Citric acid
A sour-tasting acid found naturally in lemons and limes, sold as a fine white powder and used to add tartness, help pectin set and balance sweetness in candies and preserves.
- Baking ingredients and additives
Bakers and candy makers use citric acid when they want sourness without adding liquid or a lemon flavor. A small amount helps pectin gel in fruit jellies and jams, sharpens fruit fillings, and mixed with sugar it makes the tangy coating on sour candies.
It is very strong, so recipes call for it by the pinch or the gram. In fruit jellies it is often added at the very end of cooking, because adding the acid too early can make the pectin set before the mixture is poured.
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RecipeStrawberry Fruit Jellies2 hr 35 min · Makes 64 pieces -
RecipeRaspberry Fruit Jellies2 hr 35 min · Makes 64 pieces -
RecipeBlackberry Fruit Jellies2 hr 35 min · Makes 64 pieces
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Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.
- Citric acid (Q159683), Wikidata