Rosehip and Apple Jelly
Sweet, tart and wonderfully autumnal, Rosehip and Apple Jelly is full of the flavours of the fall. Perfect for serving with scones and whipped cream or alongside a cheeseboard with some tangy cheddar.
If you’ve been reading along for a while, you’ll know that I love foraging for food. From wild garlic for pesto in the spring to summer elderflowers for syrup, I get a real kick out of connecting with nature and exploring all the flavours the seasons have to offer.
In autumn, when I’m not hunting mushrooms in the woods, you’ll find me in the hedgerows picking rosehips and wild apples to make the deliciously tangy Rosehip and Apple Jelly.
About Rosehip jelly
This is such a beautiful jelly, a bright autumnal golden-orange. The apples give it a lovely soft set and the rosehips flavour the jelly with their zesty, tangy flavour.
It’s perfect for spooning over whipped cream smothered scones or served with a sharp cheddar on a cheeseboard. It also makes a fabulous and unique gift.
Harvesting Rosehips
Rosehips, those bright red jewels of the roadside, are everywhere at this time of year, and all species of rosehip can be made into jelly. When harvesting, wear gloves to protect from thorns and cut the rosehips from the bushes with a small pair of scissors.
It’s traditional to pick the rosehips after the first frost, as once frozen they give out more juice. I find it is easier to keep them in the freezer for a night or two to imitate a frost instead.
Which apples are best for jelly making?
Around these parts, we are lucky enough to have plenty of apples growing wild, as well as a few old fashioned apple trees in the orchard. If, however, you can’t get your hands on crab apples, be sure to use a tart variety such as granny smith to get the maximum amount of jelly-setting pectin from the fruit.
More jelly making tips
To ensure you get a beautifully clear jelly it is important to stick to the rules and leave the fruit pulp to drain undisturbed. As tempting as it is, squeezing the fruit will make the jelly cloudy so leave the bag in peace.
A last and very important tip: don’t touch the fine hairs inside the rosehips! They are a skin irritant and were once used to make itching powder! The jelly bag or muslin will strain them out of the finished jelly.
Have you tried cooking with rosehips before? Let me know in the comments below! xJ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I know if the Jelly will set?
u003cstrongu003eJams and jellies reach setting point at around 105°C/220°F. u003c/strongu003eIf you do not have a thermometer you can use the traditional method to test the set of the jelly. Before you start to cook, place 3 small saucers into the freezer. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eWhen the jelly mixture has been boiling for 10-12 minutes, place 1 tsp onto one of the chilled plates. Wait for 30 seconds and then push it with your finger. If it wrinkles the jelly will set. If not continue to boil the jelly, checking every three minutes.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003cstrongu003eIt’s important to remember that jelly will be quite liquid until it has completely cooled, up to 48 hours!u003c/strongu003e
How long does Rosehip and Apple Jelly keep?
At least a year in sterilised jars, kept in a cool, dark place.
How can I sterilise jars for jelly making?
Wash the jars in hot soapy water, rinse well, then place in a baking dish in the oven at 120°C / 250°F for 10 minutes. Pour boiling water over the lids.
Rosehip and Apple Jelly Recipe
Rosehip and Apple Jelly
Sweet, tart and wonderfully autumnal, Rosehip and Apple Jelly is full of the flavours of the fall. Perfect for serving with scones and whipped cream or alongside a cheeseboard with some tangy cheddar.
Ingredients
- 1 kg 2 lb. green apples
- 500 g 1 lb. rosehips, topped and tailed
- approx. 400g, 1 + ¾ cups white sugar
Instructions
- Roughly chop the apples and place in a large, heavy-based saucepan with enough water to cover. No need to peel them, use the skins, cores and all. Pulse the rosehips in a food processor until broken down, then stir through the apples in the pan.
- Heat the mixture until boiling, then turn the heat down and simmer for 30-40 minutes until the apples are pulpy. Line a colander with muslin or cheesecloth or prepare a jelly bag. Pour the fruit pulp and any liquid into the prepared strainer and let the liquid drip into a bowl for several hours. It’s often best to do this overnight so you can resist the urge to squeeze the bag or cloth – squeezing the bag or cloth will lead to cloudy jelly.
- When the fruit pulp has drained, measure the liquid. For every 600ml liquid weigh out 400g of sugar and add both to a large, heavy-based saucepan. Heat gently, stirring to dissolve the sugar, then turn the heat up and boil until the mixture reaches 105°C / 220°F on a sugar thermometer (see notes for alternative method).
- Pour the hot jelly mixture into hot, sterilised jars and seal.
Notes
Jams and jellies reach setting point at around 105°C/220°F. If you do not have a thermometer you can use the traditional method to test the set of the jelly.
Before you start to cook, place 3 small saucers into the freezer. When the jelly mixture has been boiling for 10-12 minutes, place 1 tsp onto one of the chilled plates. Wait for 30 seconds and then push it with your finger. If it wrinkles the jelly will set. If not continue to boil the jelly, checking every three minutes.
If you find yourself with 500ml of juice, top it up with water or apple juice rather than reducing the sugar.
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Nutrition
Serving: 1tsp | Calories: 52kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g
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Can you be a little more specific about what the yield of this recipe is? The recipe currently says “3-4 small jars.” Are those 8 oz jars, or 16 oz jars?
Hi Ben! The yield in this recipe is around 3-4 8 oz. / 225ml jars. Thanks for catching this and I will update the recipe to be more specific! J.
Thanks for your lovely recipes. I was wondering the best time to harvest…?when they are fully ripe or just showing some colour. Some hips I have are from red roses & some from white…Does the colour…change the flavour…and have you a pickle recipe. Many thanks Sue J.
Hi Sue! Thank you for your very kind words! The very best time to harvest hips is when they are super ripe. Traditionally they are harvested after the first frost, but you can cheat this by putting them in the freezer after you’ve picked them, that way you get a lot more juice out of them as the cells have broken down. Your roses sound lovely! The colour of the rose shouldn’t alter the flavour at all. I am planning on making a pickle out of them in the autumn here in Italy, but I saw this recipe that looks good: https://www.castellocheese.com/en/recipes/pickled-rosehips-with-hazelnuts/ although I would replace the vanilla with more traditional pickling spices. Allspice would likely pair well with hips! J.