Apricot Jalapeño Jam

Apricot Jalapeño Jam ~ it’s sweet, hot, sticky, and makes an insanely delicious appetizer with soft cheese and crackers.  Do this hot pepper jam small batch refrigerator style, or can up a bunch to last you the year, it’s up to you.  

I’ve said it before, but peppers, in all their glorious variety, are my desert island ingredient.  

Every year I wait patiently for summer fruit season to get here just so I can replenish my supply of all kinds of hot pepper jams and jellies.  I have fun figuring out new and improved versions every year, and this season is kicking off with a spicy bang.  

Serve this one the regular way, with a soft cheese like cream cheese, soft goat cheese, Brie, or, if you’re feeling like splurging, with a triple cream cheese like St. Andre.  The high butterfat content makes a luxurious pairing with this sweet and spicy jam.  But hot pepper jams and jellies aren’t only for the cheeseboard…use this one as a glaze for grilled meats and fish.  Use it in your favorite bbq sauce recipe, dressings, marinades, or spoon it over ice cream.  It takes turkey, grilled cheese, or pb&j sandwiches to a whole new level.

Apricot Jalapeño joins a whole family of hot pepper condiments on the blog, here are just a few to check out…

Rosé Wine Hot Pepper Jelly

~ another unique and gorgeous appetizer jelly made with jalapeños.  I love to give it as gifts during the holidays.  

Super Easy Hot Pepper Jelly

~ this one is the classic, combining bell and hot peppers for a pretty confetti appearance and great sweet/hot flavor.

Hot Pepper Honey

~ this stuff is killer on soft cheese, but I use it in dressings, marinades, and sauces, too, yum!

Habanero Nectarine Hot Pepper Jam

~ one to try if you can really stand the heat!

Hot Pepper Cranberry Jam

~ this is a must during the holidays.

It would be tough to pick a favorite hot pepper jam, but this one is definitely a top contender.  Apricots have such an intensely sweet/tart flavor that goes exceptionally well with the heat of the jalapeños.  Neither of the ingredients dominate, and they both add fierce flavor to this bold jam.

There is something so relaxing and downright therapeutic about making jams and jellies in the summer!

To make small batch apricot jalapeño freezer jam ~

• Simply ladle the hot jam into clean jars, let cool, then cap and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks, or freeze for up to a year.  If freezing, be sure to leave at least 1/2 inch free space at the top to allow for expansion.

To can this apricot jalapeño jam for longer storage ~

• Ladle the hot jam into sterile canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch free headspace.  
• Wipe the rims, and then screw on the caps till you meet resistance, but not too tightly.
• Boil in a hot water canner, completely covered with water,  for 10 minutes.
• Cool and store.
• I use Weck canning jars, from Germany, they’re functional and pretty enough to gift.  I always fill a variety of sizes for each batch of jam that I make so that I have plenty of serving and gifting options.

To make this apricot jalapeño jam without added pectin ~

• Pectin is not essential to making or canning jam, although jams and jellies without pectin are generally softer setting.
• Just follow the recipe, omitting the pectin, then boil the jam for a longer period of time, until it thickens through evaporation.  When I do this method I don’t add the jalapeños until later in the boiling process so they stay fresher.
• Your jam needs to reach a temperature of 220F (104C)  Note: if you live in a higher elevation this temperature will be lower.  Check the chart for your particular situation, here.
• You can do a gel test to check if it’s ready: put a drop of hot jam on a plate that has been chilled in the freezer.  Freeze the jam on the plate for one minute, then check, it should be set and the surface should wrinkle slightly when pushed.  If not, boil longer.

Grocery list ~

• 2 lbs fresh apricots (for jam you don’t necessarily have to buy ultra ripe fruit.  Just make sure they’re not super hard to the touch, and if they are, leave them out on the counter for a few days.
• granulated sugar
• 2 fresh lemons
• 3 fresh jalapeño peppers
• a box of Sure Jell dry pectin

*this recipe is adapted from the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving

Make it your own ~

• Canning recipes are formulated in a precise way in order to be safe for preserving.  If you change up this recipe, use it as a refrigerator or freezer jam, but don’t can it.
• You can use less sugar in this jam but be aware that sugar helps jams and jellies to ‘gel’.  
• Use other fruit like peaches, plums, strawberries, etc.
• If you love the heat, you can use hotter peppers like Serrano or Habanero.  
• If you’l like less heat, remove the seeds and ribs from the jalapeño, and just use 1 or 2.