Recipe for How to Make and Can Redbud Jelly

Basic Steps for Making Redbud Jelly

• Pick the redbud flower petals from the redbud tree
• Separate the petals from any sticks or stems
• Add 4 cups boiling water to the petals
• Add lemon juice to the petal/water mixture
• Place in refrigerator for 24 hours
• Strain the petals from the liquid
• Add liquid to pot and bring to a boil
• Add pectin, bring to boil for one minute and stir continuously
• Add 4 cups of sugar, stir to dissolve and boil for 1 to 2 minutes
• Add to jars and water bath can for 10 minutes

Redbud Jelly

Edible flower recipes, such as this redbud jelly recipe have become one of my favorite things to make. These kind of recipes are also fun to do with your children! Redbud trees bloom for a short time in the early spring. They are so noticeable and beautiful, the purple redbud flowers really stand out. I decided to try making the beautiful redbud petals into redbud flower jelly.

This redbud jelly recipe is easy to make and results in a sweet, beautifully colored jelly.

Detailed Steps to Make Redbud Jelly

The first step is to pick the new redbud blooms from the redbud tree.

Pick enough that you have 2 to 4 cups of redbud blossoms. Remove the petals from the woody part of the stems. If you harvest some unopened buds it is okay. Recipes I have seen say to remove all the stems, this seemed very time consuming to me and I did not do it and it turned out fine.

Place the petals in a quart mason jar or a bowl. It is easier if you use the canning funnel.

Pour 4 cups of boiling water over the petals to make the redbud tea. I used a quart jar and could not quite get the 4 cups in the jar with the petals, but it did not affect the final product.

Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the redbud tea.

Adding the lemon juice reacts with the redbud petals to help draw out the beautiful purple/pink color and also draws out the flavor.

Place the tea in the refrigerator for 24 hours. The following day, strain the flowers from the liquid with a fine mesh sieve coffee filter or cheese cloth. You should have close to four cups of redbud tea.

Squeeze the remaining liquid from the flowers. The redbud flower tea is a beautiful color.

Pour the tea into a large pot and add 1 package of powdered regular pectin. I used sure jell. Stir to dissolve. Heat over high heat to a full boil.

Add four cups of white sugar, stirring while adding to dissolve. Bring to a hard boil and boil for 1 to 2 minutes.

The redbud jelly mixture will produce a foam while boiling.

Steps for Canning the Redbud Jelly

Turn off the heat and ladle the redbud jelly into jars. This recipe makes 5 half pint jars.

Fill the jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe the rims of the top of each jar with a damp cloth or wet paper towel and remove the air bubbles.

Put the lids on and place the jars into the canning pot. Process the jars at a full rolling boil for 10 minutes. Remove the hot jars with a jar lifter and place on a dish towel. Let sit for 24 hours before disturbing. Note: Sometimes it takes at least a day or more for the jelly to completely set up. Most of the time they are not quite set when you remove them from the canner.

Enjoy

This redbud jelly recipe makes a beautiful and delicious jelly. Enjoy the delicious homemade redbud jelly on toast, biscuits, English muffins or whatever desired.

For more of my canning recipes and other favorite great recipes, plus posts about other homestead-type activities, such as gardening and raising chickens, go to my website at www.HawkPointHomestead.com.

See my website at www.HawkPointHomestead.com for more flower jellies including my dandelion jelly recipe, redbud jelly recipe, lilac jelly recipe, peony jelly red clover jelly, forsythia jelly and apple blossom recipe.

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