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Plum and bay jam
Makes: 4 x 340ml jars
Prep time: 1 hr Total time: 
Recipe photograph by Kris Kirkham
Plum and bay jam
You may not have considered using herbs in sweet recipes, but they work particularly well with stone fruit. Bay lends this jam a gentle fragrance, but thyme or even rosemary would work well, too
Makes: 4 x 340ml jars
Prep time: 1 hr Total time:
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Nutritional information (10g)
Calories
32Kcal
Fat
0gr
Saturates
0gr
Carbs
8gr
Sugars
8gr
Fibre
0gr
Protein
0gr
Salt
0gr
Rebecca Woollard
Rebecca Woollard started her culinary career as a chalet cook. She is now a food stylist and recipe writer with 10 years of magazine experience.
See more of Rebecca Woollard’s recipes
Rebecca Woollard
Rebecca Woollard started her culinary career as a chalet cook. She is now a food stylist and recipe writer with 10 years of magazine experience.
See more of Rebecca Woollard’s recipes
Ingredients
- 1kg ripe plums, quartered, stones removed
- 1kg granulated sugar 6 fresh bay leaves
- juice of 1 lemon
- a knob of unsalted butter, optional*
Step by step
Get ahead
The jam will keep for years in airtight sterilised jars. Once opened, store in the fridge.
- Put the plums and sugar in a large saucepan, mix thoroughly, cover and leave to macerate overnight. This draws out the juices and shortens cooking time, giving a fresher flavour.
- The next day, put a few saucers in the freezer, ready to test for setting point. Put the pan on the hob, add the bay leaves and lemon juice and heat gently over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved, without allowing it to boil. Remove the bay leaves and put one in each jam jar (discard the others).
- Turn the heat right up and bring to a rolling boil. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring often, until a jam thermometer is just below 105°C. If the fruit isn’t breaking down, mash with a potato masher. If you don’t have a thermometer or want to double check, let the jam boil for the full 10 minutes, then remove from the heat. Spoon a little onto a cold saucer from the freezer, and tip to spread it and cool quickly. Push it with your finger and if the top wrinkles, it’s ready. If not, boil for another 2-3 minutes and test again.
-
Once at setting point, take the pan off the heat and stir the butter (if using) through the jam to get rid of any scum (or simply lift off with a spoon). Leave the jam to settle for 10 minutes before potting up, as this ensures the fruit is distributed evenly. Spoon the hot jam into warm sterilised jars, then screw the lids on tightly while the jam is still hot. The jam can be eaten straight away, or kept in a dark, cool place for several years. TipThis recipe is vegan and dairy-free if not using butter