Step 1: Prepare the fruit and peppers
Wash the apples, jalapeños, and bell pepper thoroughly.
Remove the cores and seeds from the apples and dice them into very small pieces.
Finely chop the jalapeños and red bell pepper. For a milder jelly, remove the jalapeño seeds and membranes. Leave some seeds in for more heat.
Step 2: Combine the ingredients
Place the diced apples, jalapeños, red bell pepper, apple juice, apple cider vinegar, and powdered pectin in a large saucepan.
Stir everything together.
Step 3: Bring to a boil
Place the saucepan over medium-high heat.
Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring frequently so the fruit doesn’t stick to the bottom.
Step 4: Add the sugar
Once the mixture reaches a full boil, add all 4 cups of sugar at once.
Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves.
Return the mixture to a rolling boil and boil for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Step 5: Check the consistency
Remove the saucepan from the heat.
The mixture will still look fairly loose while hot. The pectin will continue to set as the jelly cools.
If you’re making this specifically as a refrigerator jelly, don’t worry if it isn’t extremely firm immediately.
Step 6: Fill the jars
Carefully ladle the hot jelly into clean glass jars, leaving some space at the top.
Wipe the jar rims clean and allow the jelly to cool.
Step 7: Refrigerate
Once cooled, seal the jars and place them in the refrigerator.
Let the jelly chill for several hours, preferably overnight, so it can fully thicken and develop its flavor.
Step 8: Serve
Spoon the jelly over a block of softened cream cheese and serve with crackers for an easy appetizer.
It’s also delicious as a glaze for chicken, pork, grilled sausages, burgers, or roasted vegetables.
Storage
Because this version is intended as a refrigerator jelly, keep it refrigerated and use clean utensils when serving. For shelf-stable canning, use a tested canning recipe and follow the specified processing method rather than storing these jars at room temperature.
Tip: Honeycrisp apples give the jelly a wonderful crisp sweetness, while the jalapeños provide the heat. Adjust the number of jalapeños to create your perfect sweet-and-spicy balance.
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