A simple, spicy, easy-to-make recipe for ghost pepper jelly with sugar, pectin, and lots of fresh ghost peppers. Perfect as a spread but also as a starter glaze or sauce.
Ghost Pepper Jelly Recipe
More ghost pepper recipes, my friends! I can't help myself. I grew so many ghost peppers, I have to figure out what to do with them!
I grow them often because I LOVE using ghost peppers in several different recipes, from making homemade ghost pepper powder to fresh ghost pepper salsa to picante style ghost pepper salsa, ghost pepper wings and so much more.
Today we're making a staple ingredient I like to keep in my refrigerator - We're talking ghost pepper jelly. It's the perfect mix of sweet and heat.
Beware, though. Unlike my Jalapeno Jelly Recipe, which is nice and sweet with a touch of spice, this recipe packs some heat! Ghost peppers are no joke. Even though you are straining out the ghost peppers, the resulting jelly is quite hot.
Let's talk about how we make this ghost pepper jelly, shall we?
Ghost Pepper Jelly Ingredients
- Ghost Peppers. Chopped.
- Granulated Sugar.
- Cider Vinegar.
- Lime Juice.
- Salt.
- Liquid Fruit Pectin.
- Red Food Coloring.
How to Make Ghost Pepper Jelly - The Recipe Method
First, chop your ghost peppers. Start with a half pound of them.
Add them to a large pot.
Next, add 4 cups of sugar. Yes, this is a sweet jelly recipe.
Pour in 1-1/4 cups vinegar, 1/4 cup lime juice, and a teaspoon of salt.
Stir it all together.
Bring the mixture to a quick boil and simmer it for about 10 minutes to let the flavors develop.
After 10 minutes, pour the contents into a different pot, then strain it back into the original pot. Make sure all of the solids are removed.
Pour in 3 ounces of liquid fruit pectin.
Bring the liquid back to a boil, stirring a bit, and boil for 1 minute.
Pour or ladle the hot liquid into 4 clean 8-ounce jars, like so.
Screw on the caps and refrigerate overnight. The jalapeno jelly will set over night, though it could potentially take up to 2 weeks to fully gel.
I keep mine in the refrigerator and eat them within a month or 2, but if you'd like to keep them for longer and/or want to store them at room temperature, you can process them in a water bath. See information on that below.
Canning Ghost Pepper Jelly
I make the recipe above as a refrigerator jelly. If you'd like to make a shelf-stable version for longer storage, use the following adjusted ingredient ratios developed for safe boiling-water canning.
For a Shelf-Stable Canning Version
Use:
- 5-1/2 cups chopped peppers - use all ghost peppers for extremely hot, or a mix of ghost and bell peppers to mild it down. A mix of 5 cups chopped bells and 1/2 cup chopped ghost peppers is still quite hot.
- 1-1/2 cups vinegar, labeled 5% acidity
- 5 cups granulated sugar
- 3 ounces liquid fruit pectin
Combine the peppers and vinegar in a large pot. Bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes to extract the flavor and color.
Strain the mixture through a jelly bag or several layers of cheesecloth. Measure 2-1/4 cups of the strained pepper-vinegar juice into a clean pot.
Stir in the sugar and bring to a boil. Add the liquid pectin, return to a full rolling boil, and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Immediately ladle the hot jelly into hot half-pint canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe the rims and apply the lids according to the manufacturer's directions.
Process in a boiling-water canner:
Using pre-sterilized jars:
- 0-1,000 feet: 5 minutes
- 1,001-6,000 feet: 10 minutes
- Above 6,000 feet: 15 minutes
Using clean, hot jars that have not been pre-sterilized:
- 0-1,000 feet: 10 minutes
- 1,001-6,000 feet: 15 minutes
- Above 6,000 feet: 20 minutes
Let the jars cool undisturbed for 12-24 hours, then check the seals. Refrigerate any jars that did not seal properly.
Important: For safe shelf-stable canning, don't reduce the vinegar, increase the amount of peppers, or otherwise change these proportions. Always use vinegar labeled 5% acidity.
For more information about safe home canning methods and procedures, see the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Updated July 2026: I’ve updated this section with current guidance for safely preparing a shelf-stable version of ghost pepper jelly.
Benefits of the Water Bath
Water bath processing super heats the air at the top of the jar, effectively killing any spores or yeast from the air, as you don't want to seal those in with lower sugar jams.
The method also makes for a stronger seal than simply letting the jelly or jam cool and pop.
Storing Jellies and Jams
Don't move the jellies or jams for at least 12 hours after you've made them, or you risk breaking the gel. After proper cooling, check the seals and store in a cool, dry place.
Your jellies and jams should last a year this way, but the flavor is still best if used within a few months.
Serving Ghost Pepper Jelly
This jelly is nice and sweet and works as a simple spread for crackers or breads or toasts. It's a flavorful snack. It also works for me as a super quick glaze for grilled meats, like chicken or fish.
Seriously, sear up a salmon or swordfish fillet or some seasoned chicken and finish them off with a tablespoon of this.
You can also use your own homemade ghost pepper jelly as the start of a glaze for those very same meals. So much of the work is already done!
Recipe Tips & Notes
- This jelly is nice and sweet and works as a simple spread for crackers or breads or toasts. It's a flavorful snack.
- It also works for me as a super quick glaze for grilled meats, like chicken or fish.
- You can also use your own homemade ghost pepper jelly as the start of a glaze for those very same meals.
- Beware, though. Unlike my Jalapeno Jelly Recipe, which is nice and sweet with a touch of spice, this recipe packs some heat! Ghost peppers are no joke.
Recommended Products
Here is a link to the jam/jelly jars that I personally use and prefer. Highly recommended. Affiliate link - FYI: Ball Mason 8oz Quilted Jelly Jars with Lids and Bands, Set of 12.
