quince jelly – the instant gift

by Sharon Santoni

jars of quince jelly with label

If ever I am caught short without a small gift for an unexpected lunch invite, or just to make a friend smile, I like to  gift a pot of home made jam or jelly.

This time of the year in Normandy, is the best time for making quince jelly, we find them at the market, but more often are simply given a box full by a friend with a huge quince tree in her garden.  I love quince, it is a fruit I had never tasted before coming to live in France, and my husband’s grandmother gave me her recipe.

quince and apple ready to cook

It looks like a huge pear and is rock hard and tasteless when raw, but once cooked it turns a lovely pink colour and makes a delicious breakfast jelly.

So this week, when caught short with an unexpected lunch invite with a girlfriend, I picked a jar of jelly and painted a very simple leaf to represent the autumn colours all around us right now.

jars o quince jelly on a tray

If you’ve seen me make seed packets for friends, you’ll know that I don’t believe that these little watercolours have to be technically perfect.  It is more about having fun, and taking a few minutes to make a tiny pretty touch to match the equally tiny gift.

Keeping it simple, and keeping it real.  Wishing you all a lovely weekend, thank you for reading me.

jar of jelly with dahlia

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24 comments

Nancy October 28, 2016 - 7:13 pm

What a timely post!
I have a quince tree…that has produced exactly one fruit. I am having trouble with some blight or something…
I actually considered getting rid of it, but decided to wait one more year, being sure to spray now and again in spring….
I love quince and the variety I have is also good….raw!
(that might be its trouble….)
Anyway, you have inspired me….I think I will go and buy some (where I can find them….)
Thanks!
Nancy

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Beth October 28, 2016 - 7:49 pm

Hi,
Your post to make the jelly sounds wonderful, but the link takes me to the seed packets, both links do. Could you please repost the jelly recipe?
Thanks, Beth

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Sharon Santoni October 28, 2016 - 10:43 pm

oops! thank you Beth, I shall fix those links straight away 🙂

x

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Rosalina October 28, 2016 - 7:49 pm

Love quince butter. Never had the jelly. Do you have a recipe for it?

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Tracey McCauley October 28, 2016 - 7:53 pm

Sharon, thank you so much for this beautiful post today! I fell in love with Normandy years ago and would love to live their if I could. Now I can get a glimpse of what it would be like through you. Your home is what dreams are made of and you have a wonderful flair for design and color and all things beautiful! Thank you for the heartwarming inspiration and brightening my day!

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Dawn Johnson October 28, 2016 - 7:57 pm

Loved this post, last year I went to Cotignac. While at the small épicerie I picked up a coing thinking it was a hard pear or Asian pear. After a few days on the counter it didn’t seem to ripen. We tried to slice it over a salad and it was awful so I threw it out. About a week later I was at the. market buying macarons and picking out different flavors. One of the flavors was coing and I said I didn’t like them so I didn’t want any coing flavored macarons. That’s when the vendor explained to me that they need to be cooked and then they are delicious but not good raw. She told me they are great for confits. Cotignac has a coing festival the end of October. I wish I could have stayed for that. Anyway, I am thinking that I saw somewhere that they are also called quince. Am I right?

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Valorie October 28, 2016 - 8:07 pm

I think your watercolours are outstanding! I would happily pay for them. Thank you for sharing this lovely recipe and post. I’ve heard of quince before but never knew what it was. Who wouldn’t be delighted to receive such a thoughtful and charming gift? Really lovely, thank you!

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Kym October 28, 2016 - 8:11 pm

Making quince jelly and butter was an annual tradition with my mother. You have brought back many happy memories of my childhood. Thank you for such a beautiful post!

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Our French Oasis October 28, 2016 - 8:14 pm

How pretty. I don’t think I have ever had quince jelly. I often give friends a jar of fig jam, it is a little unusual and very much in keeping with where we live and as anyone who has visited us knows, at the end of the summer through early autumn we are inundated with figs! I have never thought of making the pretty labels though, what a gorgeous touch. Having said that I am not artistic, sadly that gene bypassed me altogether, just as well I have a whole bevy of great artists amongst the children, I shall set them to work!! Have a lovely weekend. X

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Brenda October 28, 2016 - 8:49 pm

Love, love your originality and creativity!

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chris October 28, 2016 - 8:50 pm

The link does not take us to the recipe. Could you please fix it? I have a bunch of quince in a bowl for the aroma. It makes the whole kitchen smell like apples and roses. But I want to make the jelly now. Made some last year but did not like the recipe so I’d love to try your husband’s grandmother’s recipe!

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Sharon Santoni October 28, 2016 - 10:44 pm

You are so right, Chris, the aroma is outstanding. I know people who put quince in their laundry armoire instead of lavender!

x

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Emm October 28, 2016 - 8:55 pm

How timely. I know just where I can get some quinces.
I had a bush, or small tree, of them once, and after I’d sold the house the new people cut it down. So sad, and the birds liked the fruits, too.
Your link to the grandmother’s recipe goes to the post about painting seed packets. No recipe, alas.

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Taste of France October 28, 2016 - 8:57 pm

Personally, I appreciate a homemade gift far more than the fanciest brand. Your watercolor is the icing on the cake.
And what about that window photo! So beautiful!

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VioletPearl October 28, 2016 - 9:53 pm

Sharon, Lovely, elegant gift! Appropriate anywhere, anytime, any occasion.
Please send the recipe as I do have access to quinces at the local Farmers’ Market. The link in your post above only led to the blog post on seed packets.
Keep up the wonderful news. A breath of fresh air in my busy days.
Hugs, Janet

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Casse' October 28, 2016 - 10:54 pm

Hi Sharon, I love quince jelly but the your recipe is not coming up would you please put it back. Thank You Casse’

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Clare October 28, 2016 - 11:54 pm

Sharon, you are so creative. I have never tasted quince, now I want to! Thank you for sharing this post! I really liked your wee cards as well.

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Julie Bresette October 29, 2016 - 1:04 am

Beautiful!!

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Dottie Monta October 29, 2016 - 7:19 am

Ah, Sharon, thanks for memories of my childhood! One quince tree resided near our drive, and yielded just enough fruit to combine with apples for a clear, beautiful jelly. The quince added that subtle flavor as a whisper of truffle does to a dish, and of course it contributed its beautiful color.
My favorite is still the sour cherry jam, but your photos recall for me the almost-forgotten quince!

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Vicky from Athens October 29, 2016 - 2:45 pm

Love this post! Quince jelly (which I haven’t thought of in years!) was something my grandmother always kept in her pantry. I look forward to using your recipe – it will certainly bring back fond memories of my grandmother standing at the kitchen counter straining that yummy liquid through cheesecloth into jars.
Thank you!!

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Kimber October 29, 2016 - 5:37 pm

Found! See raintreenursery.com

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Summer November 1, 2016 - 11:08 am

Looks wonderful! Love the jars too♥

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Julia November 5, 2016 - 8:42 am

hmm, I may have to invite you to lunch …
Oxfordshire too far Sharon? 🙂

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Jillian Hardie June 10, 2020 - 2:51 am

Hi Sharon,
thank you for the recipe, fantastic and I love the paste as well. It would be such a waste to throw the fruit away. The jelly was amazing although I lonely got one jar out of it is that correct? if so I will be keeping my Jar all for my self!!!!
Thanks again love your site

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