RecipesSuper Hot Chilli › Carolina Reaper Jam

Carolina Reaper Jam

A sweet-heat jelly using the world's hottest chilli in measured quantities, balanced with apple and cider vinegar to create a preserve that's intensely fruity, genuinely hot, and completely addictive in small amounts. Serve with cream cheese and crackers, glaze a ham, or spread on a grilled cheese. Handle with absolute care.

45 min (20 min prep, 25 min cook)Serves 5mediumPreserves and picklesgluten-free · dairy-free · vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 4 super hot chillies (Carolina Reaper or similar), gloves required, stems removed, roughly chopped
  • 2 large apples, peeled, cored, and roughly chopped
  • 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3 oz liquid pectin, 1 pouch
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • ¼ tsp salt

Contains: milk, cereals gluten, sulphites.

Method

  1. SAFETY: Wear gloves throughout. Do not touch your face. Work with ventilation.About 2 min
  2. Process super hot chillies, apple, and bell pepper in a food processor until very finely chopped. Combine with sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, and salt in a heavy saucepan.About 8 min
  3. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Add pectin and return to a hard boil for exactly 1 minute. Skim foam.About 8 min
  4. Ladle into sterilized jars. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.About 15 min

Tips

  • The apple and bell pepper significantly dilute the heat — don't reduce their quantities.
  • Taste the jam with extreme caution. Even a small amount will be very hot.
  • The heat level decreases noticeably after a few days as the capsaicin compounds break down in the acidity.

Ring the changes

  • Replace apple with pineapple for a tropical super-hot jam.
  • Reduce to 2 chillies for a hot (but not extreme) version suitable for more people.

Keeping it

Processed jars keep for 12 months. Refrigerate after opening and use within 2 months.

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15 min · easy · Super Hot Chilli
Tony C Smith
Tony C Smith

Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 4 April 2026.