Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (2024)

This Easy Red Pepper Jelly makes an amazing holiday appetizer! Serve this jelly over cream cheese and serve on your favorite crackers. With fresh red peppers, green pepper and jalapeño, this Easy Red Pepper Jelly is perfectly sweet with just a little kick!

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (1)

All of our family and friend holiday parties are centered around food, especially appetizers! This Easy Red Pepper Jelly has always been a staple at our holiday parties.

One of my absolute favorite things about the holidays is going to holiday parties. I love spending time with family and friends, catching up and making new memories.

This Red Pepper Jelly can easily be adapted to fit the taste of your party guests. If you are worried about it being too spicy, you can always leave out the jalapeño.

Because the seeds are removed from the peppers, it takes away most of the heat. This Easy Red Pepper Jelly is actually really sweet!

We love serving this pepper jelly over a softened block of cream cheese with Ritz Crackers. The creaminess of the cream cheese goes perfectly with the sweet, red pepper jelly.

Ingredients needed to make this Easy Red Pepper Jelly:

  • 3red bell peppersseeded and minced
  • 1green bell pepperseeded and minced
  • 1jalapeno pepperseeded and minced
  • 1cupapple cider vinegar
  • 1.75ouncespowdered pectin1 package
  • 5cupssugar
  • 68 ounce Canning Jars
  • 8ouncescream cheesesoftened to room temperature
  • Ritz crackers

How To Make Red Pepper Jelly:

I was a little nervous to make this recipe because I have never canned anything in my life!

I was honestly so surprised how easy it was to make this Red Pepper Jelly! I originally planned on giving it away as neighbor gifts, but it was so delicious, I am considering holding onto to serve at all our upcoming holiday parties. Don’t tell my friends!

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (2)

I started by sanitizing my jars. You can use three 16 ounce jars or 6 8 ounce jars. If you are going to be making this Easy Red Pepper Jelly as a gift for friends, I would use smaller jars so you can share with more friends.

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (3)

Next, I minced my red bell peppers, green bell pepper and jalapeños after I had removed the seeds. Be sure to cut these as small as possible so no one gets a huge bite of pepper when they are eating it.

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (4)

I added my peppers to a large saucepan over medium-high heat and added a cup of apple cider vinegar.

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (5)

Mix in a package of pectin powder after you add the vinegar.

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (6)

Continue stirring until your pepper mixture comes to a rolling boil.

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (7)

Remove the pan from the heat, add your sugar and mix it in then place the pan back on the heat.

Turn the heat up to high and bring to a rolling boil while stirring constantly. Once you hit a rolling boil, let it boil for a full minute then remove from heat.

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (8)

Ladle the pepper jelly into your prepared jars. Keep in mind that the peppers will on be on the top, so be sure to evenly distribute the jelly so all of your jars have peppers in them.

Cover your jars with the flat lids and then screw the bands on tightly.

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (9)

Place the jars in a pan filled with hot water over high heat. You want to be sure your cans are completely submerged.

Bring the water to a boil, then let them boil for 5 minutes. It might be a little noisy, but that’s ok!

Remove the jars from the heat and let cool completely.

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (10)

I like to serve this Easy Red Pepper Jelly over a block of cream cheese.

It is easiest to eat when your cream cheese is softened to room temperature. You can dip crackers right into the cream cheese or serve with a spreader.

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (11)

Beware. This Easy Red Pepper Jelly is ADDICTING!

Want More Easy Dinner Ideas?

Join our email list today and we will send you a FREE ebook of our favorite dinner recipes – plus we will send you recipes each week to help make your dinner planning easier!

Join today by CLICKING HERE.

Have you checked out our YouTube channel? We show you how to make our favorite recipes right in our own kitchens!

Have you heard about our newest cookbook, Copycat Cooking? We took over 100 of our favorite restaurant recipes and simplified them so that you can make them right at home!

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (12)

This cookbook includes copycat recipes from Wingers, Texas Roadhouse, Starbucks, Panera, Cheesecake Factory, Kneaders, and so much more. We have you covered from drinks to dessert and everything in-between.

We are so excited to share these recipes with you. Order your copy today!

Six Sisters’ Stuff COPYCAT COOKING <—– Click here to order!

Love cooking as much as we do? Join our FREE private Facebook Group: Six Sisters’ Dinner Club!

Looking for other delicious appetizer recipes?