Storage & Leftovers
Storing your Ghost Pepper Jelly in an airtight container in the fridge may allow to keep it from several weeks to a few months. To maximize the storage life, make sure to refrigerate your jelly promptly.
Try Some of My Other Popular Jelly and Jam Recipes
Try Some of My Other Popular Ghost Pepper Recipes
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Ghost Pepper Jelly Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ghost peppers chopped (about 20-30 ghost peppers)
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 cups cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 ounces liquid fruit pectin
- 4 drops red food coloring if preferred - NOTE: I didn't use any for this recipe.
Instructions
- Finely chop the ghost peppers and add them to a large pan.
- Add sugar, vinegar, lime juice, and salt.
- Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Strain out the ghost peppers and return the mixture to the pan.
- Return heat to high and bring liquid to a boil. Stir in pectin and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
- If using food coloring, add it now and stir.
- Ladle the hot liquid into clean jars and screw on the lids.
- Cool overnight in the refrigerator. The mixture will solidify into jelly.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Mark says
Hi Mike,
Any suggestions for the left over peppers? They taste too good to throw out. I was thinking of adding them to jello.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Mark, you can swirl that into any number of recipes. It'll be sweet from the sugars, so keep that in mind. Definitely good stuff! You can also leave it in the jars, which will give you a jam instead of a jelly.
Richard says
How would you go about incorporating fruits into this recipe? Like peaches? I have some peach ghost and would love to do a peach and ghost jam and jelly.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Richard, check out my Jellies and Jams Recipes here: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-recipes/jellies/. I have a number of them with fruit. You can use those recipes and swap in ghosts. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Russell says
GHOST PEPPER JELLY!!
I mean really, does it get any better than this?
I followed the recipe to the letter - except I was low on ghost peppers so I only used 20 or about 100 g.
The jam jelly still turned out fantastic. I can it and give it to friends and they love it.
Keep those ghost pepper recipies coming!
Thank you Mike for spicing up my life!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nice! I love to hear it, Russell! I agree, I really love this stuff. So good!
Lori Bryngelson says
I pureed a mixture of reapers, ghost, habanero, and scotch bonnet. The SB were cross breeds from my other plants. Great heat and flavor, a little goes a long way!! Could this puree be used in the jelly or will it change the consistency?? Thank you.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Lori, yes, you can absolutely use the puree. If you leave it in, it's technically a jam. Let me know how it turns out for you. Enjoy!
Lori says
Just wondering if I could replace the sugar with maple syrup.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Lori, you can use maple syrup, though I don't know the exact amounts for replacement. You may need to experiment with ratios, or use a low sugar pectin. Let me know how it goes for you.
Boomer Schilling says
Michael,
If I wanted to use Agave syrup instead of sugar, would you suggest a 1:1 substitution? Using 7 Pot Peppers as well, grown organically in my San Diego neighborhood. Cheers!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hey, Boomer. I would, though it's really to taste, so you might want to use half, taste and adjust from there. Let me know how it goes for you. Enjoy!
B.K. says
Hi, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. I am a newbie in the hot pepper cuisine world. The ghost pepper jelly was my first, I couldn’t follow the recipe exactly, I cut the pepper content in half to approximately 1/4 lb. didn’t have lime, and I used white vinegar. Plenty hot, super flavor, love it! If I add another 1/4 lb of peppers, I know the flavor will kick more, but will the heat actually increase and intensify with the addition of more capsaicin, or has it already reached “terminal velocity”... I will use cider vinegar this time, It prolly has a better taste than white vinegar....and also how do lemon and lime differ when using with hot peppers?
Respect,
B.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, B.K. You'll get even more pronounced heat and flavor with double the ghost peppers. The white vinegar is fine, but apple cider vinegar is sweeter and tangier. You can use lemon and lime juice interchangeably, but they do have different flavors, so consider accordingly. Enjoy!!
Shirley joned says
I made ghost pepper jelly little too much heat for family can it be changed redone.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hi, Shirley. The only think you can do, I believe, is to make another batch of jelly without any spicy peppers, then combine them. You can reheat the solidified jelly with the new batch. That will give you double (or triple) your amount, depending on how much more you make, but it will dilute the overall heat. Let me know if that will work for you.
Ted O`Neill says
Just harvested 2 pounds of Ghost Peppers off my plant this morning, scaled up your recipe and it turned out great. Yes still quite spicy, unlike other peppers that get calmed down significantly by that level of sugar. Thanks so much, been following a long time and appreciate all you have done!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Great to hear it, Ted! Glad you are enjoying it. Thanks!
Sarah says
I've never made jellies or jams before. How do you preserve this and what's the shelf life?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sarah, you can process this in a water bath, though make sure the pH is 3.5 or lower. Or, use a pressure canner. Be sure to use vinegar and/or citrus juice to lower the pH for longer keeping in the refrigerator.
Misha says
I love the idea of this recipe, but I only have powdered pectin, and I can't find liquid pectin right now. How can I modify this recipe to use powder pectin?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Misha, yes, you can use powdered pectin. I do all the time. Just check the instructions on the packet or container to use the proper ratios.
Francis Uzzell says
This sounds like a great recipe..
Can you add some of the pepper back to the jam for appearance..??
To give it some depth..???
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Francis, absolutely. That technically makes it a jam. I make far more jams than jellies, actually. I don't like to discard all those wonderful candied peppers. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Ryan says
Thank you for the recipe. I just made so jam this evening and I’m looking forward to enjoying it. I didn’t have plain lime juice so I substituted it for key lime juice. I have nothing to compare it to but I think the key lime flavoring will be amazing
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Ryan, Key Lime juice is perfect for this recipe. Let me know how it turns out for you! Enjoy.