Tl;Dr: tried to make jelly from strained watermelon juice, overcooked it, and now it’s honey???
I started with strained watermelon juice, sugar, and powdered pectin, and tried to make jelly. Instead, I overcooked it by a lot. The thermometer read 240 °F by the time I pulled it, and it was there for a good 15 minutes at least. That’s right above sugar’s soft-ball stage, and I’m guessing most of the pectin got broken down too. The end result looks, tastes, and behaves a lot like honey, but with a watermelon-ish flavor. I’m surprisingly happy with it, but what is it?
I can’t be the first person in history to make this. Does this product have a name? Cooked syrup? Softball syrup? Vegan honey? Watermelon serendipity?
by marshmallowsamwitch
10 Comments
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I believe you made watermelon caramel. Congrats?
Try candy making groups. Though I wonder if this is actually shelf stable.
NARDEK is made kinda like this, but without the sugar. Same difference tho lol. Like a sweetened NARDEK.
It’s a syrup.. a very thick one. Add to lemonade in the summer or a margarita.
I bet this would taste great mixed with rum.
I was just reading about a Persian condiment called pomegranate molasses today. I think you made the watermelon version!
Sounds interesting.
However, theres too much headspace….you measure from the top lip of the jar 1/4 inch headspace, not from the bottom groove under the metal bands.
I’m concerned how shelf stable this is given you were experimenting and not following a tested recipe in the end. Didn’t see how you processed this either. Water bath time? Or did you simply pour this mixture into jars and call it a day (unsafe). Best you get it in a fridge asap.
We made watermelon rind pickles this past summer and they were so good
Hear me out: mead.
You could try fermenting it into mead, and I bet it would be f*ing delicious.