Christmas Apple Chutney from Our Cwm Connell Orchard

Here at Cwm Connell, our apple trees have a wonderful story behind them. They were planted by an environmental charity as part of a project to create a pollination corridor along the beautiful north Pembrokeshire Coast. And it worked! Today, the orchard hums with bees, butterflies, and all kinds of pollinators who love our little haven.

This year, Alex and I were thrilled with a bumper crop of delicious apples — the trailer was overflowing! So, to celebrate the season and share the fruits of our orchard with our lovely cottage guests, I’ve been busy in the kitchen making something special: Christmas Apple Chutney.

Every guest staying with us over the festive season will find a jar of this homemade chutney in their Christmas welcome hamper. It’s a little taste of Cwm Connell — sweet, spiced, and full of cheer.

I’ve used a classic apple chutney recipe but added currants and cranberries to give it that unmistakable Christmas pudding flavour. You could almost put it in mince pies! It’s absolutely delicious with cold meats, roast turkey, or a slice of ripe cheese — perfect for those post-Christmas-dinner feasts.

If you’d like to make your own, here’s my recipe:

🎄 Christmas Apple Chutney Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1.5 kg apples
• 750 g brown sugar
• 300 g currants
• 200 g dried cranberries
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 3 tsp mustard seeds
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp salt
• 700 ml cider vinegar

Method:

1. Put all the ingredients into a large pan and place over a medium heat.
2. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for around 40 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Once thickened, remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
4. Sterilise your jars — wash them thoroughly, then place in a 100°C oven for 30 minutes. Boil the lids in water for 20 minutes.
5. Spoon the chutney into the warm jars, seal tightly, and leave to mature.

Give a jar to your friends — or simply enjoy it yourself over the holidays. It’s a little jar of Christmas joy from our orchard to your table.