Description
Sweet summer memories bloom in this homemade Apricot Jam, marrying ripe fruit’s natural sugars with gentle spices. Delightful spreads await when fresh apricots meet simple kitchen magic, promising delectable moments on toast or stirred into morning yogurt.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Fruits:
- 8 cups (2 quarts) fresh apricots
Acids/Liquids:
- 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Sweeteners/Preserving Agents:
- 7 cups white granulated sugar
Containers:
- 5 pint-sized canning jars
Instructions
- Carefully prepare apricots by rinsing thoroughly and removing pits, then chop into uniform small segments.
- Transfer chopped apricots to a spacious cooking vessel, introducing fresh lemon juice to enhance flavor profile and prevent fruit discoloration.
- Apply moderate thermal energy, gently simmering the fruit until it transforms into a soft, pulpy consistency.
- Methodically incorporate granulated sugar, maintaining continuous stirring to ensure complete dissolution and prevent potential burning.
- Elevate cooking temperature, triggering an aggressive boiling reaction that helps activate natural pectin and concentrate fruit essence.
- Maintain vigorous stirring during intense boiling phase, monitoring consistency and preventing potential scorching for approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Validate jam’s readiness through temperature-controlled plate technique, observing surface texture for precise gel formation indicators.
- Strategically transfer molten jam into sanitized glass receptacles, ensuring meticulous rim cleansing and precise lid application.
- Execute water bath processing to guarantee preservation integrity and eliminate potential microbiological contamination.
- Allow completed jars to stabilize at ambient temperature, verifying hermetic seal performance after complete cooling period.
Notes
- Choose ripe, slightly soft apricots for the most flavorful and natural sweetness in your jam.
- Use a candy thermometer to ensure the jam reaches the perfect gel point around 220°F for consistent texture.
- Lower sugar versions work well by replacing some sugar with pectin or using low-sugar pectin alternatives for a healthier option.
- Freeze excess jam in airtight containers for up to 6 months, preserving the bright, fresh apricot flavor for future enjoyment.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 232
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg