Simple Living With Nature

Grow Forage Cook Ferment logo
  • Grow
  • Forage
  • Cook
  • Ferment
  • Herbalism
  • Homestead
  • Start Here
  • Resources
  • Books
    • Healing Herbal Infusions
    • Wildcrafting Weeds
    • Simple Mead Making
    • Healing Kitchen Herbs
    • The Backyard Forest Garden
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact
  • Foraging Course
  • Subscribe!
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Home » Cook » Preserving » No Sugar Apple Jelly: Canning Recipe (Low Sugar or Honey Option)

No Sugar Apple Jelly: Canning Recipe (Low Sugar or Honey Option)

May contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my privacy policy and affiliate disclosure.

Originally published on October 6, 2020. Last updated on October 7, 2020

1.9K shares
  • 888
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

{This post is sponsored by Ball® Fresh Preserving}

Fall is the time for apples, and if you have an apple tree then that means a lot of apples! Even with just one tree in our backyard, we have so many apples that I have to preserve them in one way or another. This no sugar apple jelly is a great way to save that apple flavor through the rest of fall and winter!

an open jar of apple jelly with apples all around

Ball® Quilted Crystal Jelly Jars

Being a Ball® Canning Ambassador, I have a lot of canning jars, which is definitely not a bad thing!

One of my favorites are the Ball® Quilted Crystal Jelly Jars. These half pint jars are just so cute and perfect for jelly making!

The quilted pattern makes jelly look extra special, and they are great for gift giving.

a hand holding apple jelly in a ball quilted crystal jelly jar

How to Make No Sugar Apple Jelly

This no sugar apple jelly recipe is made using the pectin calculator on the Ball® Fresh Preserving website. This is a handy tool for knowing how much pectin to use for low or no sugar preserves.

It also calculates the ingredient amounts for different size batches of preserves. This is helpful if you want to make a smaller or larger amount of jam or jelly. It does the work for you!

Here is the pectin calculator apple jelly recipe I followed, using the amounts for four half pint jars.

Low Sugar or No Sugar Option

It’s up to you to decide if you want to add some kind of sweetener to this apple jelly or none at all. I made it without any added sugar. I think it’s delicious, but it is a bit on the tart side, as some of the apples I used were green and tart.

This recipe can be made with low sugar if you prefer, using up to one cup of sugar to make four half pints of jelly. If you don’t want to use traditional cane sugar, you could also use honey, coconut sugar, or another sugar substitute.

Adding some sugar also helps the jelly to set up, so without it the jelly may have a slightly softer consistency, which is fine by me.

Either way, you will need to use Ball® Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin.

a colandar full of green apples

Make the Apple Juice

The first step in making this apple jelly is to make apple juice. If you have an apple press, that is helpful, but it’s not necessary.

Alternatively, you can use prepared apple juice from a local farm, orchard, farmer’s market, or grocery store. If you go that route, I recommend using the highest quality juice that you can find, ideally without any other ingredients besides freshly pressed apple juice.

To make your own apple juice, you will need about 14-15 apples, or 2 1/3 pounds. Wash them well and remove the stem and blossom ends. Don’t worry about peeling or coring them, just cut them into chunks.

Combine the apple chunks and 3 cups of water in a saucepan. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Crush the chunks and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Strain the mixture through a dampened jelly bag or several layers of cheesecloth to extract the juice. An easy way to do this is to tie the jelly bag or cheesecloth to a wooden spoon, then place the wooden spoon over a large pot, allowing the juice to drip into the pot for 2-4 hours.

To make four half pints of jelly, you will need four cups of juice. Note that squeezing the jelly bag may cause the jelly to be cloudy. I had to do this in order to get enough juice, and while my jelly is a bit cloudy, it doesn’t bother me.

You will also need an additional 2/3 cup of unsweetened fruit juice. I used more apple juice, but feel free to use any juice that you prefer. Water works as well.

stirring the apple jelly mixture in a pot

Make the Apple Jelly

To make the apple jelly, first prepare your water bath canner.

