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Home » Condiments

Refined Sugar-Free Plum Jam (No Pectin)

Published: Mar 23, 2021 · Modified: May 23, 2022 by Janelle Hama

Jump to Recipe

Learn how to make refined sugar free plum jam with chia seeds. This homemade plum jam is naturally sweetened and is super easy, ready in around 10-15 minutes.

sugar free plum jam in a glass jar with plums in the back ground

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Jump to:
  • 😋Why you’ll love this recipe
  • 🥄Ingredients
  • 🔪Step by Step Guide
  • 💡What to serve with?
  • ⭐Pro Tips
  • 🥄Variations
  • ❓FAQ
  • 🍮Related Recipes
  • Refined Sugar-Free Plum Jam (No Pectin)

Here’s the thing, I love jam, but I’m not too fond of the sickly sweetness of most of the traditional jams.

So what’s better? A homemade refined sugar-free jam. 

This recipe is a quick jam and is thick enough too spread but isn’t as thick as a traditional or commercial jam.

😋Why you’ll love this recipe

  • It’s a healthy jam - refined sugar-free - traditional jam uses a ratio of 1xsugar: 1xfruit, this recipe is naturally sweetened 
  • Perfect for the super busy schedules - cooked in 10-15 minutes
  • The intense flavoring is tantalizing; 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 on the fly

🥄Ingredients

plum jam ingredients

Notes on some of the ingredients, the full list of ingredients and their measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

Plums - I like to use plums that are slightly soft which are chopped small.

You can use any colored plum, I used black plums with the skin on, which resulted in vibrant red color.

You could even blend different color 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. The texture resembles raspberry or strawberry jams.

If you prefer a smoother texture, use ground chia seeds.

Maple Syrup - is used rather than refined sugar.

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 (affiliate link) and not a maple syrup imitation.

Maple syrup is also a healthy beverage sweetener, try my 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 refined sugar free plum jam to thicken by cooling down at room temperature. Store in an airtight jar in the fridge and use as needed.

plum jam on bread with blums in back ground

💡What to serve with?

This plum jam is perfect on scones, bread, pancakes (oatmeal pancakes), biscuits, cookies, part of a grazing board, in your muesli/granola and more.

I sometimes like to mix it up with my healthy Lebanese 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 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 (affiliate link) 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 sterilized air-tight jar (I like recycling glass jars) for approx. a couple of weeks in a refrigerator

making plum jam in a red pot

🥄Variations

The basic ingredients of this refined sugar-free jam are; fruit, lemon, and maple syrup. You can use any fruit or berry that you desire.

Think peaches, strawberries, mulberries, quince, or whatever your favorite fruit is.

Maple syrup (affiliate link) - the amount used can be adjusted to suit how you like it.

However, as maple syrup is runny, the more used, the runner the texture. You will need to simmer a little longer.

❓FAQ

How long does homemade chia seed jam last?

Once your chia seed jam has completely cooled down to room temperature, spoon it into an air-tight sterilized jar, and store it in the fridge between 5-10 days. It is important the jam jar be sterilized prior to use to avoid contaminants. 

a small white plate with red chia jam

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Try this raspberry compote by Marcellina in Cucina.

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.

sugar free plum jam in a glass jar with plums in the back ground

Refined Sugar-Free Plum Jam (No Pectin)

Learn how to make refined sugar free plum jam with chia seeds. This homemade plum jam is naturally sweetened and is super easy, ready in around 10-15 minutes.
Print Pin Rate Save Recipe Saved Recipe
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Australian
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 1 Jar
Author: Janelle Hama

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Plum chopped
  • ½ small Lemon juiced
  • 2 tablespoon Chia seed
  • 2 tablespoon Maple syrup
Metric - US Customary
Prevent your screen from going dark

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.
    2 cups Plum, ½ small Lemon, 2 tablespoon Maple syrup
    plum, lemon, maple syrup in pot
  • 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.
    2 tablespoon Chia seed
    adding chia seeds and cooling down sugar free plum jam in pot

Video

Notes

Plums should be chopped into small pieces
Ensure the fruit doesn’t burn whilst cooking 
This sugar-free plum jam can be left chunky or mashed up
The consistency will thicken as this jam cools down due to the gel released from the chia seeds. Take your spatula and draw a line down the center of the saucepan, it should come together slowly when cool.
Once completely cool, refrigerate in a sterilized air-tight jar (I like recycling glass jars) for approx. 5-10 days
This plum jam is perfect on scones, bread, pancakes, biscuits, cookies, part of a grazing board, and more. I sometimes like to mix it up with my Lebanese rice pudding.
 

Equipment

pot
silicone spoon

Nutrition

Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 780mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 1163IU | Vitamin C: 60mg | Calcium: 229mg | Iron: 3mg

N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.

Tried this recipe?Mention @Plantbasedfolk or tag #plantbasedfolk

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Mary

    July 17, 2022 at 12:16 pm

    5 stars
    Oh yum! This jam recipe makes me regret selling my house with two of the most delicious plum trees right out the back door. I will be checking the Saturday Farmer's market for fresh plums. I love to use plum jam in my Asian recipes and this will work perfectly. Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Lamia

    June 29, 2022 at 12:35 pm

    5 stars
    love that there are no added sugar in this jam! it came out so good!

    Reply
  3. Tian

    June 02, 2022 at 8:50 pm

    5 stars
    Chia seeds in a jam, what a perfect idea! Never knew. Healthy, tasty, and delicious jam, thanks! So sick of eating jams filled with too much white sugar

    Reply
  4. Rozzi

    April 03, 2022 at 4:54 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe! I used this as a guide to making guava jam and it worked a treat! Delicious! Subbed guava instead of plums, and instead of chia I opted to thicken with natural pectin by putting a few lemon seeds and an apple core in a muslin bag and cooking it with the jam. Not tried it before but worked surprisingly well!

    Reply
    • Janelle Hama

      April 04, 2022 at 8:17 am

      This is intriguing Rozzi, I would like to try this method too to make a fruit jam.

      Reply
  5. Petar

    March 13, 2022 at 10:02 am

    5 stars
    quick one - yum!

    Reply
  6. Joanne

    March 06, 2022 at 6:26 pm

    Hi Janelle
    I was wondering if you can freeze the sugar less jam?
    Regards Jo

    Reply
    • Janelle Hama

      March 07, 2022 at 9:07 am

      Hi Joanne,

      I've never frozen this jam (or any jam) before, hence I can't advise

      Will have to try it out and report back soon.

      J

      Reply
  7. Grace

    February 03, 2022 at 9:47 am

    Hi, just wondering whether the amount of fruit and chia seeds are related? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Janelle Hama

      February 03, 2022 at 10:50 am

      Hi Grace, I have found that this amount of chia to plums works well, slight adjustments can be made (less chia = thinner consistency / more chia = thicker consistency) hope this helps

      Reply
  8. ella

    April 16, 2021 at 4:44 pm

    5 stars
    used peaches and it was great! not as thick as regular jam, which i didn’t mind

    Reply
    • Janelle

      April 19, 2021 at 9:04 am

      Peach jam is a great alternative to plum jam.

      Glad you enjoyed this quick jam recipe

      Reply

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Heya, I'm Janelle! I've been a messy but delicious cook for a couple of decades now.

In the last few years, I've converted to a vegan diet and have fallen in love with the flavors that can be created from plants.

I specialize in vegan Lebanese food and I'm excited to share these amazing recipes with you.

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