Christmas jelly

Ingredients for 1 servings:

• 1 liter orange juice, preferably freshly squeezed or direct juice
• 1 liter grape juice, preferably direct juice
• 100 ml lemon juice (approximately the juice of one large lemon)
• 100 ml red wine
• 1,500 g gelling sugar, 2:1 (3 packs)
• 1 lemon(s), zest
• 1 orange(s), zest
• 1 stalk(s) cinnamon
• 5 carnations
• 2 star anise

Instructions

Working time approx. 30 minutes; Rest time approx. 12 hours; Cooking/baking time approx. 4 minutes; Total time approx. 12 hours 34 minutes

Spicy-fruity jelly with mulled wine flavor made from various juices

The jelly should be made the day before so the spices can infuse. Mix the ingredients the day before. Pour the orange juice, grape juice, and red wine into a large pot with the gelling sugar (2:1, 1500g total). Grate the zest of the orange and lemon and add it. Squeeze the lemon—this should yield about 100ml—and add the juice as well. I always put the spices in a tea bag so you don’t have to fish them out individually when filling the jar. Break the cinnamon stick in half and place it in a tea bag with the cloves and star anise, then hang it in the mixture. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then let it stand overnight. The next day, heat while stirring and boil briskly for 4 minutes. Caution: Danger of overflow—please use a really large pot that only fills about halfway with the cold ingredients! After 3-4 minutes, you may want to do a set test. Drop a spoonful of the mixture onto a cold plate; if it sets after a short time, it’s ready. Then pour the mixture into the hot, rinsed jam jars. I always use a sieve when filling the jars to prevent any spices or zest from floating around in the jelly. This makes the jelly wonderfully smooth. Screw the jars tightly shut and only stand them upside down, turning them over after about 5 minutes. I actually only add the red wine for the dark color; the jelly should be a nice dark red. But it also tastes good with just juices, and the spices give it that typical mulled wine flavor. If you stick to the quantities, it will set really well. In jars labeled with gold pen, it makes a cheap yet lovingly crafted Christmas gift. But it would be a shame to give them all away. It makes about 12 0.25 l jars.