hours then check if they sealed properly. The center will be indented down if they are. If not, place any unsealed jars in the refrigerator and use them right away.