Horizontal closeup photo of a jar of Fresh Strawberry Jelly.
Recipes » Gifts from the Kitchen » Jams, Jellies, and Chutneys

Fresh Strawberry Jelly (with free printable gift labels)

By Chris Scheuer | Updated on April 28, 2026
4.88 from 8 votes
This easy Strawberry Jelly recipe captures the fabulous flavor of fresh strawberries in a beautiful, jewel-toned condiment you'll want to enjoy on toast, biscuits, scones... everything!
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This easy Strawberry Jelly recipe captures the fabulous flavor of fresh strawberries in a beautiful, jewel-toned condiment you'll want to enjoy on toast, biscuits, scones... everything!

Every year when the local strawberry season rolls around, I feel compelled to incorporate the sweet crimson berries into recipes that be can enjoyed for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. I know, from experience, that it's a rapidly fleeting moment in time. So I make cakes, galettes, muffins, scones, salads, lemonade, jam, ... even pizza! This year I got the inspiration to make strawberry jelly. Although I love jam, there's something so beautiful about a jar of clear, sparkling, jewel-toned jelly.

Horizontal closeup photo of a jar of Fresh Strawberry Jelly in a Weck jar and on a homemade roll.

When the jelly was finished and the jars were lined up on the counter like little soldiers it was time for a taste test. Wow! This jelly truly captures the essence of strawberry flavor. And although we're thoroughly enjoying this strawberry jelly now, I know it will really be a delight on cold winter mornings when strawberry season seems like a wishful dream.

What's the difference between jam and jelly?

Some people use these terms interchangeably, but that's not really correct. I think Fine Cooking sums up the differences very concisely: "Jelly is a clear fruit spread made from cooked fruit juice and sugar, and possibly pectin, which helps it gel and thicken. ... Jam is a thick spread made from fruit juice, chopped, crushed, or puréed fruit, and sugar. Pectin may also be added to help it gel, but jams are usually looser than jellies."

I love that jellies really allow the color of the fruit to shine like jewels!

Vertical extreme closeup photo of a jar of Fresh Strawberry Jelly.

No canning skills needed!

You don't have to be an expert in canning techniques to make this strawberry jelly. It will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks. OR you can store it in the freezer for up to a year.

If you enjoy canning, that's another option. This strawberry jelly can be put through a traditional hot water bath. This takes a little extra time but ensures that the jelly is shelf-stable until it's opened. This is a great option if you don't have a lot of freezer space.

Apple in strawberry jelly?

In this Strawberry Jelly recipe, the strawberries are boiled in a cup of apple juice along with half of an apple. What in the world? Strawberries are super low in pectin. Apples are high in pectin. So in this recipe, we steal a little pectin from the apple juice and apple. The apple itself is strained out with the strawberry pulp but it ensures a good set.

A beautiful gift!

This strawberry jelly makes a gorgeous gift. Check it out:

We've created a free printable label PDF that we're happy to share with you. If you'd like to receive them via email, along with instructions on how to print them on your own printer, just let us know in the comment section at the bottom of this post.

This delicious jelly makes a wonderful gift for family, friends, neighbors, teachers, etc. I love to pair it with a plate of the No-Knead Potato Rolls pictured below.

Potato rolls in a bread basket with small dishes of jam, honey and butter.

Or serve it for breakfast with this No-Knead Brioche Bread.

Whether you decide to give it away or enjoy it yourself, don't let the season pass by without making a batch of this delicious Fresh Strawberry Jelly!

Strawberry Jelly in a small glass jar.

Café Tips for making this Fresh Strawberry Jelly

  • This recipe calls for one box (1.75 ounces or 49g) of powdered pectin. I use  SureJell which can be found in most grocery stores with the jam/jelly-making supplies (jars, bands, lids, etc.). It seems that every grocery stocks the jam/jelly-making supplies in a different section of the store so you might need to ask. You can also find it online.
  • Don't try to adjust the amounts of ingredients in this recipe. Making jams and jellies with pectin is an exact science and each recipe is designed around the amount of natural pectin that is in a given fruit. If you increase or decrease any of the ingredients you may end up with jam that either is too loose or too stiff.
  • The recipe instructs your to "bring the mixture to a rolling boil". What does that mean? A rolling boil is one that can't be stirred down - in other words, even when you stir, it continues to boil vigorously.
  • It might seem a little odd, to include a half teaspoon of butter in this strawberry jelly recipe. The small amount of butter helps to prevent a lot of foam from developing when the juice/sugar mixture boils. If you finish boiling the jam and you still see foam, you can always pour it through a fine-mesh strainer one more time.
  • You'll need a fine-mesh strainer for this recipe to strain the strawberry pulp from the juice. If you want really clear jelly, you'll also need some cheesecloth. Cheesecloth strains out every last little particle of fruit pulp and results in beautiful clear juice. Cheesecloth is sold at many larger grocery stores in the aisle with kitchen tools or in the aisle with rubber gloves and other cleaning utensils. You can also find it online. I wash my cheesecloth out after using it, let it dry and then store it in a ziplock bag until the next time I need it.

