Easy Small Batch Plum Jam with Cardamom
A beginner-friendly, small batch plum jam recipe with a warm cardamom twist, perfect for quick homemade preserves with fresh, slightly chunky texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: About 1 cup (2 small jars) 1x
- Category: Preserves
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 g) fresh plums, ripe but firm
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup (60 ml) water
- ½ teaspoon (1 g) ground cardamom
Instructions
- Rinse and dry about 1 pound (450 g) of fresh plums. Pit and roughly chop them into bite-sized pieces. Do not peel.
- In a medium saucepan, combine chopped plums, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice, ¼ cup (60 ml) water, and ½ teaspoon (1 g) ground cardamom. Stir gently to combine.
- Place the pan over medium heat. Stir occasionally as the mixture heats and begins to bubble. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer gently, stirring every few minutes to prevent burning. Cook for 30-35 minutes until plums break down and mixture thickens.
- Test jam consistency by placing a small spoonful on a chilled plate and tilting it. If it wrinkles and doesn’t run quickly, it’s ready. If not, simmer a few more minutes, checking every 5 minutes.
- Optional: For smoother jam, press through a fine mesh sieve or pulse a few times with an immersion blender, keeping some texture is recommended.
- Pour hot jam into clean glass jars or containers, leaving space at the top. Let cool completely at room temperature before sealing and refrigerating. Jam will thicken further as it cools.
Notes
Use ripe but firm plums to avoid runny jam. Stir frequently to prevent sticking and burning. Lemon juice is essential for brightness and setting. For thicker jam, simmer longer or add chia seeds. Cardamom can be substituted with cinnamon or allspice. Store refrigerated up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons (40 g)
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 13
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: plum jam, small batch jam, cardamom jam, homemade jam, beginner jam recipe, fruit preserves, easy jam recipe