Extension > Food > Food Safety > Preserving and preparing > Fruits > Chokecherry jelly made from wild fruit
Chokecherry jelly made from wild fruit
Jelly is made from fruit juice and sugar. A gel structure will be achieved only if the mixture contains sufficient pectin. Often commercial pectin will be added to obtain this desired structure. Extraction of juice from the fruit is the first step in the preparation of fruit jelly.
- When extracting juice for pectin-added jelly use ripe chokecherries.*
- Wash the fruit in cool running water.
- Add water to cover the chokecherries.
- Bring to a boil in a covered stainless steel or enamel kettle and then simmer for 15 minutes, or until soft.
- Cool and strain through cheesecloth or a damp jelly bag.
- One pound of chokecherries will give close to 2 cups juice.
* When extracting juice from chokecherries, DO NOT crush the seeds. These seeds contain a cyanide-forming compound which can cause illness or death if eaten in large amounts.
Chokecherry jelly recipe
- 3 cups chokecherry juice
- 6 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 box (2 pouches) liquid pectin
- 1/4teaspoon almond extract (optional)
* The use of paraffin is no longer recommended. Minnesota Extension advises the use of two-piece lids.
References
- North Dakota University Extension Service
Revised 2011 by Lou Ann Jopp
Contact the Food Safety team: 
Thoughts on our website? 
