Homemade Peach Jam Recipe

If you can chop, boil, and pour you can make delicious homemade peach jam! The secret ingredient in homemade jams is love of course!

Canning really is as simple as chopping, boiling and pouring, but there are a few nuances in how those three are done. 

For instance, pouring requires knowledge of the head space called for in a recipe. Boiling requires paying attention to your jam for that special moment when it comes to the rolling boil. While carefully chopping ensures accurate measurements for a successful recipe.

For novices and pros alike, it helps to prepare by reading canning guides by the National Center for Home Food Preservation. 

This year, our peach tree teased us from February onward with the most gorgeous peach blossoms.

I wasn’t going to make peach jam this year since I’m busy running after a wild animal/ toddler! However, after eating peaches all week I could not resist! I know I will be glad to have saved up a little taste of summer once autumn rolls around. 

I had such delicious success with Ball’s traditional peach jam recipe, it also has the least sugar. So here is how to make peach jam.

Buen provecho,

Laura

Tools / Prep

• 8 - 8oz jars and lids, washed in warm soapy water;
• 8 unused lids;
• 8 bands;
• Jar funnel;
• Lid lifter;
• Jar lifter;
• Head space tool;
• Silicone ladle;
• Canning rack;
• 4 qt stainless steel stock pot;
• 7 qt stock pot for boiling jars. 

Ball Preserving Starter Kit - Make your first batch of fruit jam.

Ingredients 

• 4 cups peaches 🍑, *peeled and chopped.
• 4 Tablespoons lemon juice 🍋;
• 1.75g powdered fruit pectin (I use Sure Gel);
• 5 cups granulated white sugar.

*To reduce waste and save time, I blanch my peaches for 2 minutes in boiling water. The peels slide right off in one piece! The resulting peaches are beautiful, smooth and peachy hued of course.

Make It

Blanch Peaches, Optional

Blanching peaches saves time, reduces waste, deters bacteria   and preserves peach’s color. Blanching only takes between 20 seconds and 2 minutes depending on how ripe the peaches are. The shock caused in blanching helps the peels slide right off in one fell swoop! 

1. Prepare a large bowl of ice water;
2. Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil;
3. Toss in whole peaches and boil for 20 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on how firm the peaches are. 
4. Set blanched peaches in ice water bowl.
5. Skins should peel off in one piece to reveal perfectly smooth peaches! 

Homemade Peach Jam Recipe

1. Add 4 cups of chopped peaches to large stock pot over medium heat;
2. Add 4 Tbs lemon juice and whisk in pectin;
3. Bring to a boil for 1 minute;
4. Skim off foam;
5. Add all the sugar at once;
6. Bring to rolling boil that cannot be stirred down for 1 minute;
7. Turn off heat;
8. Ladle peach jam into each jar, while leaving a 1/4inch headspace;
9. Wipe rims of each jars with a towel dipped in white vinegar to remove any drips and ensure a tight seal;
10. Place lid and ring on each jar;
11. Screw ring “fingertip tight;”
12. Carefully, place jars in the pot of boiling water, completely covered by the water;
13. Allow jars to boil for 10-minutes;
14. Turn off heat and leave jars in the pot for 5-minutes;
15. Remove jars from pot, set over kitchen towel and wait for the jars to seal. 
16. Check each seal, and store in a cool cupboard for up to 18 months.

Once opened, refrigerate your jam for up to 3 months.

Peach Tree Notes for July 2020

This is the first year our peach tree actually gave us more than one good peach! 

Our tree had been doing quite awful for the past 3 years due to spider mites and leaf curl. This year we made it a point to water our tree consistently since spider mites are less likely to attack well watered fruit trees.

Our peach tree grew bushier than ever! It had the longest branches of any year, and even made us a dozens of peach tree babies, which we’ve been collecting and potting all over the yard.