Merry Christmas Jam Recipe prepared with pears, plums, raisins, and fresh figs. The jam also includes some spices. Each spoonful of jam will get you into Christmas mood! Magical for the heart.
Keep a small plate in the freezer, this is to test the setting point of the jam later.
Wash and sterilize your jam jars.
For the jam, start by washing your fruits well. We won't peel them but take out the cores from the plums and pears. Cut your fruits into large chunks and place into a large jam cooking pot.
Pour the sugar over the fruits and mix it all in.
Take the fruits with sugar to the heat.
Add the spices to the fruits with sugar. Make sure to smash open the cardamom pods so that the spice aroma is released into the jam.
Bring your jam to a rolling boil (it will get super foamy).
Take the heat down to a simmer. Stir occasionally and simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes until the jam is set. Jam setting temperature is 105 Celcius/220 Fahrenheit.
To make sure that your jam is set, test it by dropping some of the hot jam on the freezing cold jam. That way the jam cools down instantly and then only can you make out if it's running or set.
The jam is ready when it's not running but set (please refer to video).
Pick out all the spices and with a hand blender mash the jam smooth or semi-smooth.
Pour the jam into the clean sterilized jam jars, up to the rim.
Pour a drop or two of rum, whiskey or similar into the lid to add extra germ protection as this will prolong your jam's shelf life.
Close the jar with the lids tight and turn it quickly upside down when it's still hot. This will create a suitable vacuum and your jam won't get moldy. Leave the jam like that for about 24 hours.
Label your jam with jam name and date. Store in a cool and dry place. Keep in the fridge once opened.
Video
Notes
The fruits need to be 1 kilogram altogether. So you can use 300 grams plums, 300 grams pears, 300 grams fresh figs, and the remaining 100 grams raisins. Or adjust the number of fruits to your liking and let us know in the comments how you made yours.
Use regular granule sugar or to pep up things brown sugar. Do not reduce the amount of sugar! This would ruin the jam and it will turn bad within weeks. The sugar preserves the fruits.