Vanilla Apricot Jam: Summer in a Jar
Is there a better way to capture summer than to make vanilla apricot jam? There might be, but this beautiful golden amber jam prettily flecked with vanilla seeds is not a bad way to attempt it. Tart and fruity, sweet and aromatic, this jam really is summer in a jar.
Before we set off on our epic holiday to the Isles of Scilly earlier this year, we had much to do. It was the usual scramble to try and use up perishable food before we left.
One of the items that needed attention was a punnet of slightly under ripe apricots. With all the talk of fairtrade vanilla on BBC Radio 4 recently, it was a question of making poached apricots in vanilla syrup or jam. I plumped for the jam and oh boy, I’m so glad I did.
Vanilla Apricot Jam
I used a Trish Deseine recipe as my guide. But as I’m incapable of following recipes unless they’re my own, it morphed somewhat. I reduced the quantity of sugar to fruit and added a little water. I find most jam recipes don’t need nearly the amount of sugar that people seem to think. Apricots, like most stone fruit, are high in pectin, so they don’t need excessive amounts of sugar to set.
The quantity I used made two small jars. It’s really important that you sterilise your jam jars properly if you want to store your jam for any length of time. You can find out the various ways of doing this in my post: how to sterilise glass jars, bottles and associated lids.
The jam turned out to be a beautiful golden amber colour and looked really pretty flecked with vanilla seeds. And it didn’t stop there. It set well and tasted sublime, tart and fruity, but still sweet and aromatic. I haven’t yet used the jam as I’ve been saving it for something special, but I have yet to decide what that special something is going to be.
I quite like my apricot jam on the chunky side, if you prefer it a bit smoother, chop the fruit into smaller pieces.
Update 2019
I’ve made this vanilla apricot jam several times since I posted this recipe. The jam is really delicious just spread on fresh bread with lashings of butter. But I have also used it in these easy jam tarts, apricot buns flavoured with vanilla and this hot chocolate Victoria sandwich cake.
Other Jam Recipes You Might Like
- Chocolate blackberry jam
- Easy carrot jam
- Easy homemade strawberry jam
- Fig, apple & pomegranate jam
- Plum jam
- Quince jelly with optional apple and chilli
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make this aromatic vanilla apricot jam, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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Choclette x
Vanilla Apricot Jam. PIN IT
Vanilla Apricot Jam
Ingredients
- 400 g apricots washed, stoned and roughly chopped -keep the stones
- 300 g golden granulated sugar
- 1 vanilla pod
- 1 lemon juiced
Instructions
- Place the apricots into a stainless steel heavy bottomed pan along with the sugar and the stones.400 g apricots, 300 g golden granulated sugar
- Cut the vanilla pod into small pieces and scatter over the sugar.1 vanilla pod
- Squeeze in the lemon juice and add a splash of water.1 lemon
- Cover the pan with a lid and leave overnight for the flavours to infuse.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Bring it to a rapid boil and let it go for a good ten minutes or until the jam goes from frothy to clear to setting point. Test for setting point by dropping a teaspoonful onto a cold plate. If the jam wrinkles when it's pushed, it's ready.
- Remove the stones with a spoon and ladle the hot jam into two sterilised jars. Cover, seal and label.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Sharing
I’m entering my vanilla apricot jam into Susan’s Home Made & Well Preserved challenge over at A Little Bit of Heaven on a Plate. This is in the vague hope I might get lucky and win a copy of First Preserves by Vivian Lloyd.
This gorgeous preserve is, of course, made from scratch. So I am entering this into Mr JW’s Made With Love Mondays.
This month, it’s J for Jam, so I am also entering my recipe into Alpha Bakes with Caroline Makes and The More Than Occasional Baker.
Its a lovely colour – still trying to enjoy apricots its a work in progress affair! Maybe jam would be a good start!
I think you might find it quite hard not to like homemade apricot jam Anne 🙂
After reading about yours and Jude’s apricot jams I am dying to make this next year. It will be top of my list although I would not be able to save it. I made some lovely apricot compotes this year but now am wishing for them to be in season. Hope you tell us when you do use it or maybe you will just eat it on toast!
