Watermelon Jelly

Watermelon Jelly—Summer in a Jar! 🍉

Okay, so who doesn’t LOVE watermelon in the summer, right? But like, what if you could turn all that juicy goodness into jelly? I mean, c’mon, it’s the ultimate sweet treat that’ll have everyone saying, “No way you made this!” It’s so easy, you’ll want to whip it up all the time.

Okay, Let’s Talk Ingredients

Alright, picture this: you’re at the grocery store, and you wanna make this jelly that’ll knock everyone’s socks off. So, grab yourself:

– 4 cups watermelon juice (I usually just blend it up and strain it—like, super easy)
– 4 cups sugar (yeah, I know, it sounds like a lot, but it’s jelly!)
– 1 box low-sugar pectin (trust me on this one, regular pectin is a sugar bomb)
– 1/4 cup lemon juice (adds that zing—don’t skip it!)

You got all that? Sweet! Now let’s get to the fun part.

So Here’s Why I Make This Constantly

Okay, little backstory time. So last summer, I bought this gigantic watermelon because I thought I’d be that person who slices it up for BBQs. Spoiler alert: I ended up with too much watermelon! You know how it goes—life happens, and suddenly you’re staring at half a watermelon wondering what to do. 🤔

So, I googled “what to do with leftover watermelon” and stumbled upon watermelon jelly! I was like, “Why not?” I followed the recipe and ended up with jars and jars of this delicious jelly. My family couldn’t get enough! We spread it on toast, pancakes, you name it. It just became my go-to summer recipe, and now, I’m basically the Watermelon Jelly Queen. 👑

The One Trick That Changes Everything

Alright, listen up! The secret here is all about the cooking time. Watermelon has a ton of water, right? So it might take longer than you think to reach that perfect jelly texture. I learned this the hard way—first batch turned into soup because I got impatient! 😩 Just keep stirring and keep an eye on it. Aim for that rolling boil for 1-2 minutes before adding the lemon juice. It’s a game changer, I swear.

Don’t Mess This Up (My Top Tips)

– Start checking at 18 minutes. Don’t be like me and wait until 30 minutes. You’ll be sorry.
– Use a candy thermometer if you have one! It’s super handy to know when you hit 220°F.
– Don’t leave out that lemon juice! It balances the sweetness and makes it pop. Seriously, it’s like, *chef’s kiss* perfection.

How to Keep Them From Disappearing (Or, How to Store Them)

So, if you’ve got any leftovers (which, let’s be real, is a big “if”), just seal them in those cute little jars and keep ’em in the fridge. They should last a few weeks, but honestly, they probably won’t last that long. (I mean, who can resist delicious watermelon jelly?!)

If You Liked This, You’ll Probably Like These Too

If you’re vibing with this jelly thing, you gotta try making strawberry jam next! Or maybe a peach preserves? Totally different but equally yummy. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.

So, what about you? Have you ever made jelly or jam? What flavors are you into? I’m always looking for new ideas! Let’s chat! 🍉💖