Low-Sugar Spiced Plum Jam Recipe

By
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek is a former chef who became a cooking school instructor and award-winning food writer.
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Updated on 09/9/19
Spiced plum jam
Anna / Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 60 mins
Servings: 64 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
24 Calories
0g Fat
6g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 64
Amount per serving
Calories 24
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Protein 0g
Calcium 6mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This low-sugar spiced plum jam recipe does not need to be canned and it takes only a fraction of the sugar regular jams call for. Since only 1 1/2 cups sugar is used to make four (8-ounce) jars, and since sugar is what helps to set a jam, the trick here is to use a pectin that is labeled for less-sugar or no-sugar recipes to help it set up. This spiced jam would make a great food gift, especially at the end of summer and beginning of fall when plums are at their juiciest.

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups water
  • 4 allspice berries
  • 2 cinnamon sticks (broken in half)
  • 8 black peppercorns
  • 4 cloves (whole)
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons powdered pectin (for low-sugar or no-sugar recipes)
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar (divided)
  • 1 1/4 pounds red plums (washed, pitted, and roughly chopped)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon butter (to prevent foaming)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a medium saucepan, bring water, allspice, cinnamon, peppercorns, and cloves to a boil over high heat, covered. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.

  3. Strain and measure out 1 1/4 cups, adding more water if needed.

  4. In a large saucepan or pot, combine pectin and 1/4 cup sugar. Stir in plums, spiced water, lemon juice, and butter. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring often.

  5. Add remaining 1 1/4 cups sugar and return the jam to a full rolling boil, stirring. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Remove from heat.

  6. Ladle hot jam into four heatproof or canning jars that have been washed in hot soapy water (sterilizing isn't necessary unless the jam will be canned), rinsed and air dried. Top with lids and rings that have been washed in hot soapy water, rinsed and air dried. Turn upside down onto a clean dish towel.

  7. When cool, turn right side up and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 1 year. If you decide to can the jam for room-temperature storage up to one year.

Tips

  • This jam does not need to be canned, but must be refrigerated (up to 3 weeks) or frozen (up to 1 year).
  • Remember to label each container with the name of the jam and the expiration date. You may also process this jam in a water bath for room-temperature storage at 55 to 70 F (up to one year).