Step 1: Gather your ingredients and supplies

To make crab apple jelly, you’ll need a large supply of crab apples, granulated sugar, water, lemon juice, and cheesecloth or a jelly bag for straining. You’ll also require a large pot, a candy thermometer, jars with lids, and a ladle.

Step 2: Prepare the crab apples

Begin by washing your crab apples thoroughly and removing any stems or leaves. Cut larger apples into pieces, but you can leave the smaller ones whole. Don’t worry about removing seeds or cores; they will be filtered out later.

Step 3: Cook the crab apples

Place the crab apples in a large pot and add just enough water to cover them. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat before reducing the heat to low. Allow it to simmer until the crab apples are soft and tender – around 30 minutes.

Step 4: Strain the cooked crab apples

Place a cheesecloth or jelly bag over a clean bowl or pot to catch the juice. Pour the softened fruit and liquid through your chosen strainer to separate the juice from any solids. You may want to let it strain for several hours to get as much juice as possible.

Step 5: Measure the extracted juice and sugar

The amount of sugar needed depends on how much juice has been extracted from the cooked crab apples. For every cup of juice, you’ll need ¾ cup of granulated sugar.

Step 6: Combine all ingredients

Add the extracted crab apple juice back into your large pot. Stir in granulated sugar and about two tablespoons of lemon juice for every four cups of extracted liquid. Mix well until the sugar has dissolved completely.

Step 7: Cook your jelly mixture

Heat your jelly mixture on medium-high heat until it reaches a rolling boil that doesn’t stir down at all. Monitor the temperature with your candy thermometer until it reaches 220°F (104°C), which is the setting point for jelly. It might take around 20 minutes for the mixture to reach this stage.

Step 8: Preserve your crab apple jelly

Ladle the hot jelly into sterilized jars, leaving about ¼ inch of space at the top of each jar. Wipe away any spills and secure lids tightly. Process jars in a boiling water bath for about 10 minutes to ensure they are sealed correctly and preserved for a longer shelf life.

Congratulations! You have now successfully made homemade crab apple jelly by following these 8 simple steps. Enjoy your deliciously tart creation on toast or in baked goods, or share it with friends and family as a thoughtful homemade gift.