17 Homemade Recipes for Jams and Jellies to Upgrade Your Morning Toast (2024)

Ah, jam. It's the perfect vehicle for spreading onto your favorite sandwich (PB&J, of course) and morning toast. But homemade jams and jellies are great for more than just bread. With unique jam flavors such as tomato-basil, carrot cake, and jasmine tea, you've got bases for meat, appetizers, and more.

Whether you're a canning master or just starting out, we have plenty of jelly and jam recipes to preserve your produce. Classics like strawberry jam make an appearance, but we imagine our fun jam flavor combinations are going to really entice you.

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Very-Berry Rhubarb Jam

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Life is as easy (and delicious) as pie when you start your day with the tasty combination of berry and rhubarb. Need more convincing? We use blueberry pie filling as an easy shortcut ingredient.

14 Berry Pie Recipes That Are a Slice Above the Rest

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Strawberry Jam

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Enjoy that glorious fresh strawberry flavor all year. Each batch of this classic homemade jam recipe is brimming with 3 quarts of juicy, plump strawberries—enough to keep you smiling until the next berry season.

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Raspberry Jam

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Few things are as delicious as raspberry jam and butter on freshly baked bread. And it tastes even better when you make it yourself. Personalize your jam recipe with easy additions like lemon, nutmeg, or grated fresh ginger.

Test Kitchen Tip: Always thoroughly wash fruits and veggies before using them in your recipes.

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Berry-Chia Seed Jam

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Chia seeds make a significant impact on this jam recipe. Those tiny little seeds thicken the mixture naturally when combined with liquid (berries and honey, in this case).

Bonus: chia seeds are a great source of fiber, protein, and healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

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Rhubarb and Rose Petal Jam

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Rose petals complement the tartness of fresh rhubarb with their light, ambrosial flavor. This unique jam recipe pops when used in pastries such as homemade donuts or atop freshly baked scones.

Test Kitchen Tip: To avoid pesticides, use roses from your own garden, a farmer's market, or a specialty food store.

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Caramel Apple Jam

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Bring the goodness of caramel apples to your breakfast table with this indulgent jam recipe. Made with tart Granny Smith apples and buttery homemade caramel, it's a great treat to give as a gift to your food-loving friends.

Preserve Your Produce for Up to a Year with These Must-Know Water Bath Canning Basics

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Peach Jam

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Juicy peaches lend fresh flavor and gorgeous color to this traditional jam recipe. But if you're ready for a twist, try our easy variations: cardamom, basil, bourbon, or chipotle.

How to Can Peaches in Light Syrup or No Syrup to Savor Summer

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Lemon-Lime-Orange Marmalade

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Experience the freshness from this citrus party in a jar, and you'll never be the same. Section citrus fruit to remove the bitter membranes before adding to the pot to achieve the sweet-tart gourmet preserves. Use it as an irresistible filling for thumbprint cookies.

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Strawberry Margarita Jam

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Why stop at strawberries? Our twist on classic strawberry jam adds lime juice, tequila, and triple sec for a surprising transformation that invokes the classic happy-hour co*cktail.

Test Kitchen Tip: You'll know your jelly was a success if it quivers instead of flows when spooned from the jar.

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Rosé Wine Jelly with Pink Peppercorns

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This sweet and spicy jelly is a brilliant way to perk up your lunch sandwich. Pink peppercorns offer a subtle kick of heat wrapped in a light, fruity flavor. Rosé wine, with hints of berry and citrus, balances the pepper's heat.

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Grape Juice Jelly

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Kids will love this homemade grape jelly, and you'll love how simple it is to make. We used grape juice instead of whole grapes for a 3-ingredient jelly recipe that requires zero chopping (hooray!) and tastes great on sandwiches or mixed into oats or hot cereal.

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Sour Cherry and Amaretto Jelly

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Almond-flavored amaretto is just as at home in a jelly as it is in a co*cktail. The decadent liqueur balances tart cherries for a delish jelly recipe that's great for everyday eating.

Italian Amaretti Cookies

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Ruby Red Grapefruit Jelly

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Love the distinct bittersweet flavor of grapefruit? Enjoy it year-round with our grapefruit jam recipe. The bold citrus flavor is the perfect complement to sugary pound cake.

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Jasmine Tea Jelly

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Share this sophisticated jelly recipe at an English-style tea party. The fragrant blend of green tea leaves and jasmine is an unexpected (and unforgettable) way to top cakes or biscuits.

Jasmine-Ginger Tea

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Tomato-Basil Jam

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Combining tomato and basil in a savory preserves recipe makes it easy to add the classic flavor pairing to sandwiches, fresh bread, or crackers. Try it with fresh mozzarella for a Caprese-inspired snack.

18 Garden-Fresh Tomato Recipes That Showcase This Garden Staple

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Lemon-Honey Jelly

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Get your toast ready! If you're a sweet-and-sour fan, you'll love this bright jelly recipe. The bright flavor of lemon gets a lightly sweet infusion of honey. Depending on the type of flower nectar, the taste of honey varies. Try this recipe with clover, buckwheat, or blackberry honey for subtle differences in flavor.

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Carrot Cake Jam

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17 Homemade Recipes for Jams and Jellies to Upgrade Your Morning Toast (17)

Here's a spring jam recipe that rivals your favorite Easter cake. With hints of sweet pineapple and flaked coconut, this decadent carrot jam tastes like a warm, tropical treat atop crusty bread and a dab of cream cheese.