Laura, it will be summer before you know it. I too am looking forward to apricot season so I can make some more. Apricots are wonderful for cooking with, your compote sounds delicious too. I’m not really one for jam on toast, but jam on scones with cream – now that’s a different story 😉
That sounds delicious. I do find that the apricots we get here sometimes need a hand in boosting their flavour so vanilla sounds like a great addition. I remember making some blueberry and vanilla jam once that was pretty good too.
You are so right C, I don’t think I’ve had a really good ripe apricot here in the UK. Vanilla is such a good addition, I will try and remember it next time I make jam.
Apricot jam is my favourite jam. It sounds so easy to make. I am not a jam maker expert, but I’m learning a lot of things reading posts like yours. I’m looking forward to read a recipe containing homemade apricot jam.
Rita some jams are much easier than others, this one was really quite simple and it is really delicious.
I love apricots and what a way to make them stretch! =)
Thank you – yes stretching that summer into winter is how I see it 🙂
Apricot Jam is just brilliant for so many things… glazing and lining pastry… this is beautiful C, really beautiful!
Thanks Dom. The number of times I curse not having a jar of apricot jam when it’s needed for a recipe and now I’ve got one I’m not too sure what to make!
Love apricot jam – and I am thinking sacher torte – doesn’t it have a layer of apricot jam – though you probably already have blogged it! But I really love apricot jam on fresh white bread – for more decadence it is great with a little cream (that is how I sometimes had it in my childhood but rarely now)
Johanna, I’ve never made sachertorte, so suspect that’s what I may end up making with it. I just need a suitable occasion. Jam on good bread is delicious but not something I do very often and I’ve never had it with cream. I don’t know why not given that I wouldn’t have a scone and jam without cream.
Its a tough call for me, between raspberry jam and apricot jam as to which is my all time fave. I go through phases I suppose. But Apricot and Vanilla jam sounds positively, mouth wateringly divine. Can’t wait till ‘summer’ so I can make a batch for myself ;0)
Chele this jam is definitely one for you and so easy to make too. Expect summer will be here before we all know it. My favourite jam is usually whatever batch I happen to have made at the time 😉
One of my favourite jams. Homemade one definitely tastes better!
Thanks Angie. I’m very fussy when it comes to jam and can’t bear all the sugar in shop bought jams – homemade is infinitely better.
Looks lovely but, OMG, was it really 400 apricots? 🙂
Ha ha, thanks for picking up on that little blunder Susie – the two jars would have been gallon jars! Now corrected.
I love the colour of your jam, what a great way to use up those apricots!
Thanks Nic, the colour is just what I need to cheer me up at this time of the year.
Oh major jealousy attack! Apricot jam is my favourite and with vanilla it will be divine.
I’ve never made jam with vanilla before Janice – I think I might be doing it again 🙂
I don’t think I could resist just eating it by the spoonful! It looks perfect.
I’ve been remarkably restrained, but I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out.
Wow, this looks and sounds fantastic, Choclette! I’ve never had apricot and vanilla together, but I’m sure it would be delicious. Vanilla bean with most fruits is marvelous… I’m so glad you decided to share and I’m so impressed that you took the time to make your own jam… So cool.
Thanks JW, homemade jam is so much nicer than shop bought, which I always find too sweet. This was the first time I’ve used vanilla in jam before and it was a great success.
I love apricot jam. Infact I am really addicted to it. You have done well at making it yourself !
Thank you Alida. Apricot jam is one of the best, but I have an aversion to shop bought jams which always seem to have too much sugar in them and over processed fruit, so I don’t get to eat it very often.
This sounds gorgeous, it’s a beautiful colour too. Can’t wait to see how you use it.
Thanks Jo, I still haven’t worked out what I’m going to use it for, but use it I most certainly will 🙂
lovely way to have apricot
It’s preserving summer in a jar 🙂