This homemade apricot jam only requires two ingredients, yet packs more flavor than any store-bought variety you can find. In addition, you’ll learn the ins and outs of canning (spoiler alert: it’s easier than you think).
This recipe for apricot jam couldn’t be more simple. With just two ingredients (just like our strawberry jam or blackberry jam), you’ll have enough jam on hand for months. If you’re feeling generous, you could even share a few jars. What a great friend you are…
Homemade jams were a staple in my home growing up. Canning was an excellent way for my mother to preserve fruits so we could enjoy them year-round. Today, it feels almost surreal that we can get nearly any fruit – no matter what the season – in the produce aisle of the grocery store.
You may feel intimidated about treading into the world of homemade jams, but fear not! By the time you get through this recipe, you’ll feel confident about your canning skills and utterly surprised at how easy the process is. Plus, you’ll have a new money-saving skill in your back pocket and the best charcuterie spread on the block.
Now it’s time to put those fresh apricots to use! Let’s get started.
How to Make Apricot Jam
If you can boil fruit, you can make apricot jam. It’s that simple. Below, find a brief overview of the recipe before you dive in.
- Prepare the Apricots: After you wash the apricots, cut them into halves and remove the seeds. Place them in a large pot and cover them with sugar. Allow apricots to sit overnight in the refrigerator to produce a nice, sweet juice.
- Boil the Apricots in Heats: Once the apricots have sat overnight in sugar, boil them in their juice, stirring now and again to prevent burning. Once boiling, turn off the heat and let jam cool for a bit. Repeat this process 5-7 more times to thicken the jam.
- Mash the Apricots (Optional): If you like a smooth jam, mash the apricots with a potato masher. If you don’t mind the chunks, leave it as is.
- Can the Jam: See instructions below…
Golden Tip: You can use this same process for any fruit jam. Try it with strawberries or cherries!
How to Can Apricot Jam
Canning your apricot jam is a no-brainer. Follow the full-proof sterilization steps below and rest assured that you will have great tasting jam that is safe to eat. If you haven’t already, invest in a set of canning jars.
- Sterilize the Jars: Preheat the oven to 275°F. Thoroughly wash the jars and lids with soap and water. Place them in the oven for at least 20 minutes, or until they are completely dry.
- Remove and Fill Jars: Bring the jam to a final boil when the jars are about 5 minutes out from being fully sterilized. Using an oven mitt, remove the hot jars. Place the hot jam into the jars.
- Seal and Flip Jars: Using an oven mitt, cover each jar tightly with a lid. Turn the jars upside down for an hour to complete the sealing process. Store jam in a cool place, such as your pantry or cupboard.
Tips for the Best Apricot Jam
- Cook jam longer if you like it on the thicker side. The more you boil and cool the jam, the thicker it will become. Keep in mind this also means you will get less jam since more liquid evaporates with each boiling round.
- Use a kitchen timer to remind you when to take the jam off heat. Since you will be doing several rounds of boiling, set a phone or kitchen timer to remind you when it’s time to remove the jam from heat and start the process again. Each boiling round should take 10 minutes and each cooling round should take 5 minutes.
- Freeze jam if you don’t go the canning route. If you choose not to can your jam, freeze it in airtight containers.
- Follow the sterilization process for longer-lasting jam. When canned properly, the jam will last for a few years. Don’t skip any steps and make sure your jars are completely dry before you pour the hot jam into them!
- Flip the jars while the jam is still hot. When hot jam comes into contact with the lid, it helps to seal it.
- Store jam in a cool place. Keep your canned jam in a cool place, out of direct sun.
Ways to Serve Apricot Jam
Apricot jam can be served in a myriad of ways. For breakfast, spread it on top of pancakes, waffles, or crepes. You can also pop it on some sourdough bread for your next turkey and havarti sandwich.
There’s also a ton of great cakes and cookies that call for apricot jam – another great reason to have a stockpile in your pantry! Apricot farmer’s cheese cake, kolaczki (Polish cookies), thumbprint cookies, and meringue sugar cookies are all great recipes to put your jam to good use.
FAQ
Do I need to peel apricots?
You do not need to peel your apricots to make jam. The peel cooks down naturally and blends into the jam seamlessly.
Can you lower the amount of sugar in jam?
You could lower the sugar slightly, but it’s not recommended. The sugar helps to create the boiling syrup and elevates the flavor of the fruit.
Do you need pectin to make jam?
You do not need pectin for this recipe. Some like to use pectin to hold the jam together, but this jam is additive-free and all-natural.
