Plum Jam Recipe - How to Make Best Plum Jam without Pectin (2024)

Aug 18, 2023 by Betsy T

LOVE this recipe. So very simple yet produces a delicious JAM !!
Easy recipe that I will use over and over, as my Mariposa PLUM tree produces a bounty every year.

Jun 04, 2022 by Tammy

Can this recipe be safely tripled? Just not a big enough batch for our family.

Response: Yes, you can. It might take more time to cook when cooking in a large quantity.

Jul 19, 2021 by DAVID FOX

Im giving you a 5 and giving myself a 3. I followed the instructions carefully with the exception of cooking time. This is about the 3rd time I have made jam and this time the jam failed to set up. I lost track of cooking time. Can I heat the jam up again to increase the thickness?
Thanks,
David Fox

Response: Yes, you can heat the jam again to increase the thickness.

Oct 03, 2020 by Annie

I tripled the ingredients for each batch, and boiled for 25 min at 5000' elevation. The plate trick works well! Thank you.

Jul 26, 2020 by Myra

This recipe was great! Thank you!!!

Aug 24, 2019 by Susan Mason

Just tried this recipe today. Delicious! Thank you so much!

Oct 02, 2017 by Victoria

I'm a diabetic n would really love a diabetic version...
I just made some plum jam.
And it was fantastic but it had A LOT of sugar for me.

Sep 28, 2017 by peggy

Hi can I freeze the jam in mason jars when its cooked to keep longer. Thanks.

Response: Hello Peggy, I am not able to answer this question as I have never freeze the cooked jam and so not sure about its shelf life in the freezer.

Sep 03, 2017 by Valerie Russell

This is the best recipe ...I have just finished a second (triple the amounts) batch. Absolutely delicious and so easy to make.

Aug 28, 2017 by Khurshid Khan

How can I soften the jam, may be I over cooked it otherwise it tastes delicious.

Response: Mix the jam with hot boiling water and cook it again to soften it. Make sure to try that in small batches.

Aug 23, 2017 by Dorothy Christensen

I have many wild plums. Can I use this reciepe without the pectin.

Response: Yes, you can use wild plums.

Mar 03, 2017 by Zaira

Absolutely perfect! This was my first attempt on making a jam and it has turned out beautiful! I added just a dash of all spice to it rather than ginger.. but I must say this jams tastes a million times better than any store bought one.. and why wouldn't it it has no chemicals .. preservatives which can't even be spelled! Thank you for this simple yet perfect recipe!

Jan 20, 2017 by Shirley

Wow this is the first jam I have made without any failure. The jam is yummy and the texture is perfect. spreads just like a shop brought jam. Thank you for posting this easy peasy, tasty plum jam recipe. I m off to make another batch hehe.

Response: Thank you Shirley for trying the recipe. Glad to hear that you got the perfect texture and taste of the jam.

Jan 18, 2017 by Amanda

I made this recipe just as written. It was simple with very good results.

Response: Thank you Amanda for trying the recipe.

Jan 16, 2017 by Judy McCrea

Could I use frozen plums?

Response: No, you cannot use frozen plums.

Sep 01, 2016 by Lorraine

Lovely recipe. Turned out exactly as you described. I used Italian prune plums...my fav!

Response: Thank you Lorraine for trying the recipe and sharing the feedback.

Aug 31, 2016 by Heidi

So I have a golden plum tree in my yard and I wanted to try a non-pectin jam with it. My plums must be much juicier than the purple/red plums you're using in the photo because it took my jam 1.5-2 hours to cook down and thicken. The flavor is much deeper as it's kind of carmelized now, which I don't think I like as much as the milder sweet version I get with the less cooked, pectin added, recipes. I might consider straining just a little bit next time and see if that helps with the cooking time. Any other suggestions?

Response: Yes Heidi, you can strain the juice a little bit to reduce the cooking time. When you make this next time, 1. don't use overripe plums, 2.use the broad pan and 3. cook jam in small batches (instead of cooking in a single large batch) to get the more natural fruit taste.

Aug 29, 2016 by Sondra Robinson

My plums are just a tad firm, did you do your plums when they were soft?

Response: Hello Sondra, I generally made the jam when the plums are either slightly under ripe or ripe but not very soft.

Aug 26, 2016 by Leslie

I made your jam yesterday and am happy with the results. We had a lot of Italian plums from our tree. After giving loads away, eating them and making a tart and chutney, I decided to try jam. I tripled the recipe. My only complaint is that the lemon flavor sort of drowns out the plum flavor. Ideas?

Response: Thank you Leslie, for trying the recipe. Sometimes, the jam has a mild lemon flavor when the plums are not sweet enough. If you don't like the lemon flavor you can make the jam without it, but you have to keep it in the refrigerator and consume within a month.

Aug 26, 2016 by Noreen

I just made this and it turned out great! Used to always use pectin, but I think this will be better. If you don't get the pectin recipe exactly right, you can end up with rubbery jam. I use the little purple plums that have a big pit. With 9 cups of plums I added about 1/2 as much sugar. (4 cups) Took about 45 minutes to thicken, and I got 5 8oz. jelly jars and one 12 oz. jar.

Response: Thank you Noreen, for trying the recipe and writing the feedback. I am glad to hear that it turned out well.

Aug 23, 2016 by Barbie

May I use honey instead of sugar?

Response: No, you cannot use honey instead of sugar in this recipe.

Aug 17, 2016 by Jenna

How much jam will this recipe make?

Response: Hello Jenna, this recipe makes approx. 1½ cups jam.

Jul 29, 2016 by Susan Pettibone

A question about a slightly different method regarding original cooking of plums. I've been making plum (or when I used to grow them, damsons) jam for several years, but every year I have to research a good recipe! Some years, I get a thickened liquid, other years excellent jam. They all taste great, special. My question is: Is it better to cook the plums (in a tiny bit of water, if needed) first for ten or fifteen minutes BEFORE adding sugar? Or does the addition of sugar right at the beginning of cooking contribute to the plums jelling (with no pectin, using their own pectin) properly? My usual amount of plums per cooking is about four cups of plums. I usually add about three cups of sugar when I add the sugar, after cooking the plums alone for some time. Then I simmer the plums and sugar for twenty minutes or so, till it appears to jell. Can you advise? Thank you!

Response: Hello Susan, I am sorry because I am not able to give you the answer as I always make the jam by cooking the plum and sugar together. I have never made the jam by first cooking the plum and then adding the sugar. As per my view, there is no need to cook plums with water. If the plums are less juicy, mix them with sugar and keep in the refrigerator for 5-6 hours before cooking so, the released plum juice would be enough for cooking.

Jul 20, 2016 by Aileen Burbridge

I am currently asking this plum jam. It has been in the simmer stage now for over 45 minutes and doesn't seem to be thickening. I used 8 cups plums to 3.25 cups sugar and correct amount of lemon juice. Is it taking longer because the batch is bigger and of so, how much longer ?

Response: Yes Aileen, it will take longer time because of the bigger batch. If you are cooking it in a bigger batch, cook it over medium heat until it turns little thick to speed up the process and then simmer it until it's done.

Jul 20, 2016 by Mary Morgan

What altitude are your canning processing times for?

Response: Hello Mary, canning processing time (10 minutes) given in this recipe is for 1000 ft - 6000 ft. For below 1000 ft, canning processing time is 5-minutes and for above 6000 ft, canning processing time is 15 minutes.

Jun 22, 2016 by Sophia

I made plum jam, the first time I made it with pectin, and the jam will not set. It is still thick juice. What can I do to make the jam thicker?

Response: Hello Sophia, If you are preparing the jam with pectin, follow the exact instructions given on the pectin box. When you try the jam next time, cook it a little bit longer before adding the pectin.

Mar 02, 2016 by Anna

Fantastic recipe, it looks so easy! Just a quick question, do you peel the plums or leave them unpeeled?

Response: Hi Anna, plums are used with skin (unpeeled) in this recipe.

Sep 17, 2015 by Kimberly

I made this jam about a month ago (my first time canning!) and it turned out wonderfully! Your directions were easy to follow and it tasted great. I'd like to cut the sugar in my next batch. If I use 1/2 the sugar will it still set up and preserve well?:)

Response: Hi Kimberly, thanks for trying the recipe and I am happy to hear that your jam turned out wonderful. You can reduce the sugar and make the jam but you cannot preserve it for long time (canning). You can store it in the refrigerator for a month.

Sep 05, 2015 by Carollee Allen

What are the proportions of plum:sugar?
Can this be made in larger quantities? I have 8 cups of chopped plums to use & more on the tree.

Response: You can use 2½ cups chopped Ripe Plums:1 cup sugar :

Aug 10, 2015 by Keely

I just tried this recipe and I loved it! Thank you. My jam tastes amazing! And as a first time jam maker, I say my first try was awesome, thanks to your simple instructions!

Jul 21, 2015 by Crystal Howard

Can I freeze this recipe? Or how long will it last in the refrigerator?

Response: Yes, you can keep this jam in refrigerator for up to 6-months.

Jul 03, 2015 by LisaT

So excited to try this today -- my mother used to make plum jam and it was the greatest thing in the WORLD! Thank you!!

Apr 21, 2015 by Marcella

Can you use dried plum in this recipe?

Response: Hi Marcella, I don't have any idea about how to use dried plum to make jam.

Feb 06, 2015 by Katie Kay

I tried this plum jam recipe today, as I had 1 kg of plums that I felt they were not going to be eaten. Delighted with the result and it didn't require a whole lot of fruit or time! And, it tastes wonderful! Thank you.

Response: Thanks Katie for positive feedback.

Dec 20, 2014 by Ainsley

I made this with my beautiful plums when they were just ripe but still sour. I made 5x the quantity and but only used 4x the sugar. After tasting it as it was just beginning to gel, it was delightfully tart, and sweet at the same time. I added 1 cinnamon stick, a very small amount of ground cloves and ground star anise for the remainder of the cooking time. It made a lovely Christmas relish to have with my festive meats.

Response: Thanks Ainsley for trying the recipe.

