Fall is my favorite season for so many different reasons: the weather gets cooler, the leaves start to change color, and the best foods come into season.
You might be thinking, foods have a season? And the answer is: yes, absolutely.
Just think about it: When is the best time to eat apple pie? Fall, obviously. What's the best part of the year to eat jarred fruits? Autumn.
Everyone knows that fall has certain smells and flavors — cinnamon, spices, warm fruits, and more.
Each autumn, lots of people spend hours and hours in their kitchens, jarring fruits and veggies and prepping for the long winter ahead.
But jarring takes a lot of time and effort, and not all of us have the capacity for that. Instead of slaving away in the kitchen, you can use a slow cooker to make this DIY orange Crock-Pot marmalade.
Just follow the simple steps below to make your very own Crock-Pot marmalade!
Ingredients
- 4 oranges
- 1 lemon
- 3 cups sugar
- 3 to 4 cups water
Instructions Step #1: Wash Oranges And Lemons
First, wash off your fruits.
Most people don't think to clean fruits with peels, but since you'll be putting the peels directly into the marmalade, you should make sure your oranges and lemons are clean.
Step #2: Cut And Peel Fruits
Once you've washed off your fruits, dry them off, and set them on a cutting board.
Slice the oranges and lemon into quarters, take out any seeds, and separate the flesh from the peel.
Step #3: Cut Peel Into Small Shards
Once you've set aside the flesh of the fruits, turn your attention to the peels.
Using a sharp knife, julienne the peels — slice them into thin shards.
Make sure the pieces are small enough to be eaten, since the peel will go directly into the marmalade.
Step #4: Put Everything Into Crock-Pot
Once everything is sliced into small pieces, put both the peels and pulp into the Crock-Pot.
Stir the orange and lemon flesh together with the peels, making sure they're evenly spread out.
Step #5: Add Water And Set Crock-Pot To High
Next, add 3 cups of water to the Crock-Pot and stir it together with the fruit.
Set the Crock-Pot on high, and leave it for two hours.
Step #6: After 2 Hours, Add Sugar
After two hours on high, pour sugar into the Crock-Pot 1 cup at a time.
The amount of sugar you use should almost equal the amount of orange/water in the Crock-Pot.
Turn the cooker onto low, put the lid back on the pot, and let it sit for another six hours (stir every two hours).
Step #7: Remove The Lid, Set To High, And Keep Cooking
Finally, remove the lid of the Crock-Pot, give the marmalade a final stir, and set it once again to high.
Cook the fruit for at least two more hours, or until the marmalade has a thick, syrupy consistency.
Step #8: Ladle Warm Marmalade Into Jars
Once the marmalade is done and has had a bit of time to cool down, ladle the fruit into a small glass jar.
Wait for the marmalade to cool completely before putting the lid on the jar.
Step #9: Label And Enjoy
When the marmalade is cool, put the lid on the jar and label it in whatever way you'd like.
The jars of marmalade will last for about two months in the fridge.
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