Easy Homemade Papaya Jelly (no pectin required)
This delicious small-batch papaya jelly is perfect for when you need something sweet and flavorful to spread on your toast at breakfast time. This recipe is ideal for a quick snack with fruits, crackers, and cheese.
This homemade jelly uses fresh papaya, sugar, lemon juice, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and ground cinnamon and takes less than one hour to make. When you run out of jelly, make your favorite fruit jelly; it is much better than store-bought.
Papaya is a tropical fruit. When in season, another way to enjoy the health benefits of this lovely fruit is to make jelly. Papayas are also perfect when juiced and in stews, two of the most popular ways consumed in the Caribbean.
The ingredients to make the papaya jelly
It is always a great idea to use ingredients from your pantry. Spices and sugar are just what are needed for this jelly.
This papaya jelly recipe is packed with many flavors, similar to the way we make jam and jellies in the Caribbean.
- Papaya: A fully ripe regular-size papaya is needed to make the jelly. The amount should be enough for two 12 – 16 oz mason jars. Papayas are readily available in supermarkets these days. They vary in size, and the skin color may be different—it may be green or yellow.
- Ground Cinnamon: Only a pinch is needed for flavor.
- Ground Nutmeg: Only a pinch is needed for flavor.
- Ginger Powder: Only a pinch is needed for flavor.
- Lime: fresh lime juice and the zest is needed.
A few notes about the health benefits of papaya
Papaya is known by many different names and has many varieties worldwide.
The health benefits of papaya are astounding. Papaya is full of antioxidants that can reduce inflammation. Loaded with nutrients with high levels of antioxidants and vitamins C and A may help reduce the risk of heart disease, improve digestion, and contain anti-cancer properties.
How to make Papaya Jelly
- Wash the papaya. Peel and remove seeds from papaya. Cut the fruit into slices, then small chunks.
- Place the papaya chunks in a heavy-bottom pan.
- Add sugar, the juice of 1 lime, and the zest of one lime, a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. (A pinch of salt is optional)
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Continue to boil, frequently stirring, until the mixture thickens, about 20 – 25 minutes.
- If necessary, cook and stir until you have a thick mixture of papaya chunks. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Use a handheld blender or an immersion blender to blend the chunks to a smooth texture.
- Pour the mixture into sanitized mason jars and enjoy at breakfast or as a quick snack with bread, crackers, or cassava bread.
Notes and Tips
- Be sure to use a pan with high sides. The papaya will foam up while cooking.
- Keep refrigerated, and jelly may last about 2 weeks.
- Make sure the papaya is ripe.
- If using organic sugar, reduce sugar by 1/2 to 1/2 cup. Organic sugar tends to sweeten jams and jellies more than regular sugar.
- You can use brown sugar, cane sugar, or coconut sugar. Adjust the amount of sugar when using different types of sugars.
- Enjoy papaya jelly with toast, cassava bread, or crackers at breakfast.
Other jams and jelly recipes you may enjoy.
Sources:
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-papaya#1
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-proven-papaya-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
Here’s the recipe:
Papaya Jelly
Ingredients
- 1 Papaya weighing about 1 ½ pound
- Pinch of Ground Cinnamon
- Pinch of Ground Nutmeg
- Pinch of Ginger Powder
- 1 lime juice, and zest is needed
- 3 1/2 cups Sugar
Instructions
- Wash the papaya. Peel and remove seeds from papaya. Cut the fruit into slices then small chunks.
- Place the papaya chunks in a heavy-bottom pan.
- Add sugar, the juice of 1 lime, and the zest of one lime, a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. (A pinch of salt is optional)
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Continue to boil, frequently stirring, until the mixture thickens, about 20 – 25 minutes.
- If necessary, continue to cook and stir until you have a thick mixture of papaya chunks. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Use a handheld blender or an immersion blender to blend the chunks to a smooth texture.
- Pour the mixture into sanitized mason jars and enjoy at breakfast and for a quick snack with bread, cracker, or cassava bread.
Notes
- Be sure to use a pan with high sides. While the papaya is cooking, it will foam up.
- Keep refrigerated, and jelly may last about two weeks.
- Make sure the papaya is ripe. If using organic sugar, reduce sugar by 1/2 to 1/2 cup. Organic sugar tends to sweeten jams and jellies more than regular sugar. You can use brown sugar, cane sugar, or coconut sugar. Adjust the amount of sugar when using types of sugars.
- Enjoy papaya jelly with toast, cassava bread, or crackers at breakfast.
Nutrition
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
Nutrition info is automatically generated and provided as a courtesy and as an estimate only.
Corn Allergy:
Always choose ingredients without corn or corn derivatives.
Originally published on January 23, 2022. Revised and updated.
How much sugar is used in this recipe? I do not see the amount listed. Sounds wonderful!
Hi Halle! Thanks for letting us know. We use about 3 cups of organic sugar but the recipe calls for 3 3/4 cups of sugar. Thanks again and have a great day!