Put the canning rack on the bottom of a large pot, then heat four half pint jars in simmering water until ready to use. Wash the lids in warm soapy water and set aside with the bands until you are ready to use them.

half pint jars in the water bath canner

Combine the prepared juice in a saucepan and gradually stir in the no sugar pectin. Bring the mixture to a full roiling boil that can not be stirred down, over high heat, stirring occasionally.

If you are using sugar, honey, or another sugar substitute, add that now and return the mixture to a full roiling boil.

Boil hard for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim any foam if necessary.

Using a jar lifter, lift one jar and place it on a towel or wooden cutting board. Ladle the hot jelly into a hot jar using a canning funnel.

Leave 1/4 inch of headspace at the top (the headspace measuring tool helps). Remove any air bubbles and wipe the jar rim.

measuring the apple jelly headspace

Center a lid on the jar and apply the band, adjusting to fingertip tight. Place the jar into the boiling water canner, then repeat the process until all of the jars are filled.

putting a jar of apple jelly into the water bath canner

Process the jars for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off the heat, remove the lid, and let the jars sit in the canner for 5 minutes.

Remove the jars with the jar lifter and let them cool for 24 hours. Check the lids for a seal, they should not flex when the center is pressed.

It may take up to 48 hours or longer for the apple jelly to set. It will set even more once it is placed in the refrigerator.

two stacks of two jars of homemade apple jelly

This apple jelly is so delicious! It is definitely the flavor of fall, which just happens to be my favorite season.

The best part is that it has no sugar (or low sugar)! That’s always a win in my book.

apple jelly with a spoon and a stack of two jelly jars

This no sugar apple jelly is perfect on a slice of buttered sourdough bread, spread on a homemade muffin, or even on top of a bowl of yogurt!

It’s a little bit tart, a little bit sweet, and full of wonderful apple flavor!

an open jar of no sugar apple jelly with a spoon

This is definitely one of my new favorite ways to preserve apples in the fall.

If you’ve already made enough apple butter or applesauce this season, give this apple jelly a try. You won’t be disappointed!

an open jar of apple jelly on a cutting board with apples

Here are some more easy and delicious canning and preserving recipes that I’ve done in collaboration with Ball® Fresh Preserving:

  • Strawberry Honey Butter
  • No Sugar Peach Jam
  • Green Tomato Salsa Verde
  • Kosher Dill Pickles
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Apple Jelly (No Sugar or Low Sugar)

This homemade apple jelly is so delicious! It is definitely the flavor of fall, and the best part is that it has no sugar (or low sugar)! This recipe makes 4 half pint jars of jelly.
Course Breakfast, Condiment
Cuisine American, European
Prep Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Canning Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Servings 32 servings
Calories 16kcal
Author Colleen @ Grow Forage Cook Ferment

Equipment

  • Medium Pot
  • Potato Masher
  • Stirring Spoon
  • Jelly Bag
  • Large Pot
  • Canning Rack
  • Canning Utensils
  • Ladle
  • Ball® Quilted Crystal Jelly Jars

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Apple Juice

  • 2 1/3 pounds apples (about 14-15)
  • 3 cups water

Apple Jelly

  • 4 cups fresh strained apple juice or prepared pure unsweetened apple juice
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened fruit juice or more apple juice or water
  • 4 Tbsp Ball® Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin
  • sugar, honey, or other sweetener up to one cup (optional)

Instructions

Apple Juice

  • Wash the apples well and remove the stem and blossom ends. Don't worry about peeling or coring them, just cut them into chunks.
  • Combine the apple chunks and 3 cups of water in a saucepan. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Crush the apple chunks with a potato masher and simmer for another 5 minutes.
  • Strain the mixture through a dampened jelly bag or several layers of cheesecloth to extract the juice. An easy way to do this is to tie the jelly bag or cheesecloth to a wooden spoon, then place the wooden spoon over a large pot, allowing the juice to drip into the pot for 2-4 hours.

