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Perfect Honeyed Apricot Preserves with Vanilla Bean

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A luscious homemade apricot preserve recipe sweetened with honey and infused with real vanilla bean, offering a perfectly balanced, spreadable texture and a warm, floral flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds fresh apricots (about 1.4 kg), ripe but firm
  • 1 cup raw honey (340 g)
  • 1 whole vanilla bean pod, split lengthwise and scraped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (30 ml)
  • 1/4 cup water (60 ml)
  • Pinch of fine sea salt (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse the apricots well. Cut them in half, remove pits, and roughly chop into quarters for a chunkier texture or smaller pieces for smoother preserves. Set aside.
  2. Using a sharp knife, split the vanilla bean pod lengthwise. Scrape out the tiny seeds with the back of the knife and set both seeds and pod aside.
  3. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, add apricots, honey, lemon juice, water, vanilla seeds, and the scraped pod. Stir gently to mix everything evenly.
  4. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered. Stir every few minutes until the fruit breaks down and the mixture thickens, about 30-40 minutes. The preserves are ready when they coat the back of a spoon and reach 220°F (104°C) on a candy thermometer.
  5. Remove the vanilla pod and discard. To test the set, drop a small spoonful of preserves onto a cold plate and tilt it; if it wrinkles slightly, it’s set.
  6. Using a funnel, carefully fill hot, sterilized jars with preserves, leaving about 1/4 inch (6 mm) of headspace. Wipe rims clean and seal with lids.
  7. Process jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes to store long-term. Remove and cool completely before storing.

Notes

Skim foam during cooking for clearer preserves. Stir gently but consistently to prevent scorching and maintain fruit texture. Remove vanilla pod before jarring. Use the cold plate test to check set if no candy thermometer is available. For vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.

Nutrition

Keywords: apricot preserves, honeyed apricot jam, vanilla bean preserves, homemade jam, easy preserves recipe, natural sweetener, fruit preserves

Find it online: https://leilameals.com/perfect-honeyed-apricot-preserves-with-vanilla-bean-easy-homemade-recipe/