Several weeks ago, I found myself with an abundance of both raspberries and apricots. Worried that the fruit would spoil before I had a chance to eat it all, I decided to make this Raspberry Apricot Jam. Using my recipe for Apricot Elderflower Jam as a template, I simmered fresh raspberries and apricots in a bath of dry, aromatic white wine. Sugar was added, then the entire mixture was cooked until thick and … jammy. Final additions of lemon juice and St. Germain were added to balance sweetness, and add depth of flavor.
Let me just say that this jam ROCKS. I just love it when all of the flavors snap into balance, causing what I like to call a “Wow” moment. If you’ve never made jam at home, I’d highly recommend it. The process is fairly simple, and the finished product is incredibly gratifying. I like to save a jar of jam for myself, then give the rest away as gifts! Your friends and family will seriously love you. Continue reading for the recipe.
- 3/4 pound fresh raspberries
- 1 1/4 pound fresh apricots, cut in half and pitted
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (I used Sauvignon Blanc here)
- 5 cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more to taste
- 1 tablespoon St. Germain liqueur, plus more to taste (Cointreau, Framboise, or Kirsch would work well here too)
- Set 2 small plates in the freezer. These will be used later to test consistency.
- Place the raspberries, halved apricots, and white wine in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Bring mixture to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook the raspberries and apricots until tender (timing will depend on how soft they are at the beginning).
- Remove the lid and add the sugar, stirring to combine. Increase heat to medium and let the mixture violently bubble up. Eventually the bubbles will start to rise and with them a white foam. Skim off any foam that rises to the top. Once you've skimmed all foam, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the mixture thickens and reduces. Be sure to stir frequently to keep the bottom from burning.
- To test the consistency of your jam, take one of the plates from the freezer, and spoon a small amount on the plate. Return the plate to the freezer, and wait 2 minutes. Push the chilled jam with your finger. If it starts to pile up on itself, it's done. If it seems too thin, cook the jam for 5 to 10 minutes more, and test again. This whole process took me about 35 minutes.
- Once you've achieved the desired consistency, take the jam off the heat. Stir in lemon juice and St. Germain liqueur. Add additional lemon juice and liqueur to taste. I sprinkled in a bit more lemon juice and another splash of liqueur.
- Transfer jam to a large, clean container (or several small containers), cover tightly, and let cool to room temperature. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 year. The flavor will diminish as the months go on, so I'd recommend eating the jam sooner rather than later.
Debra says
Love jam with spirits!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Debra :)!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Jam with wine…now this is new to me and I love the way you think 🙂
Brandon Matzek says
Haha thanks Averie. It’s a good combo!
Angel Reyes says
You’ve got me at St. Germain!
Brandon Matzek says
St. Germain always gets me 😉
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Wine and jam?! YUMMY!! And I love the blog redesign. Need to do it asap!!
Brandon Matzek says
It’s a great combo. Glad you like the redesign!! Thanks Kiran.
Lizthechef says
Beautiful combo of flavors – my two favorites. The apricot season is so short…
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Liz!! Yeah, I try to eat as many apricots as I can while they are in season. Last year, I discovered all of the wonderful varietals available.
Ami@NaiveCookCooks says
This is some unique jam recipe? White wine in jam? Man, this is brilliant!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Ami! It’s a good combo 🙂
Laura says
I was looking to try a new jam and this recipe looked quite inviting.
I made the jam with pineapple added along with the apricots and raspberries I used less sugar about two cups and 1/3 cup Chardonnay with orange liqueur (Patron Citronge) it made 4 jars and is quite elegant and very yummy. :}
The amounts of fruit was about 8 apricots with 6 oz. of raspberries and 1/3 cup pineapple and pineapple juice instead of lemon. thank you so much for posting the apricot raspberry jam recipe.
Brandon Matzek says
Hi Laura, thanks for sharing!! Those additions sound delicious. That’s what I love about making jam. Once you’ve got the technique down, you can make all different types of flavor adjustments.
Laura says
Thank You Brandon. :}