17 Homemade Recipes for Jams and Jellies to Upgrade Your Morning Toast (2024)

FAQs

What can I eat with jam instead of bread? ›

Explore the versatility of jam beyond breakfast and bread. Elevate salads, yogurt, muffins, pancakes, and co*cktails with creative jam incorporations, adding bursts of flavor to everyday dishes.

What are the 4 main ingredients in making jam jellies? ›

For successful jellied products, a proper ratio of fruit, pectin, acid and sugar is needed. Fruit provides the characteristic color and flavor to the jellied product.

What can I add to jam to make it better? ›

Adding acid in the form of fresh lemon or lime juice is important for two reasons: First, it makes for a more well-balanced jam, returning some of the acidity lost with the addition of sugar. Second, pectin needs acid to properly activate, or firm up.

What to eat with jam for breakfast? ›

Pop jams and jellies on the table when you're serving pancakes and watch them get eaten up! This is especially good with whipped cream. Oatmeal with a dollop of jam on top is a true joy. Try different flavors to find your favorite.

What is the alternative to toast and jam? ›

Breakfast Classics on Toast
  • Bacon + eggs + spinach.
  • Smoked salmon + lemon + sliced scallions.
  • Smoked trout + cream cheese + horseradish + cucumber.
  • Cream cheese + everything bagel seasoning mix + tomato or red onion slices.
  • Crisp bacon + maple syrup.
  • Eggs Goldenrod.
  • Yogurt + fruit + honey.
Mar 13, 2023

What is a healthy alternative to jam? ›

Instead of processed jams or jellies, choose a homemade fruit compote or fruit salsa. A fruit compote is essentially fruit that has been chopped and cooked down to form a delicious gooey topping. Fruit salsa is simply cut fruit, usually marinated in an acid like lemon juice and served cold.

What is the difference between jam and jelly and preserves? ›

Jelly: Jelly is made with strained fruit juice. There are no pieces of fruit in jelly. Jam: Jam is made with mashed fruit. Preserves: Preserves have whole fruit or large pieces of fruit.

Which ingredients for jelly making that should have rich flavor? ›

Proper amounts of four ingredients, fruit, pectin, acid and sugar, are essential when making a jellied fruit product. Fruit gives each product its characteristic flavor and furnishes at least part of the pectin and acid for successful gels.

How to make jam or jelly without pectin? ›

Jam recipes
  1. Sterilize canning jars.
  2. Combine berries and sugar. ...
  3. Cook rapidly to, or almost to, gelling point, depending upon whether a firm or soft jam is desired.
  4. As mixture thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking.
  5. Pour hot jam into hot jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. ...
  6. Process 5 minutes in a boiling water canner.

Does lemon juice help jam set? ›

The addition of lemon juice also helps to activate the pectin and set your jam. Slightly unripe fruit contains more pectin and is more acidic than very ripe fruit and will also help to set your jam more easily.

Should you stir jam while it's boiling? ›

5. Do Not Stir Once Mixture Is Boiling. Once your jam/marmalade it has reached a rapid rolling boil do not stir it. Stirring it will alter the temperature of the jam/marmalade meaning it will take longer to reach the setting point.

What thickens homemade jam? ›

If you simply take fruit and cook it with some sugar to sweeten it a little, it will get thick enough to turn into jam by the naturally occurring pectin in the fruit and the process of reduction. Reduction occurs when we simmer the fruit, and the liquid turns to steam and evaporates, which thickens the jam.

What jam is good for toast? ›

Great jams for snack toast ( including the bunches of butter) are apple butter, orange marmalade, strawberry preserves, or honey.

What to put jelly on besides bread? ›

20 ways to use up jam
  1. Peanut butter & jam pudding. The popular combo of peanut butter and jam works beautifully in this peanut butter & jam pudding. ...
  2. Easy jam tarts. ...
  3. Chilli jam ploughman's. ...
  4. Blackberry doughnuts. ...
  5. Classic Victoria sandwich. ...
  6. Iced buns with jam & cream. ...
  7. Jam turnovers. ...
  8. Strawberry jam ripple ice cream.
Aug 29, 2023

Is toast with jelly a good breakfast? ›

Health Impacts of Regularly Consuming Toast and Jelly

Like all good things, moderation is key. Over indulgence, especially in jellies with refined sugar and white bread, can contribute to weight gain. Regularly consuming high-sugar jellies can cause rapid spikes and crashes in energy, impacting mood and hunger.

What can I eat jam with no bread? ›

11 Creative Ways to Use Jam — That Aren't a Sandwich
  1. Add Jam to Your Homemade Barbecue Sauce. ...
  2. Add Jam To Ice Cream. ...
  3. Jam Popsicles! ...
  4. Turn Cinnamon Rolls into Jam Rolls. ...
  5. Try a Jam Bar. ...
  6. Make Your Own Pop Tarts. ...
  7. Make A Glaze. ...
  8. Make French Toast Roll-Ups.
Apr 22, 2023

How to eat jelly without bread? ›

Here's a simple approach:
  1. Take a large lettuce leaf, rice paper sheet, or tortilla.
  2. Spread a layer of peanut butter evenly on one side of the lettuce leaf, rice paper, or tortilla.
  3. Spread a layer of jelly or jam evenly on the same side, but on a different area from the peanut butter.
Sep 13, 2023

What does jam go well with? ›

Jam and cheese are a time-honored pairing, so adding jam to your grilled cheese sandwich is a no-brainer. Try pairing strawberry jam with Muenster or Gruyere.

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