HOW TO MAKE DANDELION JELLY

Dandelion jelly is captured at the core of spring in a jar. It reminds me of honey blended with the cozy glow of sunshine. It adds a sweet touch to your morning and is so simple to make. Plus, it's a great gift idea! I really think everyone should try it.

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Jerry and I disagree about dandelions. He finds them annoying and spends time picking them out and throwing them away. But when he's not looking, I go around spreading the seeds everywhere. I want more of those yellow flowers around. Despite what people say - dandelions are actually good for you and have a delightful taste.

Advantages of Dandelion

You might find it surprising, but dandelions are not merely weeds. It has many health benefits. You can actually use them to make various healthy products. Dandelions are packed with vitamins C, A, and K, whether you eat them cooked or raw. They can reduce inflammation too. I found this out directly when I made massage oil infused with dandelion last year. They're also rich in antioxidants, which play a miracle role for your skin. Overall, dandelions offer more benefits than downsides. It depends upon how strongly you’re tied to having a spotless yard.

I decided this year was the time for something entertaining and new. Just a little while back, our garden was overflowing with dandelion flowers. Jerry couldn't wait to start mowing, but I quickly went out and picked as many flowers as I could.

Looking at a mixing bowl completely filled with dandelions, I needed to figure out what to do next. After some research online I found that making a dandelion jelly seemed fascinating. Therefore, I decided to try it.

It appears to be easy and so tasty to make it. So, I plan to do it regularly from now on!

It tastes like sunshine…

If you find yourself with lots of dandelions, I strongly suggest trying it out.

Homemade dandelion jelly tastes like honey, with a hint of lemon flavor. – it makes me feel like a bee each time I have some.

And because this dandelion jelly recipe is easy to make, it's perfect for those just getting started with a water bath canner. This is amazing on toast, waffles, scones – really, on anything where you'd enjoy something awesome dandelion jelly taste.

Let’s Get Down to Business…

What You’ll Need To Create Dandelion Jelly Recipes:

Step 1: Harvest Your Dandelions

Starting off, the first thing you do is pick the dandelions. I managed to collect about 4 cups of dandelion petals, which means a lot of flowers. Just aim to gather as many as possible. The exact number of flower petals isn't too critical. The petals are used to make tea, and it's the tea quantity that really matters.

For one batch (making around 6 half pint jars), you'll need at least 2 cups of petals. You could collect up to 4 cups for the same number of dandelion jelly jars. Having more petals results in a stronger tea and flavor, although I haven't compared flavors formally. It's crucial to make sure the dandelions haven't been sprinkled with pesticides. Moreover, try to avoid flowers near roads to avoid extreme pollution. You can use scissors to cut them. I found pulling the flowers by hand is quite effective in this matter.

Step 2: Process the Blooms

Next, we need to remove the yellow petals from the green parts. Because it tastes very bitter, you can approach this in a few ways - depending on your choice of thoroughness and how much mess you're willing to make. I chose as many petals as possible and didn’t care about getting messy. By pressing and rolling the base of the flower between my fingers, the petals came loose more easily. This method might leave some small green pieces, but not enough to be a concern.

Alternatively, you can use scissors to cut right at the flower's base. This method keeps your hands cleaner, but it felt like I was forgetting some of the petals -particularly, those near the base that carry a lot of pollen.

Step 3: Make Dandelion Tea

Once you've gathered the petals, the following step involves utilizing them to flavor the jelly by creating dandelion tea, using this straightforward procedure. Start with a minimum of 2 cups of dandelion petals and pour 4 cups of boiling water over them. Transfer this blend to a container and allow it to steep in the fridge for 24 hours.

After the steeping period is complete, extract as much liquid as possible. Initially, I first used a fine mesh strainer before resorting to using my hands to press out the fluid. This should yield approximately 3-4 cups of tea. You'll get about 3-4 cups of tea. Add lemon juice according to your taste and enjoy!

Step 4: Making Your Dandelion Jelly

It's time to make dandelion jelly, which is really straightforward. Start by mixing your dandelion tea in a large pot with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and one package of powdered pectin or liquid pectin. You can also add a little yellow food coloring to make it more colorful. Heat this until it boils. Then, stir in 4 cups of sugar and get it back to a boiling point. Cook the jelly for 1 to 2 minutes. Watch out because it will foam and expand a lot, so use a large pot. After that, take the pot off the heat, remove the white foam on top, and pour the jelly into jars. For fridge storage, just fill all the jars and keep them cool. If you're looking to store them at room temperature, use a water bath canning and your canning dandelion jelly is ready!

Step 6: Water Bath Canning

You'll need six clean half-pint jars, sanitized lids, and rings for this. Fill sterilized jars with the hot jelly by using a canning funnel. Make sure to leave a 1/4-inch gap at the lid. Use a knife or a canning spatula to mix inside the jars. It will release any trapped air bubbles. Then, tighten the lids using your hand. Now, boil the lids in a canner for 10 minutes. You can even extend it to 15 minutes. It depends on whether you're above 6000 feet in elevation. Carefully lift the jars with a canner and set them on a towel. It will help them to cool down without moving them for 24 hours.

Step 7: Enjoy

And just like that, you've made it! It's truly simple to prepare this tasty dandelion jelly. It makes an excellent gift and has become a favorite at our monthly swap gatherings. It's perfect on toast, and I especially enjoy it with our sourdough waffles.

It’s Delicious on Homemade Bread…

What's your take? Feel inspired to try making dandelion jelly? It's a great method to greet the spring and start the gardening season. If you found this piece enjoyable, do send it to someone who loves dandelions.