Preserve the Season with Our 13 Favorite Jam and Jelly Recipes
Enjoy that perfect produce all year long.
Though one of the best parts of summer is the abundance of incredible fruits and vegetables, sometimes those blessings are just too much. Whether your backyard bramble drops more berries than you can eat or you just can’t resist overdoing it at the farmer’s market, it’s tough to decide what to do with this sweet seasonal harvest. That’s when to let your inner prepper out. Winter is coming, and you’re going to miss the dizzying heights of peak-season produce. The best way to preserve it all? Jams and jellies.
Roll up your sleeves, throw on an apron, and grab as many jars as you can carry. Simple fruit preserves will keep your market haul good for a few extra weeks in the fridge (or several months in the freezer), or try your hand at our streamlined canning method to stock your larder for the snowy season ahead.
Homemade jams and jellies are infinitely better than the overly sweet, preservative-packed stuff you find in conventional grocery stores, and they allow for plenty of creative customization too. Rhubarb and strawberries are a lovely early summer pairing, while blueberries, enhanced with a squeeze of lemon juice and a few sprigs of thyme, make for an elegant, late-season conserve. No matter which ingredients you start with, seek out the ripest specimens you can find so you can enjoy that fresh-from-the-market flavor all year long.
Plum and Raspberry Jam
This recipe, which can be adjusted to feature a variety of different fruits, is adapted from the basic jam recipe in Camilla Wynne’s book Jam Bake: Inspired Recipes for Creating and Baking with Preserves. Get the recipe for Plum and Raspberry Jam »
Rock ‘N’ Rye Peach Jam
Cookbook author Cathy Barrow adds rye whiskey and cardamom to this peach jam, giving it a slightly spicy, complex depth. Get the recipe for Rock ‘N’ Rye Peach Jam »
Italian Plum Jam
The elusive Italian plum makes a luscious, ruby-colored jam. Get the recipe for Italian Plum Jam »
Plum Paste (Plumbrillo)
Italian plums on their way to becoming plumbrillo, a riff on the quince paste known as membrillo. Get the recipe for Plum Paste (Plumbrillo) »
Rhubarb and Angelica Jam
Angelica, the herb used as a main flavoring component of Chartreuse, adds a distinct anise aroma and flavor to this sweet-and-tart rhubarb jam. Get the recipe for Rhubarb and Angelica Jam »
Four Pepper Jelly
Jalapeños, red bell peppers, poblanos, and serrano chiles come together in this spicy-sweet jelly from Elizabeth Stark, the blogger behind Brooklyn Supper. It’s perfect paired with rich meats, spread on sandwiches, or served on a cheese-and-cracker spread. Get the recipe for Four Pepper Jelly »
Melon Butter
Like apple butter, melons can be cooked down to a jammy, spreadable condiment, as in this recipe from chef Silvia Baldini of Strawberry and Sage. Spread it on toast tomorrow morning or save it (via proper canning technique) for a pork chop in the dead of winter. Get the recipe for Melon Butter »
Hugh Acheson’s Ramp Jam
Chef Hugh Acheson gave us the recipe for this simple, savory jam, featured in his cookbook The Broad Fork. It’s perfect for serving with shaved pork loin or steak and eggs, or simply spooned on toast. Get the recipe for Hugh Acheson’s Ramp Jam »
Rhubarb-Rose Oven Jam
For an easy, splatter-free jam, make it in the oven. This version adds floral flavors to sweet-tart rhubarb with vanilla bean and rosewater (we recommend Carlo for its fresh flavor). Get the recipe for Rhubarb-Rose Oven Jam »
Rhubarb Compote
Cooking the rhubarb quickly is the secret to this compote from pastry chef Michael Laiskonis. By peeling the rhubarb before dicing and tossing it into a hot sugar syrup, he minimizes the cook time, preserving the rhubarb’s bright flavor. Get the recipe for Rhubarb Compote »
Blueberry Jam with Lemon and Thyme
Blueberries are great candidates for jam-making because of their high level of pectin—preserve them at the height of summer and enjoy their flavor year-round. Get the recipe for Blueberry Jam with Lemon and Thyme »
Nancy’s Violet Jelly
Violets picked in spring make for an aromatic accompaniment that can be enjoyed all year round. Portion in small baby food jars and you’ve got lovely Mother’s Day gifts. Get the recipe for Nancy’s Violet Jelly »
Garlic Jelly
Boiling garlic with apples yields this mild, sweet British condiment. Its honeylike consistency makes it perfect for drizzling over roast lamb. Get the recipe for Garlic Jelly »
