Well, the late lilacs are pretty much finished blooming here, and I’m just getting around to posting my recipe for lilac flower jelly, which I made…oh…nearly a month ago. Oops! Somehow things got away from me, and now the lilac blossoms are summer memories. There is a consolation, however: if you want to substitute another edible flower such as roses or peonies or fireweed for the lilacs, you can – the same amount of petals and preparation techniques apply. Have fun with it, and please let me know how your flower jellies turn out! 🙂
Lilac Flower Jelly
3 cups lilac flower petals
2 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 package liquid pectin
Follow standard canning procedure and sterilize 4 half-pint jars, lids, and rings.
Remove lilac flower petals from stems and wash thoroughly. Lay petals between a layer of unbleached paper towels and gently dry. Place petals in large pot and crush with a pestle or the back of a wooden spoon. Add water to pot and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat. Strain the petals from the liquid using a fine mesh sieve. The water won’t be a very attractive colour at this point – don’t panic! Put the petals aside to compost later. Place the liquid back into the pot and add lemon juice. Stir, and notice that the colour of the liquid will appear much more appealing.
Add the sugar and stir. Bring the contents of the pot to a boil. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add pectin and bring to a boil again. Boil hard another minute, and keep stirring all the while.
Remove from heat. Using a spoon, skim off the top of the jelly to remove any bubbles and foam. Pour the jelly into sterilized jars and cover.
Process jars in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes, adjusting for altitude.
Have you ever made or eaten edible flower jellies? Which ones are your favourites?
Flowery Prose 
This is very exciting to see. I love edible flowers. Have you made the peony jelly or ornamental cherry blossom jelly? I don’t have lilacs in my garden but later in the year I will have peonies.
I’ve made rose petal jelly using this same recipe, but not yet peonies. I don’t have any peonies in my garden, but they’re all in bloom now so I’m thinking I will beg some flowers from a neighbour or co-worker. A friend of mine made some lovely peony jelly last year, but I’m not certain how similar her recipe was to mine. My goal this year is to make fireweed jelly…the fireweed is just starting to bloom now so I have to go on a field trip to find some that hasn’t been sprayed with chemicals.
I hope you get a chance to try out this recipe using the flowers from your garden! 🙂
Do let me know if you do make some peony jelly. I don’t know fireweed; at least I don’t think so.
I will definitely keep you posted about my results! Here is a photo and some info about fireweed, perhaps you have it but call it something else: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamerion_angustifolium. It’s an extremely common roadside plant here, especially in the north and in the mountains. A large field of it is spectacular to see.
Thanks for the link. I don’t recognise it but what an incredibly useful plant. With all the bare sections exposed since our earthquake demolitions many interesting weeds and plants have arisen to colonise the bare earth. They are providing fascinating information to scientists who are interested in this type of regeneration after a disaster.
I can imagine that those pioneer species would be very useful to study. It is fascinating to see how the earth rebounds after such a catastrophic event, how new life quickly emerges.
I just made magnolia jelly….so delicate
Oh, I bet that’s wonderful!
I tried making peony jelly last year, but it didn’t set! I didn’t have time this year, but will save this recipe and try again next year! Thanks Sheryl!
You’re welcome – I hope this recipe works for you! I think it’s a bit tricky sometimes to get these jellies to set. I’ve used this recipe now with both lilacs and roses and it sets beautifully; I’m hoping to try it out on peonies and fireweed yet in the next couple of weeks. I’ll let you know if I have any special trouble with the peonies and have to tweak the recipe accordingly.
Thanks Sheryl!
Never heard of this. Probably would be great with elderberry flowers.
I think that would be a fabulous idea! I’ve missed the elderberry flowers for this year, but it will go on my list of to-do’s for 2014! 🙂
Sher, what did your lilac jelly taste like? The recipe I had was a bit different and they didn’t have much of a flavor. It also didn’t change colour when I put the lemon juice in like it was supposed to. Oh well, there’s always next year. I’m on the lookout for fireweed – and wild roses, we’re behind on those here. Might have to hit Mom and Dad’s place.
Quite tasty… but I must admit I’m a bigger fan of the rose petal jelly. Mine definitely changed colour with the addition of the lemon. I think, though, that the darker-coloured and more heavily-scented lilacs are the very best to use – as well, they have to be picked in peak. The lilacs I used were pale purple and white.
I’m obsessed with the idea of making fireweed jelly this year! I saw some fireweed last weekend at a nature sanctuary but of course I couldn’t pick any…. 😦 The wild roses are out in full force but I haven’t picked any yet…if I don’t hurry, I’ll miss them.
Are you doing up peony jelly again this year?
I think I might. Maybe Monday or Tuesday.
YUM! Thank you for sharing this…
You’re welcome! Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
Very interesting.I have them in my garden ,in white ,blue and purple.
They smellheavenly
They do have a glorious fragrance, that’s for sure!
This is the second year I have made peony jelly. It is wonderful ! My recipie is a little differnt, 5 c petals, 5 c water, 3 c sugar Juice ofn1 lemon, 1 pacer of pectin. It is beautiful, delicate and delicious. I like it on talk St or pork roast,but looking for other ideas!
Your recipe sounds really delicious – I am going to try it for sure! Thanks so much for sharing!
I have done dandelion jelly and am doing lilac this year.
Have made peony jelly and it comes out like syrup…h e l p?