Thought for the  day:

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
Psalm 145:3


What we're listening to for inspiration:

A Thousand Hallelujahs

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Horizontal closeup photo of a jar of Fresh Strawberry Jelly.

Fresh Strawberry Jelly

Chris Scheuer
This easy Strawberry Jelly recipe captures the fabulous flavor of fresh strawberries in a beautiful, jewel-toned condiment you'll want to enjoy on toast, biscuits, scones... everything!
4.88 from 8 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 80 servings
Calories 44
PRINT PIN COMMENTS

Ingredients
 
 

For the strawberry juice:

  • 2 quarts fresh strawberries stemmed and sliced
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ cups 100% apple juice
  • ½ medium apple, unpeeled, cut into 4 pieces

For the jelly:

  • 3 cups strawberry juice
  • 3 cups sugar
  • ½ teaspoon butter
  • 1 package powdered pectin (1.75 ounces or 49g), I use SURE JELL

Instructions
 

For the strawberry juice:

  1. Combine sliced strawberries, sugar, apple juice and the apple in a medium-large pot over medium heat. Stir until berries begin to release their juice. Bring mixture to a boil and boil for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
  2. Drain the berry mixture through a fine strainer for 30-45 minutes until you have 3 cups of berry juice. For super clear jelly, line the strainer with several layers of wet cheesecloth. If you don’t have 3 cups of juice, add a bit of extra juice to equal exactly 3 cups.

For the jelly:

  1. Combine exactly 3 cups of strawberry juice, the pectin and the butter in a large saucepan (at least 6-quart size). Stir and bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute, watching carefully to keep the mixture from boiling up over the top of the pot and stirring occasionally. Add the sugar and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a full, rolling boil (that can’t be stirred down.) Boil for exactly one more minute, stirring constantly.
  2. Remove from heat and skim off any foam with a metal teaspoon. Ladle into clean jars, leaving ½ inch headspace at the top (if you’re planning to freeze the jelly as it will expand a bit in the freezer). Cover jars and allow the jars to sit at room temperature for 24 hours then refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or store in the freezer for up to 9 months.
  3. Jelly can also be processed with a hot water bath at this point, using these directions.

Notes

See Café Tips above in the post for more detailed instructions and tips to ensure success.
If you prefer to use Metric measurements there is a button in each of our recipes, right above the word “Instructions”. Just click that button to toggle to grams, milliliters, etc. If you ever come across one of our recipes that doesn’t have the Metric conversion (some of the older recipes may not), feel free to leave a comment and I will add it.
This recipe makes 5 cups of strawberry jelly. The number of jars will be dependant on the size of your jars.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoonCalories: 44kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.02gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gTrans Fat: 0.001gCholesterol: 0.1mgSodium: 1mgPotassium: 19mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 0.05mg
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Course: Breakfast, Breakfast/Brunch, Jams & Jellies, Lunch
Cuisine: American

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147 Comments

  1. Some of my family members prefer jelly over jam, thanks for another option for using my freshly picked fruit.

    Reply

    1. Hi Lynda, So glad to hear that this recipe works well for your family! The labels are on the way to your inbox - Enjoy!

      Reply

  2. Hi, it's me again. I would love to have the strawberry jelly labels. When I make jams, jellies or butters, I put labels on all of them. That way if I need a quick thank you gift for someone I can grab a jar or two to share. Thank you for sharing your time and talents.

    Reply

    1. Hi Laura, What a great idea to always use labels for jams, jellies, and butters so that they're ready-to-use as gifts! Thanks for sharing that thoughtful tip with us. The labels are on the way to your inbox - Enjoy!

      Reply

  3. Thank you for the strawberry jelly recipe. I have always made strawberry jam instead of strawberry jelly. But I am finding out some folks do not handle the seeds very well. I will be making this jelly today. Again thank you. (Please forward the label link, super nice of you to provide this label.) Teresa

    Reply

  4. Hello-
    Please send labels for your strawberry jelly recipe. I’m looking forward to sharing the jelly with family and friends. It’s almost time to pick strawberries in my area.

    Thank you so much and many blessings,
    Scherry

    Reply

    1. Hi Scherry, Thanks for your kind comments! The labels are on the way to your inbox - enjoy the jam and sharing it with friends!

      Reply

  6. I can't wait to try this recipe!! Is it possible to get the template for the printable labels too? Thank you for taking the time to put these together!
     

