Description
This delightful orange jam captures the bright, sunny flavor of fresh oranges enhanced by warm spices like cinnamon, star anise, and cloves. Perfect for spreading on toast or adding to desserts, it’s a simple recipe that simmers pureed oranges with sugar and spices until it thickens to a luscious jam consistency.
Ingredients
Fruit and Puree
- 3 lbs oranges, peeled, roughly 5 cups puree
Sweetener
- 1 cup sugar
Spices (Optional)
- 1-2 cinnamon sticks
- 1-2 star anise
- 1-2 cloves
Instructions
- Prepare the Oranges: Peel the oranges carefully, making sure to remove as much of the white pith as possible to avoid bitterness.
- Puree the Oranges: Use an immersion blender or a regular blender to puree the peeled oranges until smooth.
- Combine Ingredients: Transfer the orange puree to a saucepan, then add the sugar and optional spices (cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves).
- Simmer and Thicken: Heat the mixture over moderate heat, allowing it to simmer gently. Stir occasionally and cook for 20-30 minutes until the mixture thickens to a jam-like consistency. Check thickness by placing a spoonful on a chilled plate from the freezer — it should wrinkle when pushed.
- Jar the Jam: Pour the hot orange jam into sterilized canning jars. You can store the jars in the refrigerator for immediate use or process them in a boiling water bath canner for 10 minutes to preserve the jam for longer storage.
Notes
- Removing as much white pith as possible helps reduce bitterness in the jam.
- The spices are optional but add a warm, complex flavor to the jam; feel free to adjust quantities or omit based on preference.
- Test your jam thickness by chilling a plate in the freezer and placing a spoonful on it. If it wrinkles when pressed, it’s ready.
- When canning, make sure jars and lids are sterilized to prevent spoilage.
- Store refrigerated jam and consume within a few weeks if not canned.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
