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Spiced Plum Freezer Jam

Spiced Plum Freezer Jam

An easy-to-make freezer jam made with fresh plums.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Passive Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 5
Calories 727 kcal

Equipment

  • food processor or electric chopper (optional)
  • (5) 8-ounce freezer containers or canning jars

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups (about 1 pound) ripe red or purple plums, finely chopped
  • 4 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup fresh orange juice
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon all-spice
  • 1 pinch nutmeg
  • ¾ cup water
  • 6 tablespoons Ball RealFruit Classic Pectin

Instructions
 

  • Wash the plums thoroughly and then dry them.
  • Cut the plums in half and remove the seeds. Then, finely chop the plums. If using a food processor, chop all the plum halves at once on low and then on high.
  • Combine the chopped plums, lemon juice, orange juice, sugar, cinnamon, all-spice, and nutmeg In a large heat-proof bowl. Mix thoroughly and let sit for 1 hour or place it in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Heat the plum-sugar mixture in the microwave for 2 minutes or until hot. This will help dissolve the sugar.
  • In a small saucepan, add the water and vigorously whisk in the pectin until smooth. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil that can't be stirred down and then boil hard for 1 minute, stirring the entire time. Remove from the heat.
  • Pour the hot pectin water into the bowl with the plums and stir continuously for 3 minutes.
  • Ladle the jam into clean freezer containers or canning jars, leaving 1/2 inch room for expansion during freezing.
  • Wipe the tops of the containers for any spilled jam. Then add the lids. Place the jam in the refrigerator until set, which might take 24-48 hours.
  • You can freeze the jam for up to 1 year or refrigerate for 3 weeks.

Notes

Yield

This recipe makes about (5) 8-ounce jars or freezer containers. Calories listed are for (1) 8-ounce jar.

Freezer Jars

Use canning jars with straight or tapered sides for freezing jam. Avoid jars with shoulders because they are not always freezer-safe. Use plastic jars specially made for freezing.

Macerating the Plums

The recipe calls for macerating the plums in the sugar mixture for 1 hour or overnight. Either option works, but overnight gives the sugar time to dissolve.

Heating the Plum-Sugar Mixture in a Microwave

If you heat the plum-sugar mixture in a microwave after letting it sit, the heat will help dissolve the sugar, which allows the pectin to set better.

Freezer Jam vs Canned Jam

Freezer jam usually has a softer set than canned jam. However, preparing freezer jam is quicker and easier than conventional canned jam.

Troubleshooting

For jam that does not set properly, follow these instructions to fix 4 cups of runny jam at a time:
  • Whisk 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon Ball Classic Pectin in a wide saucepan. Add 4 cups of jam and stir well to disperse the sugar and pectin into the jam.
  • Heat on medium until it boils; continue cooking for 5-10 minutes or until jam thickens.
  • Place in containers and freeze.
  • If the jam does not thicken at this point, it probably will not. All is not lost, however; use the jam as a sauce to top ice cream and cakes. It will also make delicious salad dressings and can be used as an ingredient in recipes using plum jam.  It can also be used as a syrup on toast or pancakes.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 727kcalCarbohydrates: 189gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 39mgPotassium: 191mgFiber: 3gSugar: 170gVitamin A: 356IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Plum Freezer Jam, spiced plum freezer jam
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