Apple Jelly

  • Prepare the boiling water canner. Put the canning rack on the bottom of a large pot, then heat four half pint jars in simmering water until ready to use. Wash the lids in warm soapy water and set aside with the bands until you are ready to use them.
  • Combine the prepared juice in a saucepan and gradually stir in the no sugar pectin. Bring the mixture to a full roiling boil that can not be stirred down, over high heat, stirring occasionally.
  • If you are using sugar, honey, or another sugar substitute, add that now and return the mixture to a full roiling boil.
  • Boil hard for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim any foam if necessary.
  • Using a jar lifter, lift one jar and place it on a towel or wooden cutting board. Ladle the hot jelly into a hot jar using a canning funnel. Leave 1/4 inch of headspace at the top (the headspace measuring tool helps). Remove any air bubbles and wipe the jar rim.
  • Center a lid on the jar and apply the band, adjusting to fingertip tight. Place the jar into the boiling water canner, then repeat the process until all of the jars are filled.
  • Process the jars for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off the heat, remove the lid, and let the jars sit in the canner for 5 minutes.
  • Remove the jars with the jar lifter and let them cool for 24 hours. Check the lids for a seal, they should not flex when the center is pressed.
  • It may take up to 48 hours or longer for the apple jelly to set. It will set even more once it is placed in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • Squeezing the jelly bag may cause the jelly to be cloudy.
  • Adding some sugar helps the jelly to set up, so without it the jelly may have a slightly softer consistency.
  • The pectin calculator on the Ball® Fresh Preserving website is a handy tool for knowing how much pectin to use for low or no sugar preserves. It also calculates the ingredient amounts for different size batches of preserves.
  • Here is the pectin calculator apple jelly recipe I followed, using the amounts for four half pint jars.

Nutrition

Serving: 2Tbsp | Calories: 16kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g
  • Join My Free Foraging & Herbalism Email Course!

  • This will also subscribe you to the Grow Forage Cook Ferment newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please see my Privacy Policy.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Previous Post: « How to Bottle One Gallon of Hard Cider (or Mead)
Next Post: Fermented Honey Garlic »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mark Abercrombie-Booth says

    January 26, 2021 at 4:41 am

    Great recipes
    What is the shelf life of canned no sugar apple jelly

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      January 26, 2021 at 8:27 am

      12-18th months.

      Reply
  2. Alisa says

    December 22, 2020 at 1:54 pm

    5 stars
    Have you made this with no added sweetener? Just the apple juice and pectin? Is it sweet enough? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      December 29, 2020 at 9:17 am

      Yes, This recipe has no added sugar. Just juice from the apples and pectin.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hello there! I’m Colleen.

I want to inspire you to live seasonally, become more self sufficient, and protect your health. I share information on foraging and wildcrafting, fermenting and preserving, cooking whole foods from scratch, permaculture gardening, and making herbal products. And that’s just the beginning! Learn more.

CBD

Browse my homemade CBD recipes & how-tos

My Books

Winter Favorites

12 Ways to Preserve Citrus: Drying, Canning, Fermenting and more!

What to Forage in Winter: 30+ Edible and Medicinal Plants and Fungi

Homemade Infused Gin: Foraged Botanical Winter Spirits

30+ Conifer Needle Recipes: Drinks, Desserts, Syrups, Balms & More!

Popular Posts

How to Make Soap For Beginners + Calendula Soap Recipe

5 Easy to Identify Edible Mushrooms

10 Reasons to Grow Mint (Without Fear)

How to Make and Use Dandelion Salve

What to Forage in Spring: 20 Edible and Medicinal Plants and Fungi

how to make mead

How to Make a Gallon of Mead: A Simple Mead Recipe

How to Make Hard Cider: Homebrew it!

Fermented Honey Garlic

Mountain Rose Herbs
×

Join list.

More info

Footer

Explore

  • Grow
  • Forage
  • Cook
  • Ferment
  • Herbalism
  • Homestead

Learn To Forage

The gather + root online foraging course will help you to safely identify, harvest, and use common edible and medicinal plants with confidence.

Enroll Now

As Featured On

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Amazon Affiliate

Copyright © 2023 Grow Forage Cook Ferment & Cocos Creations LLC.

1.9K shares
  • 888