    Reply

  15. I would love the template for the strawberry jelly labels. I’m excited to try this recipe as I need a product without seeds. Thanks

    Reply

    2. Hi Debbie, the labels could not be delivered. Could there be an error in your email address?

      Reply

  22. Thanks for your great recipe.. could I have the printable label. Could you make this with Raspberries and would the proportions stay the same

    Reply

  24. Love your jelly recipe may I have a copy of the gift labels. Strawberries are still in my area. Thank you

    Reply

  26. This recipe looks great. Am going to try now that starwberies are ready for picking here. Would love to get the labels as well.
    Thanks

    Reply

  27. Chris, this strawberry jelly will be my first jelly instead of jam. Cannot wait to begin. Think I can have the printable labels? Thank you, Elle

    Reply

  31. Easy to follow recipes. Delicious Strawberry Jelly
    Please send printable label instructions. Thank You

    Reply

    2. I love this recipe. I made 2 recipes of it yesterday.
      I would love to have the labels.
      Thank you,
      Cheryl

      Reply

  34. Hi Chris, another great recipe, am excited to try it, can I please have the pretty labels.
    Thank you so very much
    Brigitte

    Reply

  35. Hey Chris,
    Love your whole website and try out many of your recipes, too-and especially like your Bible verse of the day and what you're listening to. I opened up a foodtruck in Interlaken, Switzerland and serve donuts, cinnamon rolls and other homemade bakery products. Doing it for and with Jesus and I listen to a lot of the same music while I'm baking. I'm sure we would be BFF's if we met!
    Would you please send me the free printable labels for strawberry jelly? I was a French major in college and am an English teacher here, and figured out that our English word "jelly" comes from the French "gelee"(has an accent over the 2nd "e" that I donßt know how to get on this keyboard)In the Swiss-German itßs pronounced "Schlee" and means just using the juice to thicken, and not the bits of fruit. It means it is congealed or jelled, so we English speakers call it "jelly"

    Reply

    1. I love your story, Amy! I think we would be friends, for sure! I hope I get to Interlaken one day and have the opportunity to enjoy your baked goods!

      Reply

    2. Amy, I love what you wrote! I too enjoy Chris' blog, which I just discovered today when Pinterest suggested her delicious scones. I just listened to A Thousand Hallelujahs. Wonderful!
      I love entertaining, and fell in love with these little squatty Weck jars. I'm in Canada and our Amazon doesn't sell these but I've ordered a set of 6 tulip jars. I'd love to get the labels for my new jars. They are so elegant. I'll be trying the jam to serve with the scones.
      Please, Chris, send me the printable labels. Thank you so much.
      Barb

      Reply

  37. Hi Chris! Would love the label pdf, please!
    Also, do you think the fruit remainder from making the juice , could be re -purposed as puree in a cake recipe?

    Also - you can buy the identical cheesecloth most grocery stores sell at Dollar Tree for $1.25!
    Thanks in advance! Blessings to you and Scott.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the tip, Terry!
      Regarding your question, after the berries are cooked, the flavor is all in the juice and the residual has virtually none. Plus it ends up being a grayish red, not so pretty!

      Reply

  38. What a perfect springtime gift. I would like the pdf for the labels so I can share. Please and Thank You!

    Reply

  41. Please send labels for the strawberry jelly. I can’t wait to make it. Love your recipes!

    Reply

  42. You always have the best recipes. Could you please send me the labels for the Fresh Strawberry Jelly. Thanks!

    Reply

  44. Looking forward to making the jelly. I have lots of jam, but never jelly. Pls let me know where you got the jars.
    Thank you!

    Reply

  45. Can’t wait to try this recipe, as soon as the berries are ready! Would love the labels, too, when you have a moment.

    Reply

  46. I would love the labels gif the jelly. I love every recipe I’ve ever tried thst you post! Thank you so much!

    Reply

  47. We have a brand new farm near us where we can go pick strawberries. I can’t wait to try this jelly! Please send me the labels. Thank you

    Reply

  51. Love your recipes. Strawberries is coming soon and I love anything strawberry. Please send me your adorable labels for the strawberry gifts I will make for my family.

    Reply

  52. Hi Chris
    LOVE all your recipes! Can’t wait each time you send out another email with recipes!!!
    I’d also like strawberry jam label!
    Thanks Carol K

    Reply

    1. So glad you're enjoying the recipes, Carol! We will send the labels.

      Reply

  53. Thank you for another delicious recipe!! I would like to receive the labels also
    .

    Reply

  56. Yumm! I cannot wait to try this recipe! My daughter is obsessed with PB&J’s lol. The labels are perfect, I’d love to use them for the jar and as gifts! Thank you so much! 🍓🍏

    Reply

  57. I plan to make this jam for my daughter. I would love the printable labels. Thanks for all of the great recipes.

    Reply

  59. It’s almost strawberry season! This is perfect timing. I can’t wait to make this recipe with my granddaughter. Please send the labels. Thanks for so many lovely recipes.

    Reply

  61. I love, love your website and all the recipes that turn out exactly as pictured! I continue to get praise from quests who enjoy a unique cookie or scone when it is my turn to host the wonderful ladies in my life.

    I would love to receive the Fresh Strawberry Jelly labels to decorate to my gift jars!

    Many thanks.

    Reply

  67. Please send mails for this jelly. Thank you. I make a lot of your recipes. I love all of them.

    Lottie Hoffman

    Reply