Fruit Jellies Recipes

PINA COLADA FRUIT JELLIES

Steps:

• Spray an 8x8-inch baking dish with non-fat cooking spray. Place dish in refrigerator.
• Combine granulated sugar, applesauce, pineapple-flavored gelatin, unflavored gelatin, lime juice, and coconut extract in saucepan.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for about 1 minute. Remove saucepan from heat, and cool at room temperature for about 10 minutes. (Do not pour boiling hot liquid into a chilled glass dish.)
• Remove baking dish from refrigerator, and pour warm mixture into the cooled baking dish. Refrigerate until firm, 1 to 2 hours.
• When firm, remove from refrigerator, lift one side with a spatula, and turn out onto a cutting board or parchment paper sprinkled with granulated sugar.
• Using a sharp knife, cut gelatin into squares or use a small cookie cutter for decorative shapes. Coat the jellies on all sides with sugar. Place on a rack, and allow to dry overnight.
• Store in an airtight container.

FRUIT JELLY CANDIES

Steps:

• Spray two 8-inch square pans with vegetable-oil spray. Prepare flavoring.
• In a 6-quart saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over 2 cups water; let gelatin soften for about 3 minutes. Add granulated sugar and citric acid. Heat slowly over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until sugar has dissolved, about 10 minutes. Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to remove any sugar crystals.
• Increase heat to high; bring gelatin to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and boil gelatin, without stirring, 15 minutes. The syrup needs to be watched while it boils; if it starts to turn dark tan before the 15 minutes, it is ready. Remove from heat.
• Let stand for 5 minutes while bubbles dissipate; some white foam will remain. Whisk in flavoring. Without scraping pot, pour evenly into prepared pans. Let stand, uncovered, for 24 hours. Unmold, cut into 1-inch squares or other desired shapes; roll in superfine or confectioners' sugar, and serve.
• Whisk together 1/4 cup red-currant jelly, sieved to remove seeds and 1 tablespoon rose water in a small bowl.
• Chop 4 ounces dried apricots medium fine, place in a small saucepan, and add 1 cup water.
• Cover, and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium low, and cook, covered, until water has been absorbed, 10 to 20 minutes. Transfer apricots to a food processor. Process to a fine puree. Transfer to a bowl, and add 1 tablespoon or apricot oil or orange-flower water.
• Place 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries and 1 cup water in a saucepan; cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, and cook until water has been absorbed, 10 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer to the bowl of a food processor. Process to a fine puree. Transfer to a bowl. Whisk in 1 tablespoon orange-flower water and 1 cup dried cranberries.
• Place 6 ounces dried figs, chopped medium fine, in a small saucepan, add 1 cup dry red wine and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, and cover. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium low, and cook for 15 minutes, until most of the liquid has been absorbed.
• Transfer to the bowl of a food processor, and puree. Transfer to a bowl, and stir in 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract.
• Mix together 1/2 cup boysenberry or grape jelly and 1 tablespoon pure anise extract or oil in a small bowl.
• Chop 8 ounces dried pineapple medium fine. Place in a saucepan with 1 cup water; cover. Bring to a boil. Cook over medium-low heat until most of the water has been absorbed, 15 minutes.
• Transfer to the bowl of a food processor; process until mixture is as smooth as possible. Transfer to a small bowl, and mix in 1 tablespoon lemon oil.

CRANBERRY-PEAR FRUIT JELLIES

Steps:

• Rinse pan with water and shake dry. Line bottom and sides of pan with plastic wrap, pressing into bottom and corners of pan to smooth. (Water helps the plastic wrap adhere.)
• Quarter and core pears, then cut into 1/2-inch pieces. (Do not peel.)
• Bring pears, cranberries, water, 2 3/4 cups sugar, butter, and cinnamon stick to a boil in a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and pears are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Remove and discard cinnamon stick, then carefully transfer hot mixture to a food processor and purée until smooth, about 1 minute. (Mixture will be thick). Force through a medium-mesh sieve back into same pot, pressing on solids with back of a spoon and discarding solids.
• Put a plate in freezer to chill.
• Bring cranberry mixture to a boil over high heat and add pectin. Reduce heat to moderate and cook, stirring frequently, until very thick and pastelike, about 45 minutes. To test, remove from heat, then drop a teaspoonful on chilled plate and chill in freezer 1 minute. Tilt plate: Mixture should remain in a firm mound and not run. If mixture runs, continue cooking and stirring and repeat test every 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and immediately pour mixture into prepared pan. Gently tap sides of pan to smooth top and eliminate any air bubbles.
• Cool to room temperature, at least 1 hour, then cover surface directly with plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 1 week.
• Unmold fruit mixture onto a cutting board and remove plastic wrap. Cut into 1-inch squares using a sharp knife. (For easier cutting, rinse knife with hot water, then dry it between cuts.)
• Just before serving, spread remaining cup sugar in a shallow bowl and coat squares on all sides.

FRUIT JELLIES

Steps:

• Place 2/3 cup juice in a small bowl or measuring cup and sprinkle with gelatin. Let sit 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine remaining 2/3 cup juice and 1 1/2 cups of the sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high and cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves, 5 minutes. Add preserves and whisk to combine. Return to a boil and cook until thick and syrupy, 2 minutes. Add gelatin mixture and whisk until gelatin dissolves. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into an 8-inch square baking dish. Refrigerate until set, 3 hours (or up to 2 weeks).
• Place remaining 1 cup sugar in a pie plate or shallow bowl. Cut fruit jelly into 1-inch squares. Toss in sugar to coat just before serving.