Why Make Grape Jelly at Home?

Homemade grape jelly is a classic pantry staple. It’s perfect on toast, biscuits, or even in savory recipes like meatballs. Making your own jelly ensures you know exactly what goes into it, and it’s a great way to use up extra grapes or grape juice.

If you have extra grapes, you can make concentrated grape juice too.

Ingredients Needed

Concord grape juice (freshly made or store-bought unsweetened)
Sugar
Pectin

straining grapes — Use a jelly bag to strain the juice from the grapes

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cool and Store: Remove jars, let them cool, and check seals. Store in a cool, dark place.

Prepare the Juice: Wash concord grapes in cool water. Remove stems and process using a food mill, stand mixer attachment, or potato masher. Strain through a jelly bag, cheesecloth, or fruit press bag depending on desired pulp level.

Combine Ingredients: In a large pot, mix grape juice, sugar, and pectin according to recipe proportions.

Cook the Jelly: Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook until jelly reaches proper consistency.

Fill Jars: Ladle hot jelly into sterilized half-pint or pint jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.

Process in Water Bath: Place jars in boiling water bath for the recommended time to ensure proper sealing.

Tips for Success

Concord grapes provide the best flavor compared to other varieties.
Always use unsweetened grape juice to avoid overly sweet jelly.
Half-pint jars are perfect for gifting, while pint jars are great for families who love grape jelly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use grape juice to make jelly?

Yes, but make sure it is unsweetened to balance the sugar added during cooking.

What is the difference between jam and jelly?

Jelly is made from fruit juice, while jam contains fruit pulp and sometimes seeds.

What size jars should you use?

Half-pints are ideal for variety and gifting. Pints are better if you consume a lot of jelly.

What kind of grapes are best?

Concord grapes are the traditional choice, offering the sweetest and richest flavor.

Do you water bath grape jelly?

Yes, after filling jars, process them in a boiling water bath to ensure proper sealing.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Canning Concord Grape Jelly (Easy Homemade Recipe)

Make homemade Concord grape jelly with this easy canning recipe. Learn how to prepare juice, cook with sugar and pectin, and seal jars in a water bath for perfect jelly every time.

Course: Canning

Cuisine: American

Servings: half pints

Author: Regina Sober

Equipment

Ingredients

4 cups grape juice
7 cups sugar
6 Tablespoons pectin
½ teaspoon butter (this is optional)

Instructions

Fill water bath canner with water and turn on to heat water.
In a large pan, add the grape juice and pectin and stir to disolve the pectin. Add butter (optional) to reduce the foam.
Bring the mix to a full rolling boil. A boil that cannot be stopped by stirring. Let it boil for 10 minutes of medium heat.
Add the sugar and then stir out and let disolve.
Bring back to a boil. Let boil for 1 minute. A rolling boil is a boil that canning be stirred down. Stir constantly.
Remove from the heat.
Skim off any foam that is on the jelly.
Ladle the jelly into the jars using the canning funnel (keep the jars clean)
Fill to 1/4" headspace
Wipe the jars rim with a clean wet towel
Place the seals and bands on the jar.
Process the jars in a water bath canner for 10 minutes. Let the jars sit for 5 minutes before removing and placing a towel over them on the counter while they cool.
Label and date the jars. Remove the bands for storage and check that the seals do not lift up.
If the jars don't set, you can reprocess in the waterbath again for 10 minutes or add 2 Tablespoons of pectin and reprocess to a boil and waterbath again. You can only reprocess within the first 24 hours.