Easy plum jam recipe

Making plum jam is surprisingly simple—and the result is absolutely delicious! With just three basic ingredients, this easy plum jam recipe lets you stock your pantry with a homemade treat that’s bursting with fruity flavor. It’s a great way to make the most of plum season.

Recipe Ingredients

Whether you’re a seasoned jam maker or trying it for the first time, this easy recipe is practically foolproof. Making homemade jams is super simple. All you need are:

• • Plums
  • Jam Sugar (with pectin)
  • Fresh lemon juice

I’ll walk you through the entire process and share tips along the way.

How To Make Homemade Plum Jam

First make sure to remove all the stones from the plum and chop them into chunks. Add to a large saucepan or large pot with the sugar and bring to the boil.

I use less sugar than certain jam recipes which call for half sugar and half fruit. The amount of sugar does need to be enough to make sure it is preserved properly.

If you are planning on eating the jam right away and have no need for plum preserves you can use only a small amount of sugar. But if you want to store it make sure to use enough sugar.

Once the fruit starts to break apart you can use a stick blender to smooth the mixture or you can use something like a potato masher to break the fruit down but keep some texture.

Which Plums Should You Use?

Good news:any type of plum works for this recipe! The variety you choose will influence the flavor and color of your jam. Sweeter plums yield a milder jam, while tarter varieties give it a bright, tangy kick.

The plum skins especially affect the final color. For example, in the batch shown in my photos, the plum flesh was golden yellow, but the pinkish-red skin gave the jam a gorgeous blush hue.

Understanding Jam Sugar and Lemon Juice

Jam sugar is granulated sugar with added pectin and citric acid, which help your jam thicken and set. No gelatin is involved, so it’s completely plant-based.

Even though juicy plums contain a lot of natural pectin, the sugar not only helps with texture, but it’s essential for preservation.

Lemon juice enhances flavor with its acidity, balancing out the sweetness and helping the jam set properly. It also brings out the fruity brightness in the plums.

How to Store Your Plum Jam

Proper storage starts with sterilizing your jars. Here’s how:

1. Place clean jars in a tall pot and cover them with water. You can use hot soapy water but in general boiling them is sufficient.
2. Bring the water to a boil and let the jars boil with a full rolling boil for a few minutes.
3. Use tongs or a special jar lifter to remove the hot jars and place jars upside down on a clean tea towel.

No need to dry them—the heat will evaporate any remaining moisture.

Depending on where you live you can probably find jars in different sizes at various stores or online. I like to have different jar sizes on hand so I can choose which size I need, depending on the quantity of jam I’m making.

How Long Does Plum Jam Last?

• Unopened jars (properly sterilized): up to 1 year in a cool, dark place like a pantry.
• Opened jars: store in the refrigerator and use within a few weeks.
• Freezing: Yes, you can freeze jam! Store it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Freezing in small portions makes it easier to thaw only what you need.