Sep 16, 2014 by Dorothy McLeod

I put some crystallized diced ginger and about 1/5 tsp of nutmeg in mine and it is delicious!

Plum Jam Recipe - How to Make Best Plum Jam without Pectin (2024)

FAQs

Do you remove skin from plums before making jam? ›

I'd love for you to subscribe so we can stay in touch. Or, visit us on Instagram. To make plum jam, you'll leave the skins on. The skins have quite a bit of pectin in them, so there's no need to add pectin!

How do you reduce tartness in plum jam? ›

Continue stirring the plums and sugar until the fruit starts to turn translucent. At this time, taste for sweetness. Take a small amount of the (still liquid) jam in a teaspoon, cool and taste it. If it tastes too sour for your liking, add a teaspoon or two more of sugar and continue cooking.

What are the best plums for jam? ›

European plums, aka prune plums, are mainly grown to be turned into dried plums. Their thick skins, high sugar content, and dense flesh make them ideal for drying, and best for baking and jam-making.

How do you get jam to set without pectin? ›

The secret ingredient to making jam without pectin is time. The fruit and sugar need plenty of time to cook and thicken. A long, slow boil drives the moisture out of the fruit, helping to preserve and thicken it at the same time.

How do you make plum jam thicker? ›

If, after waiting, you find the jam is still too loose for your liking, empty the jars back into a wide pot and cook again. Wash and sterilize the jars and try again. While you can simply reduce the jam to your liking, you can also add commercial pectin or chia seeds to the reducing jam to guarantee thickening.

Why is my plum jam so thick? ›

So if you use pieces of fruit or whole berries, you are actually using less fruit than if it were mashed, or cooked to a mash and then measured, and you will get a firmer jell. Or you may have used more pectin than the recipe called for. For example, if you used Tablespoons of pectin rather than teaspoons.

Does lemon juice thicken jam? ›

I do occasionally add a satchel of lemon wedges to a jam when I know there is likely to be lower amounts of pectin, like with strawberries. This helps add extra pectin that the berries don't have, but in lower amounts than if I were adding commercial pectin.

How do you make jam taste better? ›

Whole spices such as cardamom pods, allspice berries, black peppercorns, whole cloves, or cinnamon sticks can be infused in a sachet while the jam cooks, or small amounts of ground spices can be added directly in. Warm spices pair especially well with fruit, and a little goes a long way, so taste as you go!

Why does lemon juice help jam set? ›

The addition of lemon juice also helps to activate the pectin and set your jam. Slightly unripe fruit contains more pectin and is more acidic than very ripe fruit and will also help to set your jam more easily.

What cheese goes best with plum jam? ›

Plum Jam – Smoked Gouda, Goat, or Cream. Apricot Jam - Grana Padano, Gran Queso, or Parmigiano Reggiano. Blueberry Jam – Stilton, Manchego, or Goat. Chipotle Jelly – Spicy Blue Cheese, Sharp Cheddar, Aged Parmesan, or Feta.

Can plums be too ripe for jam? ›

Plums: Use fresh, ripe (slightly overripe will work, too!) plums with firm skins and no blemishes/bruising. Any variety will work, though I love making red plum jam.

How do you know when plum jam is ready? ›

You can also let the spoonful of jam sit on the cold plate for 30 seconds and then push it with your spoon or finger. If it wrinkles up, you've reached your setting point. TIP: Use a white plate so you can see the jam clearly. A darker plate or patterned plate may give you the impression your jam is set when it is not.

How did people make jam before pectin? ›

Preservation using honey or sugar was one common method and the Ancient Greeks also used to use honey to preserve quince. Syrups made from honey and sugar were also used to preserve food; honey has no moisture so it preserves any food encased within it.

Is jam better with pectin or without pectin? ›

Strawberry jam with added pectin can be cooked in as little as ten minutes, preserving that fresh berry flavor and quality. Strawberry jam without added pectin needs to be cooked up to four times longer to reach the gel stage, resulting in a much sweeter, less fresh-tasting jam.

What happens if you add sugar before pectin in jam? ›

Do not vary the sequence in which the ingredients are added. For example, powdered pectin does not dissolve in a sugared solution, so if you add the sugar and then the dry pectin, the jam will not be firm. Be sure you use a kettle large enough to accommodate the preserves when they are brought to a full rolling boil.

Do you need to peel plums? ›

The skin is edible, but if you want raw plums without the skin, drop into into boiling water for around 15 seconds, then plunge immediately into cold water and it should come away easily. If you're cooking plums, they're easier to skin afterwards.

Do you have to skin plums? ›

The skin of the plum is safe to eat and provides a sharper flavor than the flesh. Slice the plum into wedges for breakfast, salads, or smoothies.

Do you have to peel plums before baking? ›

Not at all. The skin on plums is very thin and breaks down easily while cooking. You don't need to peel plums when using for baking, roasting, jam, crumbles etc.

Why is my plum jam bitter? ›

Colleen suspects it's to do with the breakdown of sugars that give that bitter taste. When you're cooking the sugars at high heat you get non-enzymatic browning, which occurs either through caramelisation or something called the Maillard reaction. That is an interaction of proteins and sugars.

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