Scuppernong or Muscadine Jelly

Muscadine, or Scuppernong, Grapes

john harding photography / Moment Open / Getty Images

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 55 mins
Total: 70 mins
Yield: 3 to 4 pints

This is an old-time muscadine jelly (or scuppernong) made without pectin. 

Muscadines and scuppernongs are wild grapes native to the Southeastern U.S. The grapes are larger than the grapes you find in your local market. They're about 1 1/2 inches in size. Another difference is the skin. It's rather thick and tough. They are usually ripe in September and October.

The flavor is fantastic. The grapes can be enjoyed raw, though you'll probably want to discard all but the delicious juice. Muscadine jam and jelly along with homemade wine are the most popular ways to enjoy the grapes

Ingredients

  • 4 quarts ripe scuppernong, or muscadine grapes

  • 3 cups sugar

  • Yellow food coloring, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Stem and wash grapes. Mash and place in a pot with water to cover. Simmer for 20 minutes.

  3. Press juice out through a colander, then strain through cheesecloth.

  4. Pour 4 cups grape juice back into pot and heat to boiling. Boil juice for 5 minutes.

  5. Meanwhile, heat sugar in a pan in a 200 F oven.

  6. Pour sugar into juice and cook over medium heat until it reaches 220 F on a candy thermometer.

  7. Skim off foam.

  8. Pour into hot, sterilized jars and seal (wipe jar mouths with a paper towel moistened with boiled water).

  9. Process in boiling water bath for 15 minutes. Check seals.

Tip

  • If making scuppernong jelly, you can add a few drops of yellow food coloring after you skim off the foam and before you transfer to canning jars, to make it more colorful.

Tests for Jelling Point

  • Temperature: Attach a candy thermometer to the pan and cook the jam to 220 F, or eight degrees above the boiling point depending on altitude. For every 1,000 feet of altitude above sea level, subtract two degrees. 
  • Freezer Test: Put two or three small plates or saucers in the freezer. Near the end of the cooking time, begin to test. Drop a small dollop of jam on an ice-cold plate. Put it back in the freezer for about 2 minutes. If the jam forms a "skin" and wrinkles slightly when gently prodded with your fingertip, the jam is done. If it is still runny and your finger easily makes a trail through it, test again in after few more minutes.
  • Cold Spoon Test: Put several flatware spoons in the refrigerator. Dip a cold spoon into the boiling mixture and lift it over the pan. Let it run off the spoon. When a few drops come together and "sheet" off the spoon, the jam is done.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
4390 Calories
17g Fat
1,105g Carbs
29g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories 4390
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 42mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 1105g 402%
Dietary Fiber 142g 505%
Total Sugars 599g
Protein 29g
Vitamin C 236mg 1,179%
Calcium 1349mg 104%
Iron 10mg 54%
Potassium 7378mg 157%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)