Apricot jam is something that makes the most of those truly ephemeral fruits, with only a few short weeks during summer when specimens can be scooped up and indulged in immediately and also preserved for the rest of the year. We’re going to stop typing now, as we’ve ripe apricots waiting on the counter calling out for us to linger over them at the kitchen sink, juice dribbling down our arms and kerplopping off our elbows and onto the floor.–David Leite

Apricot Jam FAQs

How should I use this apricot jam?

The options are truly endless, but here are a few of our favorites.
∙ Smear it on your toast
∙ Drizzle it over baked brie or goat cheese for an easy, impressive appetizer
∙ Use it to glaze a ham
∙ Jazz up roasted carrots
∙ Dazzle your guests with this pork with chanterelles recipe

How can I tell when my jam is done cooking?

There are a few methods you can use for testing if a jam is ready. The quickest is to scrape a wooden spoon across the bottom of your pot and if a line of separation stays visible for a few seconds, your jam is likely ready.

For a more specific test, you can measure the temperature on an instant-read thermometer. Jam typically sets at 220°F (104°C).

Lastly, a popular method for testing is to put a few small white plates in the freezer while you’re making your jam. When you think it is set, put a small spoonful on one of the plates. Let it sit for 30 seconds then nudge the jam and if it wrinkles up, it’s ready. If not, continue cooking for a few more minutes and test again with another plate.

Do I have to can this jam?

Nope. Once the jam is thickened pour it into jars and stash in the fridge or freezer. Use within 3 months.

What do I do if my jam jar doesn’t seal in the hot water bath?

Pop that one in the refrigerator and use it first.

A jelly jar filled with apricot jam and a spoon resting on top.

Apricot Jam

5 / 2 votes
This no pectin apricot jam recipe, made with only three ingredients – fresh apricots, sugar, and lemon juice – is an easy way to make apricot season last all year long.
David Leite
CourseCondiments
CuisineAmerican
Servings24 servings | 3 jars
Calories65 kcal
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes

Equipment

  • Three 8-ounce jelly jars with lids and screwbands

Ingredients 

  • 5 1/2 cups unpeeled, chopped, and pitted fresh apricots
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, (from 1 lemon)
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

Instructions 

  • Prepare three 8-ounce Mason jars, lids, and screwbands for canning per the manufacturer’s directions.
  • Place the apricots and lemon juice in a large stock pot. Add the sugar. Let the mixture sit at room temperature, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is mostly dissolved, about 1 hour.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often.
  • When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring often and skimming any foam that rises to the surface, for 20 minutes or until the jam thickens and runs off the side of a spoon in heavy drops. Remove from the heat.
  • Fill and seal the hot sterilized jars one at a time according to the manufacturer’s directions. Process the jars in the boiling water canner for 10 minutes. Store at room temperature for up to 1 year.
The Harrow Fair Cookbook

Adapted From

The Harrow Fair Cookbook

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Nutrition

Serving: 2 tablespoonsCalories: 65 kcalCarbohydrates: 16 gProtein: 1 gFat: 0.2 gSaturated Fat: 0.01 gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1 gSodium: 0.5 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 16 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Mention @leitesculinaria or tag #leitesculinaria!
Recipe © 2010 Moira Sanders | Lori Elstone. Photo © 2010 Mike McColl. All rights reserved.

Recipe Testers’ Reviews

What a great jam this is! It tastes as apricot jam should—slightly tart and full of apricot flavor. I make apricot jam regularly and really like this version as it’s not cloyingly sweet like many of them are. I had to force myself to stop eating it with a spoon. This is a simple, great-tasting jam that anyone could make, even without any jam-making or canning experience.

I used 26 apricots which weighed 2 1/4 pounds. The jam thickened and jelled perfectly. As I have more apricots, my plan is to make this with lime or maybe infuse it with an herb such as sage, lemon thyme, or rosemary. However, it’s lovely as it is.

My mind is swimming with plans for this, including alongside baked country ham, seared duck breast, and on a charcuterie board.

This pectin free apricot jam was so easy! I didn’t jar any of it since I planned to use it all very quickly. The first day I made it the jam was good, but a day or two later it was even better.

This was a perfect treat to make bagged lunches much more special. I used some of the jam to make thumbprint cookies and Giada De Laurentiis’ apricot bars, but it’s also wonderful on a PB&J and on toast.

My first memory of apricot jam was when I was about 10 years old. I was home from school for the summer and wanted a PB&J sandwich. We must have been out of grape jelly, so I used apricot jam. I haven’t had many PB&J sandwiches since without apricot jam.

Apricots are little orbs of edible sunshine with their soft, fuzzy skin and delicate scent. The first bite always brings visions of warm sunny days. Summer can be had year-round when apricots are turned into a delicious jam.

I love apricot jam, but had never made it before. I like that the recipe uses less sugar than a lot of other recipes.

It’s great on toast and in recipes. Definitely a keeper.

This apricot jam recipe was easy and simple to follow. I filled a 500-milliliter Mason jar and had a little bit more. A very basic and good recipe for jam.




About David Leite

I count myself lucky to have received three James Beard Awards for my writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. My work has also appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appรฉtit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


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22 Comments

  1. I make a dipping sauce for crab rangoon and coconut shrimp using orange marmalade, horseradish and dijon mustard. I’m going to look for apricots to make this jam for the sauce. If I can’t find any, do you think I could substitute peaches – as we have lots of those here?

    1. Hi Martha, we didn’t test the jam using peaches but I bet they would be a great substitute for apricots.

  2. Sounds wonderful and I love, love apricots. As I am trying to eliminate processed foods from my diet, would I be able to substitute stevia for the sugar (or part of it)?

    1. Hi Marilyn, this is a tricky question. According to the USDA canning site sugar should not be substituted as it is a preservative as well as a gelling agent. I’ve read some results of canning with stevia and the common complaint is a lingering aftertaste. I’d be inclined to treat yourself and make the recipe as written, or make a small batch with Stevia and see if you like it. Please let us know how it turns out.

      1. Hi Beth – Well, I made it using only stevia. Even though I used the 2 1/4 lbs of apricots called for in the recipe, it made just one pint-sized jar. It is not sweet and the apricot really comes through – I like my jams chunky so I processed it a little less and did not do the hot water bath as I am using the jam now. I used 3/4 cup Stevia In The Raw in place of the 1 1/2 cups of sugar called for in the recipe. If you like your jams sweeter, I would probably add some regular sugar to the concoction. I enjoyed the jam on an English muffin this morning and loved it. If I was desiring a sweeter taste, I could have drizzled a little honey or agave on it too. All in all, I was happy with the results.

        1. Wonderful, Marilyn. I’m so glad that it worked out and that you shared your results with us and all our readers. Thank you!