Lactose Free Pepper Jelly
Sweet, spicy, and impossibly glossy, this pepper jelly hits every note — tangy from apple cider vinegar, bold from fresh jalapeños, and beautifully balanced by a generous measure of sugar. The combination of red and green bell peppers gives it that jewel-toned color that looks stunning on a charcuterie board or spooned straight over a cracker. Naturally free of any dairy, it's one of those recipes where the ingredient list does all the heavy lifting without any substitutions required. The heat level is entirely in your hands — leave the jalapeño seeds and ribs in for a serious kick, or strip them out for something more crowd-friendly. Liquid pectin keeps the process straightforward, and the proper water bath canning method means you'll have shelf-stable jars ready to gift, serve, or hoard for yourself. Once those lids pop and seal, you've got a pantry staple that works as a glaze, a dipping sauce, or a condiment that quietly steals the show at every gathering.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 1 ½ cups red bell pepper, finely minced (about 2 medium peppers)
- ½ cup green bell pepper, finely minced (about 1 small pepper)
- ½ cup jalapeño peppers, finely minced (about 4–5 jalapeños, seeds and ribs removed for medium heat or kept for more heat)
- 6 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 pouches (3 oz total) liquid pectin
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Sterilize 6 half-pint (8 oz) mason jars by submerging them in a water bath canner or large stockpot filled with water, bringing to a boil, and boiling for 10 minutes. Keep the jars in the hot water until ready to fill. Place the lids in a small saucepan of hot (not boiling) water to soften the sealing compound.
- 2
Pulse the red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and jalapeños in a food processor until very finely minced — pieces should be no larger than 1/8 inch. Measure the minced peppers after processing; you need exactly 1 1/2 cups red bell pepper, 1/2 cup green bell pepper, and 1/2 cup jalapeño. Adjust quantities as needed.
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