Homemade Fresh Dandelion Jelly (Printable View)

A delicate floral jelly capturing spring's essence, perfect for toast, yogurt, and desserts.

# Ingredient List:

→ Flowers

01 - 4 cups fresh dandelion flowers, unsprayed, yellow heads only

→ Liquids

02 - 4 cups water
03 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

→ Sweetener

04 - 1.5 to 2 cups granulated sugar, to taste

→ Setting Agent

05 - 1 package (1.75 oz) fruit pectin

# How to Make It:

01 - Rinse the dandelion flowers thoroughly under cool running water. Pull away all green base and stem portions, keeping only the bright yellow petals.
02 - Combine the petals and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
03 - Remove the saucepan from heat and let the mixture steep uncovered for 30 minutes to develop full floral flavor.
04 - Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth, pressing firmly to extract all liquid. Discard the spent petals. You should have approximately 3 cups of infused liquid.
05 - Transfer the measured liquid to a clean pot. Stir in the lemon juice and fruit pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly.
06 - Pour in the sugar all at once. Return to a rolling boil and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring continuously to prevent scorching.
07 - Remove from heat and skim off any surface foam. Ladle the hot jelly immediately into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Seal with lids.
08 - Process the sealed jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes for shelf-stable storage, or let cool to room temperature and refrigerate for immediate use.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It turns a weed everyone ignores into something genuinely delicious
  • The color alone stops people in their tracks when you set it on the table
02 -
  • Only pick dandelions from areas you know have not been sprayed with chemicals
  • The rolling boil stage is not optional since pectin needs that heat to activate properly
03 -
  • A handful of calendula petals mixed in with the dandelions deepens the golden color beautifully
  • Skimming the foam thoroughly gives you a clearer jelly that looks store bought

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