Making your own jelly is one way to customize flavors with your favorite berries. Blueberries are often combined with other berries to make mixed berry jellies and jams that have both sweet and tart flavors. If you don't have fresh blueberries to make your jam, you can substitute a blueberry gelatin mix, eliminating the need for pectin, a gelling agent. Because the mix already has sugars or sweeteners, you will need to alter a normal blueberry jelly recipe's sugar content. The end result is technically not jelly but will be similar to a pectin-based recipe, only more firm.
Step 1
Rinse 10 cups of raspberries under cool water. Place them in a colander to drain any excess water from around the berries.
Step 2
Crush the berries with a potato masher in a large bowl. Release as much juice from the berries as possible. Put the berries in a cheesecloth and squeeze as much juice from them as possible into a bowl. If you want more of a jam or preserve consistency, leave some of the berry pulp in the bowl or blend the berries into a thick liquid. You need 6 to 7 cups of liquid; add more crushed berry juice if needed.
Step 3
Boil the berry juice and the package of blueberry mix in a large pot; it will take at least five minutes to boil. Stir constantly, blending all ingredients.
Step 4
Stir in 4 cups of sugar, returning the pot ingredients to a boil. Allow ingredients to boil for one minute while stirring.
Step 5
Test the jelly by removing a spoonful and allowing it to cool. It should be firm and not run off the spoon.
Step 6
Sterilize four large canning jars and lids. Boil a pot of water large enough to hold at least one jar in it. Place the jar in the boiling water for at least 30 seconds and pull it out to dry on a clean towel.
Step 7
Pour the jelly into the sterilized jars. Cover the jars and allow the jelly to cool.
Things You'll Need
- 1 box blueberry gelatin mix
- Raspberries
- Water
- Colander
- Cheesecloth
- Bowl
- Potato masher
- Sugar
- 2 large pots
- Stove
- Spoon
- 4 canning jars
- Towel
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