How To Make Dandelion Jelly

When life hands you dandelions….you make dandelion jelly! Put those invasive and annoying dandelions to good use by making this delicate and delicious jelly that tastes like honey with a splash of lemon!

I love to watch cooking shows to see what kind of interesting and unique foods they make. A lot of times they will garnish their culinary creations with edible flowers to make the dish look and taste even more delicious.

Honestly, when I look at a dandelion, I definitely do not think about putting them on a plate to jazz up the dish nor have I ever thought of eating them in any manner.

I know that they’re the new hot food item – even superfood, according to some people. But, when I see them growing in my yard, the only thing I think to do is pull the weeds!

That is until NOW!

Turning Invasive Weeds Into Delicious Dandelion Jelly

This recipe is definitely worth trying. Let the kiddos help pick the flowers and prepare the petals for the jelly (they’ll love that job!).

Better yet, make a game out of it and see who can find and pick the most dandelions. 😉 You can also give them the job of being the official taste testers once the jelly is ready to eat too!

So, what do you think this jelly tastes like?

Did you know that dandelion jelly has a wonderful honey-lemon flavor?!?! That’s why it would be delicious on biscuits, sandwiches, crackers, ice cream or even add a spoonful to some yogurt. Yum, yum, and YUM!

Well, I know your curiosity is piqued, so what are you waiting for. 😁

If you are looking for more unique recipes, try my Spring Colored Deviled Eggs, Peanut Butter, Nutella & Banana Sushi Rolls, or Homemade Strawberry Honey.

Ingredients Needed for Dandelion Jelly

You only need a few simple ingredients for this dandelion jelly recipe! Gather these things:

• Dandelion Flowers – for this recipe, make sure you have removed all the green from the flower before you steep in hot water
• Boiling Water
• Granulated Sugar
• Fresh Lemon Juice
• Powdered Pectin – Sure Jell makes a powdered pectin
• 1/2 Pint Jelly Jars

How To Make Dandelion Jelly

Here’s how to make the dandelion jelly. Down below, I’ll also include instructions for canning the jelly.

Step 1

To begin, you will need to make a dandelion tea. Rinse the dandelion petals thoroughly making sure all the green is removed.

Step 2

Place the flowers in a large container. A glass jar or metal pot will work best.

Step 3

Pour the boiling water over the dandelions stirring lightly to make sure they are all covered with water. Allow to cool before putting in refrigerator and steep for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Sterilize The Jars

IMPORTANT: You will want to read all the directions before continuing on. This is so you can time the sterilization of the jars with the jelly-making process.

The sterilization process is in a section down below as well as in the recipe card instructions.

Step 4

Strain the liquid from the flowers using a cheesecloth, strainer or squeezing them with your hands.

If you use the cheesecloth, it will help provide a clearer jelly but a strainer works well too.

Step 5

Put the 4 cups of strained liquid into a large pot. Add lemon juice and pectin and stir. Stir in sugar and allow the mixture to return to boil. Stirring continuously, boil for 2 more minutes.

Step 6

Immediately ladle the mixture into the hot jars. Fill to 1/4 inch from the top of the jar to allow for expansion. Wipe any drips then place the flat part of the lid on top of the jar. Screw on the lid rings by hand.

Step 7

Place jars into the canning pot. Make sure the water is at least 1 inch above the jar tops once you have gotten all the jars in place. Cover the canning pot with a lid and bring to boil.

Boil for 10 minutes, turn off the heat, and remove jars. Allow the jars to cool to room temperature overnight to set up.

Sterilizing Jars

Before you can ANYTHING from dandelion jelly to pickles and more, you MUST sterilize the jars for safety reasons. Here’s how.

Step 1

Place jars and lids in a canning pot with a rack in the bottom.

Step 2

Cover jars with hot water making sure the jars are filled with water. Make sure water is about 1 inch over the top of the jars. Place lid on the pot, bring water to a simmer, and heat for 10 minutes.

Step 3

Take jars out of the canning pot and make sure the water is drained out of them. Dry the rings and discs.

NOTE: You will want to time this step making sure the jars are still hot when you are ready to pour the jelly in the jars. The jars could break if too cold.

Step 4

Pour jelly into the jars and use the disc and ring to close the jar tightly. It may take a couple of minutes for the lid to seal to the jar.

Step 5

After the jars have cooled, run your finger over the middle of the lid to make sure the jar has sealed.

If the lid curves down slightly, the jar is sealed. Lids that have a slight bubble in the middle did not seal. If you have jars that did not seal, put them in the refrigerator and use them immediately.

Step 6

Before storing the sealed jars of dandelion jelly, label them by simply writing on the lid or making a label noting what is in the jar and the date.

Recipe Notes And Tips

• If you do not have a canning pot available, turn a round cake pan or tart pan upside down and place in the bottom of a large deep pot. The jars must be sitting on something other than the bottom or the pot or they will get too hot and burst.
• Make sure that all the green is removed from the dandelion petals before using or freezing. The green parts of the dandelions have a bitterness to them that may carry over into the jelly.

Dandelion Jelly Variations To Try

I was surprised to find so many different variations of dandelion jelly. Here are a few fun options you might try once you have mastered this recipe:

• Dandelion Lavender Jelly
• Dandelion Jelly with Honey
• Sugar-Free Dandelion Jelly
• Dandelion Jelly with Vanilla

Dandelion Syrup is another intriguing option you might want to look into as well.

FAQs

If you’ve never made homemade jelly or made anything with dandelions, you may have questions. Check out these common questions!

Is dandelion jelly safe to eat?

Absolutely! It is delicious and tastes similar to honey.

What are the health benefits to dandelion jelly?

There are many potential health benefits to dandelion jelly. It contains potent antioxidants, may help control blood sugar, reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure and promote healthy liver just to name a few.

What is the best method getting all the green off the dandelion petals?

Try tearing each flower in half and then pulling the yellow petals away from the green stem part making sure to remove all the green as you go.

What is the best time of year to pick dandelions?

Dandelions bloom in the spring and the fall. Picking them right after they have bloomed is ideal.

Can I freeze dandelion petals?

YES!!! Freeze the petals until you have enough or are ready to use them. It is best to store them in a freezer bag and keep them frozen for up to 6 months.

Here Are More Fun DIY Recipes to Try

If you love this dandelion jelly recipe, don’t leave without checking out these other recipes too!

• Homemade Chunky Applesauce
• Minty Orange Sugar Scrub Bars
• Homemade Strawberry Honey
• Homemade Hummingbird Food Recipe

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