Monday, October 19, 2009

Corn Cob Jelly

This old fashioned recipe recalls a time when people couldn't afford to be as wasteful as we often are today.

When I mention corn cob jelly people often wrinkle their nose as if I must be talking about something poisonous. Some of the finickiness that our society has developed is unfortunate because, quite frankly, corn cob jelly tastes good.

I always make it with the red cobs that come from dent corn (the type of corn that is fed to cattle and squirrels). As an Iowa girl, I have fields full of dent corn all around me. If you are not lucky enough to have a corn field outside your back door, you can get some corn that is sold for squirrels and shell it.

I have seen recipes that call for the cobs from sweet corn, but I have never tried it. I imagine that it would still have the hint of corn taste in it, but I am not sure what color it would be, since sweet corn has white cobs. Perhaps I should try it some time and see what it is like.


This is based on a recipe from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Cooking.

Corn Cob Jelly
(Yield is about 4 half-Pint Jars)
(Printable Recipe)

12 red corn cobs
6 cups water
3 cups sugar
1 package powdered pectin

Break cobs in half. Add water and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain in a damp Jelly Jelly Strainer. If necessary, add enough water to make 3 cups of liquid. Add sugar and bring to a rolling boil. Add pectin and return to a rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute. Fill hot canning jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Add lids and process in a water bath for 10 minutes.

High altitude instructions
1,001 - 3,000 feet : increase processing time by 5 minutes
3,001 - 6,000 feet : increase processing time by 10 minutes
6,001 - 8,000 feet : increase processing time by 15 minutes
8,001 - 10,000 feet : increase processing time by 20 minutes


15 comments:

  1. I almost want to say that my grandmother made this jelly, but I can't really say with certainty. If she knew about it, I am sure she would have because she was quite frugal, having endured the depression years.

    She used to make apple peel jelly. Every made it? It's very good!

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  2. I am not quite sure how to describe it, but I would say it has a kind of honey like taste and also has a bit of a corn taste to it.

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  3. I have never heard of this! I'd love to give it a try! :D The color is lovely as well.

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  4. This was one of my Mother's fall rituals - making Corn Cob Jelly. ;)

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  5. My grandmother talked about making this jelly! Once, I was telling her about allrecipes.com and how they pretty much have recipes for anything a person would want to make. Well, she said "I bet they don't have a recipe for corn cob jelly!" Yep, she was right...LOL!

    ~Tammy B.

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  6. I love the convenience of home canned stuff and chili is awesome.

    Work from home India

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  7. I would say it has a kind of honey like taste and also has a bit of a corn taste to it. how to grow taller

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  8. I made a similar recipe a few months ago and sadly it didn't gel. That rarely happens but is so frustrating when it does! It has a mild corn flavor but really tastes more like a mild honey than anything else. I made it in small jars to use as gifts with bread but will keep it to use a glaze for pork and such in the crockpot this winter.

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  9. Just made a sweet corn version of this...it has a translucent yellow color and a very mild flavor.

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  10. hmm I never tasted this jelly before. What does it taste like?

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  11. I have heard of this before, but it's been a long time. I've never tasted it, but I'm really curious.

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  12. I made some corn cob jelly today and an totally surprised at the result. Its yummy! Sort of a raspberry tang, and maybe a hint of honey. Its a keeper!

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  13. I've made this for my family in WA with sweet corn, added red food coloring and they loved it. It was in a cookbook sold by the local Chilerns Hospital. One of my son's wives took it and I've been lost without it!!
    I will make this for my family for Christmas this year. Thank you for publishing this OLD Depression Jelly!!!

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  14. How safe would it be using the corn sold for squirrels? Would it have a lot of chemical on it? Just wondering, thanks for a answer. I do love the pretty red color on it.

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