  • Easy Fresh Bruschetta
  • Individual Seven Layer Dips
  • Loaded Deviled Eggs
  • Loaded Sweet Pork Sheet Pan Nachos
  • Easy Blender Salsa

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (13)

Serves: 10

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe

This Easy Red Pepper Jelly makes an amazing holiday appetizer! Serve this jelly over cream cheese and serve on your favorite crackers.

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • 3 red bell peppers seeded and minced
  • 1 green bell pepper seeded and minced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and minced
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1.75 ounces powdered pectin 1 package
  • 5 cups sugar
  • 6 8 ounce Canning Jars
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • Ritz crackers

Instructions

  • Sterilize canning jars and set aside.

  • Prepare all peppers by seeding and mincing.

  • Place peppers in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.

  • Add apple cider vinegar and powdered Pectin.

  • Bring heat to high and stir constantly until you reach a rolling boil. Remove from heat once you reach a rolling boil.

  • Mix in sugar and return to pan to high heat.

  • Return to a rolling boil and let boil for 1 minute.

  • Fill jars with jelly until it reaches 1/4" from the top of the jar.

  • Screw lids on jars and place in a large pot filled with hot water. Be sure jars are completely submerged.

  • Heat water with jars over high heat until it reaches a rolling boil, then boil for 5 minutes.

  • Remove from heat and let jars sit in water until cool.

  • Check seals by pressing down on the center of the lid when cool. If the lid pops when pushed, it can be stored at room temperature, otherwise store in the refrigerator.

  • Pour jelly over cream cheese and serve with crackers.

Notes

  • Cream Cheese and Crackers are not included in Nutritional Information

Nutrition

Calories: 418 kcal · Carbohydrates: 107 g · Protein: 0.5 g · Fat: 0.5 g · Saturated Fat: 0.03 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 0.003 g · Sodium: 14 mg · Potassium: 119 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 102 g · Vitamin A: 1177 IU · Vitamin C: 57 mg · Calcium: 7 mg · Iron: 0.4 mg

Equipment

  • Canning Jars

  • Saucepan

  • large pot

Recipe Details

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Be sure to not miss another recipe! Follow Six Sisters’ Stuff Instagram|Facebook|Pinterest|YouTube

Join The Discussion

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Linda Anderson says:

    Can the red pepperJelly be frozen like freezer jam instead of canning it?

  2. Cyd says:

    We have only made this jelly as directed in the recipe.

  3. Nelson says:

    Tried this recipe today. Quite good and is very easy to make

  4. Xanne Briggs says:

    Hello Six Sisters, I read through your recipe, I am new to canning. However your instructions for canning state if the lid seal pops after boiling it is good for shelf. My understanding is you boil with seal on, rest overnight, if the seal pops when pressed it is not shelf ready , only refrigerator.Thank you Xanne Briggs

  5. D Kinlae says:

    DoesDoes anybody knowHow to make this sugar free?

  6. Amanda M says:

    Just finished a load of 12, 4 oz jelly jars. Going to be Christmas gifts. Taste to me is similar to the duck sauce you get at Chinese restaurants. This would also be good brushed on grilled chicken or pork. Thanks for the recipe!

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (14)

About The Author:

Contributor

This post was written by a past contributor of Six Sisters' Stuff. We appreciate all of the creative contributions that make Six Sisters' Stuff an amazing resource for families!

Read More

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy

No Bake Gingerbread Cookie Truffles Recipe

1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Homemade Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

12 Days of Christmas Traditions: Caramel Popcorn with Southern Lovely

Chicken Chili Con Queso Dip Recipe

1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Readers’ Favorite Recipes

Easy Baked Crack Chicken Recipe

30 minutes mins

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars Recipe

40 minutes mins

Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Peaches and Cream Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

20 minutes mins

Peach Cobbler Dump Cake {4 Ingredients} Recipe

50 minutes mins

Chicken Zucchini Casserole Recipe

55 minutes mins

Easy Red Pepper Jelly Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are red pepper jelly and hot pepper jelly the same? ›

It is typically served as a condiment and can be used as a glaze for meats or as a spread on crackers or bread. Some popular variations include hot pepper jelly made with spicy peppers, and red pepper jelly made with red bell peppers.

How to make jelly step by step? ›

Measure 1 tablespoon water and 1 ½ teaspoons powdered pectin for each cup of jelly or jam. Place in small saucepan and place over low heat, stirring, until the powdered pectin is dissolved. Add to the sugar and fruit mixture and stir until thoroughly blended (about 2 to 3 minutes). Pour into clean containers.

How do I thicken my pepper jelly? ›

Commercial pectin helps thicken jam made with low-pectin fruits, like blackberry jam, or vegetable jelly recipes, like pepper jelly. It comes in powder or liquid form, but the former is the most common. Add powdered pectin to the fruit juice, chopped fruit, or strained purée before heating the jam mixture.

