How To Make Concord Grape Jelly

How To Make Concord Grape Jelly

Labor Day weekend in my house is for making concord grape jelly!  In my hometown, Hendersonville, NC there is something we are known for and that is apples!  We have the Apple Festival every Labor Day Weekend, but I avoid the crowds and make concord grape jelly instead!  Since so many people have never tried their hand at making it on their own, I wanted to re-share my sweet Mama’s Concord Grape Jelly recipe.  Her recipe is unique because it uses the grape hulls.  I can’t wait for you to read more about it and my memories too.

Concord Grape Jelly x My Family

Most Labor Day’s I go to my Daddy’s house and make concord grape jelly.  He has a grape vine at the bottom of the hill that we use to grow the grapes.  I remember riding bikes and running up to the grape vine and pulling them off and eating them by the bunch as a kid.

For as long as I can remember, concord grape jelly has been a must in the house.  My daddy always tells a story about my sister when we discuss grape jelly.  When we were growing up, my Mama made biscuits almost every morning.  My sister would come and grab a couple and put butter on them while my Daddy was in the shower. She said if she didn’t my Daddy would get the best biscuits. Haha!

My daughter, Hope and my Daddy have a running joke about grape jelly too.  He likes to tease and tell her that she can’t have any.  And she likes to swipe it and tell him it is hers.  In fact, earlier this year when my parents went to Chapel Hill, we sent them a photo of Hope eating a jelly biscuit with a caption that they left it unattended.  Then Daddy called to give her a hard time. 😉

Who Is Gonna Make It Now?

It is random the things you think about when someone passes away.  Of course you think all the obvious things, but then you think about the other things that sound super selfish, but really are just things you associate with someone.  My Mama passed away in March of 2019 and I still miss her terribly. Hope was crying one day shortly after and she blurted out, “Who is gonna make grape jelly?”.  We know she loves my Mama more than grape jelly, but is is something she associates with her and was so sweet to me.

I have made grape jelly in the past, but after her death it became more special.  It was a great day to spend time with my Daddy and do something that he always did with my Mama with me.  I went down early and we had breakfast and then Daddy went and cut the grapes.  We worked all morning and in the end we were rewarded with some of the best concord grape jelly you will ever taste.  I am sharing my Mama’s exact recipe for any of you that want to make this too.  I promise it is the best!

Concord Grape Jelly Recipe

Print Recipe

Sandy's Concord Grape Jelly Recipe

Author: Laura Mintz

Ingredients

• 6 cups Prepared Grape Juice See Below for Instructions
• 7.5 cups Sugard
• 1 box Sure Jell

Instructions

Making The Juice

• Hull 6 cups of grapes, but save the hulls.  Add 2 cups of water to the grapes and simmer for 5 minutes.  Once they have cooked for 5 minutes, pour the grapes and juice from the grapes through a folly mill.  Blend the hulls in a blender and add a little water.  Mix the grape juice and the blended hulls together.  This should produce 12 cups of prepared grapes/hulls.  If it isn’t quite 12 cups, add water until you get 12 cups.  12 cups is enough for two runs of grape jelly.

Concord Grape Jelly Recipe Instructions

• Place prepared juice in a large pot.  Measure sugar and set aside.  Stir Sure Jell into the fruit.  Bring to a full boil over high heat, stirring constantly.  Next, add all the sugar at once and keep stirring.  Bring to a full rolling boil, one that cannot be stirred down.  Boil hard for 1.5 minutes.  Sir constantly.  Remove from heat, pour into prepared jars, place lids on and tighten.  You can use whichever size jars you desire.  It will yield approximately 10 half pint jars per run. I was recently asked about a hot water bath to seal the lids.  Place your jars on a sheet pan in the oven at around 200 degrees and take them out right before the jelly is ready to pour.  Additionally, I boil the lids.  So you pour the hot jelly into hot jars and tighten with the hot lids.  They seal perfectly. Enjoy on biscuits, toast or PB&J sandwiches and more!

I would love to know if you try this recipe and what you think.  Be sure to post in the comments your favorite way to eat concord grape jelly.  I am partial to it on a hot biscuit with a lot of real butter.  I have linked all the items I use in this recipe for your convenience. Thanks for stopping by today!

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