Spiced Apple Jam

Fresh apples and warm spices combine to create this sweet jam that is great for toast, sweet bread, and much more. This is a spiced jam, not a spicy jam, making it perfect for spreading on toast for breakfast.

Originally posted November 23, 2020, on our first website. Updated September 2024

This recipe makes a large batch of jam that can be stored for later use. The recipe will yield about 10-12 cups of jam, making it perfect for canning or gifting.

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Ingredients For Apple Jam

This simple jam recipe uses a total of eight ingredients.

• Apples.
• White sugar.
• Lemon juice.
• Cinnamon.
• Ground cloves.
• Nutmeg.
• All-spice.
• Liquid pectin.

What Kind Of Apples Are Used To Make Jam

There are many types of apples, making it difficult to determine which to use for different recipes.

For this jam, Pink Lady is our favourite. They have the right sweet-to-tart balance in taste. They also don’t turn brown as quickly as some other types of apples and they are firm enough to hold up to the cooking process.

Alternatives that work well in this recipe are Cortland, Gala, Crispin, and Lobo.

Mcintosh apples will not hold up in the cooking process and make better applesauce than jam.

Spiced Apple Jam, Not Spicy

This recipe is for Spiced Apple Jam, not to be confused with Spicy Apple Jam. This recipe is not at all spicy, it does contain spices like cinnamon and cloves though.

Spicy Apple Jam is made with jalapenos and fewer spices.

Special Equipment and Ingredients

You will need mason jars to store the jam. These can be found in department and hardware stores as well as some dollar stores. We prefer using 8-ounce jars but any size jars can be used.

Wide-mouth jars are also a good choice because they make it easier to fill and to get every last bit of jam out of the jar.

Paraffin is also used to preserve the jam. * (See note below for canning without paraffin, updated September 2024)

This recipe calls for liquid pectin which can be found on Amazon. You will need two boxes to make this jam.

Alternative Canning Method (newly recommended)

Although we use the paraffin wax method, there have been recent warnings against canning with this method. I have used this method for years without issue but since the warnings came out, we are updating this post to include a link to how to can using a water bath.

It is recommended that jam be canned using the water bath method of canning. This jam should be canned using canning for high-acid foods. You can find these instructions on Bernardin’s website, where they go into detail about how to do it properly.

Safety and Cleanliness

One of the most important things to remember when making this jam is that you have to have very clean jars and a clean work area. Since this recipe makes a large batch that will be canned for later use, cleanliness is key to avoiding contamination and preventing bacteria.

Mason jars need to be thoroughly washed in hot soapy water and then boiled to sterilize before adding any jam to the jars. Utensils for canning also need to be sterilized.

Also because you are working with boiling water, safety is important. We recommend that you gather all the ingredients and tools needed for the recipe before you start making the recipe.

And have a few extra kitchen towels ready just in case you need extra to wipe up spills or water boiling over in the canning pot.

If you have never canned before, we highly recommend reading this page from Bernardin’s website.

Enjoying Spiced Apple Jam

This jam is great served on toast, alone, or with peanut butter. Our kids have spread it on banana bread and zucchini bread. Try it on our Banana Rum Bread.

We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as our family does. Leave us a comment if you have questions or if you have made this recipe.

Print Recipe

Spiced Apple Jam

Fresh apples and warm spices combine to make this sweet jam that is great for toast, breads and more.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Keyword: Apples, jam

Servings: 10 cups

Equipment

• mason jars, cleaned and sterilized.

Ingredients

• 16 cups apples, peeled and cored, cubed
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 14 cups sugar
• 5 tsp cinnamon
• 1-1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 2 tsp all-spice
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 4 pouches liquid pectin

Instructions

• In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, add apples, sugar and spices.
• Stir to coat the apples completely.
• Bring mixture to a rolling boil, stirring.
• Continue at a rolling boil for 1 minute.
• Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes or until apples have broken down.
• Remove from heat and add pectin immediately, stirring to mix in the pectin thoroughly.
• Ladle the jam into clean sterilized mason jars, filling to the neck of the jar, leaving ½-inch space.
• Wipe down the sides once full and place lids on jars tightly.
• Process jars in boiling water following canning process.
• Store in a cool space.

Notes

For full directions on water canning, you can find them here.