Will my jam thicken as it cools?
Your jam will indeed thicken as it cools. The more it sits at room temperature in the jar, the thicker and more flavorful it will become.
More of Jam Recipes
- Raspberry Jam – Tart and crunchy (three ingredients)
- Prune Jam – Mild and sweet (two ingredients)
Recipe
Instructions
- Rinse apricots, cut them in half, and remove the seeds. Place apricots into a large pot. Cover them with sugar and pop pot into the fridge overnight. As the apricots soak in the sugar, they will product a juice.
- The following day, boil the apricots. Turn off the heat and allow jam to cool completely. Repeat the process 5-7 more time, or until you reach the desired thickness. As it boils, stir the jam occasionally to prevent burning. While your jam is cooking, sterilize your jars to prepare them for canning. Preheat oven to 215°F. Wash the jars and lids with soap and water. Place jars directly on the oven rack. Allow them to bake for 20 minutes, or until they are completely dry and free of water droplets.
- Once you bring your jam to its last boil, add piping hot jam directly into the hot, sterilized jars. Make sure to use an oven mitt when handling the hot jars! Optional: Use a potato masher to remove any lumps from your jam before adding it to the jars.
- Cover each jar with its respective lid. Turn the jars upside down and let them sit at room temperature for an hour. Store jars in a cool place.
What about peaches? Would this recipe work?
Hi Kim, Peaches would work as well. Enjoy!
Hi Natalya, I love the quick and simple recipes you share and would love to make the Apricot Jam.
I normally sterilize my jars in an Instant Pot at one time and after it's cooled and dry I store it so that I will have some sterilized jars to use at any time. Since my jars have cooled, do I need to re-sterilize to make it hot again as it seems like you said we need to pour the piping hot jam into the 'hot' sterilized jars?
Also checking if 5 lbs of apricot includes the seeds or without the seeds? And the 1 qt cane sugar is 4 cups? Can I use White Granulated Sugar?
I would also like to make Guava or Lilikoi Jam but the outer skin is not edible like the apricot. Therefore, would I need 5 lbs of the 'meaty flesh' of these 2 fruits to make this recipe?
Hi Robbie, Yes, you want the jars to be hot, they seal better and you know for sure the jam will stay fresh. Yes, you can sue white granulated sugar. 5lb of apricots without the seed. I have never made Guava or Lilikoi Jam, I am assuming the process would be similar. Hope this helps! It looks like you are cooking so many yummy foods 🙂
Hey! So how many jars does this make? I was just curious as I have quite a few laying around and wanting to make this for Christmas (made homemade applesauce for everyone last year lol) and wanting to make sure I have enough! Thanks!
Makes about 10-12 1/2 pint jars, Felicia! So happy you are making these for your family. Let me know what they think!
I love apricots so this is perfect for me. I had it and I ended up eating some of it by the spoonful.
Haha, I know what you mean, I did too while making it!
I need to try this apricot jam! It looks incredibly delicious!!
Thank you!! Let me know if you do, I'd love to hear your feedback!
This is the easiest jam you will ever make & the yummiest! We love it on toast. Grateful for my apricot trees!
So glad to hear that, thank you!
When I was a child, a lady that was from Poland came to take care of us while my mom was in the hospital. We called her Baba and she made these cookies with apricot filling in them for us. She also made them with some kind of brown nut filling, but I only ate the apricot ones. So good!
Hey Nona, I love that story! Thank you for sharing. It made me think of my baba (grandma).
Could I use dried apricots from Costco, instead of fresh apricots to make the apricot jam recipe?
Hi Nona, I don't think it would work with this recipe. Fresh fruit is the best for making jams.
hi do you have an apple jam recipe? my mom had brought freshly picked apples & doesn't know what to do with them & i cant find a good recipe anywhere? let me know soon thank you? =)
I think it could work, I remember making apple jam with this same recipe.
was it still good? my mom is about to make it this friday but i can't find a good picture recipe anywhere & my mom preferred it to be a russian/ukrainian recipe...so you recommend that my mom try this one just remove apricots to apples lol?
Yes if was great. We are just not huge on apple jam, our favorite has always been prune jam.
ok.thank you
how did u weight apricots?what do you mean quarts?
Most pots have size listed on them. So, this pot I have is 5 quarts so I filled it at about 4 quarts. It doesn't have to be perfect.
Yum yum yum! Making this! How about strawberries? Will it be same process?
Yes, I think strawberries will work great with this recipe. That is my next project 🙂