Learn how to make sugar free plum jam with chia seeds. This homemade plum jam is naturally sweetened and is super easy, ready in around 10-15 minutes.
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Here’s the thing, I love jam, but I don’t like the sickly sweetness of most of the traditional jams.
So what’s better than a traditional jam full of sugar?
A homemade sugar-free jam.
In this post I will show you how to make a wonderful quick go-to jam, I used plum this time because it’s stone fruit season and I can’t go past all the wonderful fruits.
I remember my mother would always make quince jam when I was a kid, she would leave it on the stovetop for what seemed like forever to get the fruit nice and thick. I also recall all the sugar being used.
This recipe is a quick jam and is thick enough too spread but isn’t as thick as a traditional or commercial jam. I got my trusty taste-testers (family - some are super fussy) to try it out and it got the thumbs up.
😋Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s a healthy jam - refined sugar-free - traditional jam uses a ratio of sugar:fruit 1:1, this jam recipe is naturally sweetened
- Perfect for the super busy schedules - cooked in 10-15 minutes
- The intense flavouring is tantalising; it’s got the right amount of sweetness and tartness taste that is not present in commercial jams
- It’s a small batch jam - meaning you can whip up a jar of jam on the fly knowing it's the freshest jam ever!
🥘Ingredient Notes
- Plum - I like to use plums that are ever so slightly soft. You can use any coloured plum, I used black plums with the skin on, which resulted in vibrant red colour. You could even blend different colour plums.
- If using other Fresh fruit - use only good quality fruit. Ensure there is no bruising.
- Chia seeds - Use the light grey variety for better aesthetics. The chia seeds within this recipe are kept whole and resemble the feeling of eating any type of seeds in jam - think raspberry or strawberry seed. If you prefer a smoother jam, use ground chia seeds.
- Maple Syrup - it is my go-to sweetener of choice. Derived from a maple tree with a small amount of processing, it hosts a range of minerals and vitamins. Always buy 100% organic maple syrup* and not a maple syrup imitation. Whenever I feel the need to sweeten my hot beverages such as healthy moringa latte, fresh herbal tea or dalgona coffee I opt for maple syrup.
🔪Step by Step Guide
Here’s how to make sugar free plum jam
Step 1 - Over medium heat in a saucepan, add plums, lemon and maple syrup, bring to the boil and turn the heat down slightly allowing plums to simmer, reduce and soften for approx. 10-15 minutes.
Step 2 - Add chia seeds, stir through for a minute and then turn the heat off. Allow the plum jam to thicken by cooling down at room temperature. Store in an airtight jar in the fridge and use as needed.
💡What to serve with?
This plum jam is perfect on scones, bread, pancakes, biscuits, cookies, part of a grazing board, in your muesli/granola and more. I sometimes like to mix it up with my healthy rice pudding. Try it on these vegan crepes.
💭Pro Tips
- Chop the plums into small pieces to help them cook faster.
- Keep watch and ensure the fruit doesn’t burn whilst cooking.
- The texture of the jam can be made to suit just how you like it. You can leave it chunky or mash the plums up a little using a potato masher* once they have softened through cooking.
- As this sugarless jam cools down, it will thicken considerably. The chia seeds are what thickens and sets this jam as it releases its gel. Take your spatula and draw a line down the middle of the saucepan, it should come together slowly when cool.
- Once completely cool, store this homemade vegan jam in a sterilised air-tight jar (I like recycling glass jars) for approx. a couple of weeks in a refrigerator
🍳Variations
- The basic ingredients of this sugar-free jam are; fruit, lemon, maple syrup. You can use any fruit or berry that you desire. Think peaches, strawberries, mulberries, quince or whatever your favourite fruit is.
- Maple syrup* - the amount used can be adjusted to suit how suit you like it. However as maple syrup is runny, the more used, the less thick the jam will be, you will need to simmer a little longer.
🥘Related Recipes
Did you enjoy making this sugar free plum jam? I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below and give me a rating. This will help me sustain Plant-Based Folk.
Alternatively, did you happen to take a photo? Tag me @plantbasedfolk on Instagram to be featured via stories.
Janelle x
📖 Recipe
Sugar-Free Plum Jam (No Pectin & Naturally Sweetened)
Ingredients
- 2 cups Plum chopped
- ½ small Lemon juiced
- 2 tbsp Chia seed
- 2 tbsp Maple syrup
Instructions
- Over medium heat in a saucepan, add plums, lemon and maple syrup, bring to the boil and turn the heat down slightly allowing plums to simmer, reduce and soften for approx. 10-15 minutes.
- Add chia seeds, stir through for a minute and then turn the heat off. Allow the plum jam to thicken by cooling down at room temperature. Store in an airtight jar in the fridge and use as needed.
Video
Notes
- Chop the plums into small pieces to help them cook faster.
- Keep watch and ensure the fruit doesn’t burn whilst cooking.
- The texture of the jam can be made to suit just how you like it. You can leave it chunky or mash the plums up a little using a potato masher once they have softened through cooking.
- As this sugarless jam cools down, it will thicken considerably. The chia seeds are what thickens and sets this jam as it releases its gel. Take your spatula and draw a line down the middle of the saucepan, it should come together slowly when cool.
- Once completely cool, store this homemade vegan jam in a sterilised air-tight jar (I like recycling glass jars) for approx. a couple of weeks in a refrigerator
- The basic ingredients of this sugar-free jam are; fruit, lemon, maple syrup. You can use any fruit or berry that you desire. Think peaches, strawberries, mulberries, quince or whatever your favourite fruit is.
- Maple syrup - the amount used can be adjusted to suit how suit you like it. However as maple syrup is runny, the more used, the less thick the jam will be, you will need to simmer a little longer.
ella
used peaches and it was great! not as thick as regular jam, which i didn’t mind
Janelle
Peach jam is a great alternative to plum jam.
Glad you enjoyed this quick jam recipe