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Homemade Pear Jam

5 from 2 votes

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This homemade Pear Jam recipe is an easy fruit condiment spread! Just 3 ingredients and perfect for breakfast, brunch, and a fall or winter charcuterie board.
Pear Jam in a clear bowl sitting on wood

Homemade Pear Jam is a delicious condiment spread for your baked goods, dessert, and charcuterie board! Just three ingredients gives you a great way to celebrate the classic fall and winter fruit.

Pear Jam in a clear bowl sitting on wood

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Homemade jam is so special and so easy to make! It is a great recipe to use when you have an abundance of pears or are looking for an edible gift idea. With homemade jam, you can control how much sugar you use and if you want to flavor it, such as a cinnamon pear jam!

All you needs is three ingredients and you can make jam that lasts all year. We will use natural pectin from the fruit to thicken the jam.

Use it on everything from breakfast and brunch items like toast or English muffins, to a spread for your charcuterie boards. It also makes a great gift for the holiday season.

Ingredients

Full quantities and details can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

You only need a few ingredients for this easy pear jam recipe:

  • Fresh Pears – use pears that are ripe for optimal flavor. Any variety will do (Bartlett pears are classic).
  • Granulated Sugar – you could also use brown sugar if you want more sweetness
  • Lemon Juice

Equipment

To make the jam, you will need:

  • Small Pot
  • Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Potato Masher
  • Mason Jar (or container for storing) – I like to use half-pint jars as they are smaller (8 ounce jars)

Instruction Overview

Peel the ripe pears if desired and remove the stems and cores. Cut them up into large chunks.

Put the pears, sugar, and lemon juice in a small pot and heat over medium high heat.

The ingredients simmering

Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and continue to simmer the pears.

Mash the pears as much or little as desired with a potato masher to create a jam consistency. Use a cold metal spoon to test consistency.

Let jam set and cool to room temperature before storing or canning. The jam will continue to set as it cools.

Canning

You can use a water bath canner to preserve the jam in jars for shelf storage.

I recommend searching online for specific proven instructions on how to do this as it is very important to do it properly.

In this process you place jars in a boiling-water canner to seal them properly with minimal air bubbles. This with the proper acidity is important for it to be food safe.

If you need your pear jam to be more acidic per those instructions, you can add an acid like a bit of lemon juice or lime juice.

Make sure the top of the jars are clean where they seal so you get the proper canning seal to preserve the jam.

Modifications and Substitutions

Add some warm spice like cinnamon or nutmeg to the pear preserve for a fun flavor!

Frozen fruit will work just fine, it just might take a little longer to cook since it has more moisture.

Pear Jam with goat cheese on a cracker

Kim’s Tips

The jam will thicken a little more as it cools, so stop cooking when it is a touch thin or put some on the back of a frozen spoon (which will immediately give you the cooled consistency) to know when it is ready.

FAQs

How long does pear jam last?

The jam lasts up to three weeks in the refrigerator.

How do you thicken pear jam?

You can continue to cook it, evaporating more of the liquid. Or add a teaspoon or cornstarch while still cooking which will thicken when warmed.

How can I thicken pear jam without pectin?

Cornstarch! When heated, the cornstarch will quickly thicken the jam.

Are pears high in pectin?

Yes, pears have a high level of pectin which means it will help the jam thicken naturally.

What is the difference between jam and marmalade?

Jam is made from whole fruit and marmalade is specifically made from a citrus.
Pear Jam in a clear bowl on a piece of wood
Pin of Pear Jam in a clear bowl with title at top

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Pear Jam in a clear bowl sitting on wood

Pear Jam

This homemade Pear Jam recipe is an easy fruit condiment spread! Just 3 ingredients and perfect for breakfast, brunch, and a fall or winter charcuterie board.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate Save Recipe
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 30 Min or Less, Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 2 cups
Calories: 389kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Peel and cut the pears into large chunks, removing the stems and cores.
  • Place the pears, sugar, and lemon juice in a small or medium saucepan.
  • Bring the fruit to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer to thicken, approximately 15 minutes.
  • Use a potato masher or fork to mash the fruit as much or little as desired.
  • The jam is done when it is thick and more of a clump when put on a cold spoon or cold plate and tilted.
    If it runs like honey, it is not thick enough yet and you need to heat it longer. You want the jam to move slowly when tilted.
  • Store in a jar in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. Or freeze.

Notes

Follow proper canning procedures to store at room temperature. You can also freeze this jam.
The volume you get will vary with how long you cook it (how thick it is) and how much you mash it.
This will roughly fill one pint sized mason jar, which is perfect for storing in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 389kcal | Carbohydrates: 102g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 89g | Vitamin A: 58IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.5mg
By on October 12th, 2022

About Kim

Kim has grown up with a passion for cooking good food! You can find her in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes, making dog treats, and eating Italian food!

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