Over the years, people have always been quite innovative when it comes to food. Once we started growing fruit, we didn’t stop there. We learned of ways we can use fruits to make things like jams and jellies.
If we always have the same thing to eat, we would get bored pretty easily. Even if you want to eat fruits or vegetables every day, you would want to make different types of dishes out of them. Variety in food keeps our appetite alive.
Toasting up bread with peanut butter and different jams is the best way to make a quick breakfast. Nowadays, people don’t have the time to make multiple food items in breakfast.
They prefer a light but nutritious breakfast that will help them stay energized till lunch. This is why peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are so popular.
Apple jelly has also become a popular food item, which is not only easy to make but serves the perfect substitute for jam. Some people use apple jelly for cake filling and it is also used with cheese and roasted chicken.
However, if you don’t have apple jelly and are looking for a substitute for it, we have got you covered!
Substitute For Apple Jelly
Substitutes are very important for when you can’t find an ingredient or can’t add it to your dish because of a food allergy.
However, just knowing about the substitutes is not enough. You should also be familiar with the kind of flavor a substitute will add to your dish. Knowing this will help you figure out which substitute will work with what kind of dishes.
The following substitutes can work in place of apple jelly:
1) Peaches
The first and foremost substitute for apple jelly is peaches; canned, or fresh, depending on your personal preference (and season).
This is an inexpensive choice. You can make peach jelly by following the recipe of apple jelly and using peaches instead of apples.
The flavor of peaches is sweet and delicious, which is why they make the perfect substitute of apple. This is because peaches have similar pectin as of apple.
Pectin is a natural thickener. You can optimize the sweetness or consistency level of the jelly by adding gelatin or cornstarch.
However, you need to keep in mind that consistency will be thickened when it’s cooled down. So, don’t add too much cornstarch or your jelly will become too thick and difficult to handle.
Some people are allergic to peaches and cannot use peach jelly as a substitute of apple jelly. There are also those who just don’t like the flavor of peach and wouldn’t want to add it to a cake.
But there’s no need to worry as peach jelly isn’t the only substitute of apple jelly. You can try the other substitutes from this list and see if they work out for you or not.
2) Cranberry
Those little red berries are a perfect substitute for apple jelly. So, if you are out of apple jelly, you can use fresh cranberry jelly, and the best part is that you don’t need any thickening agent.
This is because cranberries have suitable natural pectin proportion, so it will bring out the right consistency.
Cranberries are often called superfood because of their high antioxidant content. They have been effective in the treatment of urinary tract infection and other kidney problems.
Cranberry juice is also quite good for keeping yourself refreshed and energized. However, cranberries have a slight bitter taste.
To counter that, you will have to add a sweetening agent when making the jelly. If you don’t want artificial sweetener in your jelly, you can check out other substitutes from this article.
3) Jam It Up
When it comes down to finding the right substitute, you can use marmalades or jams because they are also made up of fruits. Jam tends to have a different consistency as compared to jelly and is strained out of fruits.
With that being said, you can still use jams and marmalades if you don’t have apple jelly available.
On the other hand, you shouldn’t use raspberry or orange marmalade because it might change the color of the dish (as compared to apple jelly). You can use apricot jam, which promises the perfect color.
Some people have been using blackberry jams to offer the perfect tinge flavor and aroma, and it works just fine (you will need to compromise on the appearance because blackberry has a dark color).
But before you add a jam to your dish, taste it yourself. If you don’t like the jam’s flavor, you shouldn’t use it in a dish either.
If you already have a favorite jam, you should use that in place of apple jelly as it will give your dish the taste that you like.
4) Jellies
Well, what can be a better substitute than using jellies for apple jelly, right? So, it is suggested that you use guava jelly because it offers a similar texture and appearance.
But if you cannot use guava jelly, using quince jelly seems like the right choice. Quince jelly can be used for glazing.
You can also use quince jelly in cakes or mix it with cheese for different dishes. But like jams, jellies also have different tastes.
So, you should try it yourself before you decide to use it in a dish. If you don’t like a jelly on its own, you wouldn’t like it in a dish either. So, it is best to use a jelly that you already like.
5) Apple Pie
If you don’t have apple jelly for your dishes, you can buy a small fried apple pie. Once you have the apple pie, you can scoop out the insides and use it as the substitute.
Personally, we don’t think that there is a better substitute than this. If you don’t end up using all of it, you can always eat the rest with a cup of tea.
If you are using apple pie, you won’t have to worry about the taste or texture as it is as close to an apple jelly as you can get.
6) Apple Butter
When it comes to apple butter, everything depends on the recipe. For instance, if you need a glazy surface, you cannot use apple butter.
On the other hand, if you are only trying to add apple flavor to the dish, you can easily use apple butter in place apple jelly.
In this case, it is important to note down that apple butter has nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon, which can impact the flavor.
If you have cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger allergy, you cannot use apple butter in place of apple jelly. You might also not like the taste of cinnamon.
However, you don’t have to worry as this isn’t the only substitute of apple jelly.
7) Canned Fruit
It doesn’t matter if you don’t have apple jelly; you can easily use canned fruit. So, if you want to use canned fruit as a substitute, follow the below-mentioned steps;
- You can take one tablespoon of pears, mandarin oranges, or peaches and take out one teaspoon of can syrup
- Put this in a bowl and use the fork to crush everything in a consistent appearance
- Add some cornstarch while heating the syrup in the saucepan to thicken it up
- Once the thickness is according to your preference, let it cool down and use it as a substitute for apple jelly
The good thing about using canned fruit is that you get the flavor of so many different fruits in one jelly. You can get a mixture of sweet and sour taste in your jelly.
You can use this jelly for cakes or as it is on bread. But it is important to follow the steps mentioned above when making the jelly or it won’t turn out good.
The Bottom Line
Everybody likes mixing salty and sweet food items. A sour dip works perfectly with salt crackers. Our taste buds are quite adventurous, which is why we are always experimenting with new recipes.
Jam and jellies are ideal for a quick but healthy breakfast as they are made with fruit. But no matter how delicious a jelly is, you may not be able to try it because of a food allergy.
Or maybe you have kids who don’t like a certain fruit in any form. Whatever the reason, you will need a substitute.
Dipping ham in apple jelly is one of the favorite snacks out there, right? So, be it cake filling or jam spread, apple jelly is a fine choice.
But if you don’t have apple jelly, you don’t have to worry that you will miss out on a dish. We have found the perfect substitutes that you can use when you don’t have apple jelly available or you are making something for a picky kid.
So, did you find the right substitute in this article? If yes, then you can make a cake with that substitute today and enjoy it with your family.