How to Make Black Currant Jelly | Easy Canning Recipe from Scratch!

It’s black currant season here in Nova Scotia, and this is one of my favourite ways to use these gorgeous tart little berries — a beautiful homemade black currant jelly! This jelly is crazy delicious and all my friends and family LOVE it! This video was actually filmed back in August 2022, and I’m so glad to finally share it with you. The timing couldn’t be more perfect, as we’ve just harvested this year’s currants too — and I figured instead of filming it all over again, I’d let this footage speak for itself. The method is simple, satisfying, and sooo delicious. When I filmed this blackcurrant jelly video a few years ago, I didn’t water bath process the jars, as I often used the old-school open-kettle method. Back in the day (including here in Canada), this was common — you’d pour hot jelly into hot jars, pop the lids on, and let the heat inside seal them. However, in recent years, I’ve changed how I do it — and here’s why: Lids have changed – The sealing compound on today’s flat lids isn’t as aggressive as it used to be, so extra heat processing helps ensure a strong seal. Mould risk – Even high-sugar products like jelly can develop mould on the surface if the seal isn’t perfect. Better success rate – A boiling water bath evens out the jar temperature, reducing failed seals. I know plenty of folks still skip the bath for jams and jellies (“my grandma did it for 50 years and no one died”), but modern testing — including Canadian Food Inspection Agency guidance — now leans on the USDA-style water bath method for long-term storage. So these days, I always water bath my jams and jellies (usually 10 minutes for half-pint jars). If a jar doesn’t seal and it’s been sitting overnight, the current safe recommendation is to reheat and reprocess it in a water bath. ------------------------- 💜 BLACK CURRANT JELLY RECIPE (No Pectin Needed!) Ingredients: Fresh black currants Water (just enough to cover the berries + 1 inch) Sugar (equal amount to juice) Instructions: 1. Rinse and clean your berries. 2. Add berries to a large pot and cover with just enough water to barely cover, plus about 1 inch more. 3. Cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes. 4. Strain the berries through a cheesecloth or jelly bag. (I use a fine colander and gently press with a spatula to extract more juice.) 5. Measure the juice. For every 6 cups of juice, add 6 cups of sugar. (Black currants are naturally high in pectin — you might get away with slightly less sugar, but equal amounts give the perfect set.) 6. Bring to a rolling boil. 7. Use the frozen plate test: place a spoonful of jelly on a cold plate — if it wrinkles when touched, it's ready! 8. Pour into sterilised jars, seal with lids and rings. Note: I didn’t water bath this jelly, but for longer shelf life and food safety (especially if storing outside the fridge), you may want to process jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Always refer to local guidelines when canning. 🫙 This jelly is amazing on toast, scones, or even as a glaze for meat. I hope you love it as much as we do! --- 📌 Grab My Cookbooks, Printables & Freebies: https://stan.store/simplysereneliving --- 🛍️ Products I Use & Love Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker 🍁 Canada: https://amzn.to/4578JH8 🌍 Outside Canada: https://amzn.to/3INEnSD Instant Pot – My Most Used (& Most Loved) Appliance 🍁 Canada: https://amzn.to/4f9WgHw 🌍 Outside Canada: https://amzn.to/45n7hSk Granite Ware 9-Piece Canner Kit 🍁 Canada: https://amzn.to/45haFNk 🌍 Outside Canada: https://amzn.to/41qCTnJ KitchenAid Artisan Series (5-Quart) 🍁 Canada: https://amzn.to/4ohY7Oz 🌍 Outside Canada: https://amzn.to/4laVZWe HiFan Jar Vacuum Sealer for Wide & Regular Mouth Mason Jars, Jar Sealer Kit 🍁Canada: https://amzn.to/46zpjlx 🌍 Outside Canada: https://amzn.to/3UJaB44 AeroGarden Harvest Indoor Garden Hydroponic System 🍁 Canada: https://amzn.to/4l2iCfb 🌍 Outside Canada: https://amzn.to/3UcDuWh The Amish Canning Cookbook: Plain and Simple Living at Its Homemade Best 🍁Canada: https://amzn.to/4l9OnmQ 🌍Outside Canada: https://amzn.to/3UGDZrL FURTALK Panama Hat Sun (This hat is a must for me when working in the yard and garden! I've also taken it on trips and it's very flattering when wearing dresses or even just shorts and a t-shirt.) 🍁Canada: https://amzn.to/40PpsO5 🌍Outside Canada: https://amzn.to/40PpuWd *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you when you shop through my links. Thank you for supporting my channel!* ---