How long does red pepper jelly last in the fridge? ›

The high amount of sugar in the jelly makes it a fail-proof recipe for hot water canning. Find instructions for that process included in the recipe below. But if you're not up for a canning project, do not worry! This jelly can easily be stored in the fridge for a few weeks or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

What are the ingredients in Trader Joe's red pepper jelly? ›

Hot & Sweet Pepper Jelly
  • tbsp. ( 20g )
  • Calories 50. Calories from Fat 0.
  • 0%
  • 4%
  • 0%
  • 0%
  • * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. INGREDIENTS: sugar, red & green bell peppers, water, red & green jalapeno peppers, distilled vinegar, green chili peppers, pectin.
Apr 29, 2024

Why is my pepper jelly not setting? ›

- Overcooking is a problem that, it destroys the gelling capacity of the pectin. That can occur when the fruit is being heated to extract the juice, or while cooking the jelly itself. Likewise, undercooking produces problems because the jelly is not sufficiently concentrated.

How to fix runny pepper jelly without pectin? ›

To remake cooked jam or jelly without added pectin, for each 1 L (4 cups) jam or jelly add 25 mL (2 tbsp) bottled lemon juice. Heat to boiling and boil jam or jelly hard 3 to 4 minutes, then test for signs of gelling.

Does lemon juice thicken jam? ›

Lemon is crucial to balancing those sweet flavors, but it also helps the pectin to firm up the jam. It can be added at the start of the cooking process or towards the end, but what must be taken into account is that adding liquids to the jam mixture will inevitably require the jam to cook for longer.

Why do you not refrigerate pepper jelly? ›

Jellies and jams do not need to go in the fridge because they have a water activity of around 0.80, and their pH is usually around 3. So they don't have enough moisture to support bacteria and are too acidic for them as well. Conclusion: Keep your jams and jellies wherever you want to.

Is red pepper jelly good for you? ›

Pepper jelly is more than just a delicious condiment; it also offers a range of health benefits, from the vitamins and minerals found in peppers to the pain-relieving and metabolism-boosting properties of capsaicin.

What do you eat pepper jelly with? ›

31 Ways to Eat Pepper Jelly
  1. Glaze on vegetables.
  2. Glaze on meats such as ham and pork chops.
  3. Glaze on chicken wings.
  4. Glaze on fish such as salmon, shark steaks and swordfish.
  5. Topping for cheese and crackers including goat cheese, smoked cheddar and brie as an appetizer.
  6. Mix pepper jelly with cream cheese for a dip.
Mar 11, 2018

How do you use hot red pepper jelly? ›

31 Ways to Eat Pepper Jelly
  1. Glaze on vegetables.
  2. Glaze on meats such as ham and pork chops.
  3. Glaze on chicken wings.
  4. Glaze on fish such as salmon, shark steaks and swordfish.
  5. Topping for cheese and crackers including goat cheese, smoked cheddar and brie as an appetizer.
  6. Mix pepper jelly with cream cheese for a dip.
Mar 11, 2018

What is red pepper jelly good for? ›

The most popular use is as an easy Hors D'oeuvre. Just place the jelly on cream cheese and serve with crackers. What could be easier! Try adding it to a saucepan with baby carrots and saute for a great side dish.

Why does red pepper jelly not set? ›

Generally speaking, if your jam doesn't firm up, you were short in pectin, sugar or acidity or didn't get a hard boil. We will correct that when we remake the jam or jelly! Finally, you CANNOT reliably make batches of jam larger than 6 cups of raw fruit (of course, but the time you add sweetener, lemon juice, etc.

Is red pepper jelly a southern thing? ›

Pepper jelly, with its unique blend of sweet and spicy, is truly a culinary gem of the Southern U.S. Its versatility, adaptability, and unrivaled flavor profile have carved out a special place for it in the world of food, from traditional Southern cooking to contemporary global cuisine.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Melvina Ondricka

Last Updated:

Views: 6532

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Melvina Ondricka

Birthday: 2000-12-23

Address: Suite 382 139 Shaniqua Locks, Paulaborough, UT 90498

Phone: +636383657021

Job: Dynamic Government Specialist

Hobby: Kite flying, Watching movies, Knitting, Model building, Reading, Wood carving, Paintball

Introduction: My name is Melvina Ondricka, I am a helpful, fancy, friendly, innocent, outstanding, courageous, thoughtful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.