Cooked Fruit Jam

I love jam. I don’t, however, love the ratio of fruit to sugar in traditional jam recipes. Typically, you’re using more sweetener than actual fruit! This is due to the nature of pectin! It needs the sugar to thicken the fruit! So much science in jam! (Read this.)

Thankfully, there are other options for thickening the fruit. My favorite is a starch product called E-Z Gel. This non-gmo, corn derivative thickens hot or cold liquids in as little as five minutes, without adding to flavor of its own to the food.

It is easy to use, versatile in many applications, and will not separate or weep even after being cooked, canned, or frozen.

All those things are GREAT, my favorite feature of E-Z Gel is that it is not dependent on sugar to thicken the food. Unlike traditional pectin, which we relies on the ideal ratio of fruit to sugar to water, E-Z Gel will thicken any formula you create. You are no longer limited to the few recipes available, all full of sugar. Now you can make your own creations and rest assured knowing that E-Z Gel will make it all work.

We first used E-Z Gel to make a reduced-sugar freezer jam. We love that recipe and recommend it for quick, fast, and delicious jam.

And now we have a cooked jam recipe for you to try! This is great for long-term storage, as you can process this jam in a water bath canner, making it shelf stable for years to come!

Print Recipe

Cooked Fruit Jam with E-Z Gel

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Serves: 3 pints / 6 cups

Ingredients

• 6 cups chopped or crushed fruit
• 1/2 cup - 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup E-Z Gel
• 1/2 cup lemon juice

Instructions

1

Combine fruit, 1/2 cup sugar, and lemon juice in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Do not heat on high, as it will scorch.

2

Taste and add more sugar if needed.

3

Gradually add E-Z Gel, stirring constantly. Cook until thick and bubbly. Add more E-Z Gel for thicker jam. Add more fruit puree or fruit juice for thinner jam.

4

Ladle into sterilized jars, leaving 1/2" headspace. Adjust lids and process in a water bath canner for 35 minutes.

Notes

- The amount of fruit is measured after it has been chopped. - The amount of sugar can be adjusted for desired sweetness. E-Z Gel is not dependent on sugar for thickening, so you can more or less, adjusting to your preferences. - Use bottled lemon juice, as it has a consistent Ph level, unlike fresh juice. - The recipe can easily and successfully be halved or doubled, depending on your quantity of fruit!

Need canning supplies? Check out our selection at gygi.com!