Okay so I admit it- sometimes my eyes are bigger than my energy. I can’t seem to go to a fruit stand and just buy enough peaches for one pie- I buy a whole box- a half bushel. With visions of bottled peaches, jam, dried peaches, pies and more I personify greedy guts. So, now I have to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I’ve got 4 trays of peach quarters in the dehydrator and I made some easy Peach Amaretto Jam. A couple of hours of work (other than finding all of the equipment in the basement ) 🙂 and there are now 8 lovely jewel-like jars of golden peachy goodness- enough to last us until the next harvest- almost. Here’s what I did and it’s not intended to take the place of proper canning procedures for your area. For a good source of information on canning and preserving I’ve found the Ball Blue Book of Preserving to be very helpful. I also enjoy Well Preserved a Jam Making Hymnal and The Complete Book of Small Batch Preserving. This recipe is my adaptation between all the peach jam recipes I’ve read and so isn’t in any of these books.
Fresh Peach Amaretto Jam
- 4 cups peeled, pitted and chopped fresh peaches
- 8 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1 packet of liquid pectin
- 1/3 cup Amaretto liqueur
You’ll need a water bath canner with a lid and basket/lifter, a clean funnel to fill your jars, (7 )eight ounce glass canning jars, screw bands and inner lids, plus probably another jar to put in your fridge or can in a separate water bath. Wash all of your equipment. Sterile equipment in a clean environment is your best friend when preserving any food.
Wash your jars, lids and screw bands in hot soapy water. Fill your canner with hot water, put the lifter in and cover and heat on high to boiling. Fill a tea kettle or other pot with water and heat in case you need to add water to the canner once the jars are submerged and also for some boiling water to soften the lids. Put your jars in the lifter and submerge them until you are ready to fill them. Dry the screw bands and place the lids in a small pan. Once the kettle is boiling pour some boiling water over the lids to soften the rubber seals.
In a large non-reactive pot mix the peaches, lemon juice and sugar. Once the sugar is dissolved add the butter which will reduce foaming. Heat over med-high to high heat stirring constantly until it reaches a boil that doesn’t stop when you stir. Stir in the pectin and boil one minute. Add the Amaretto and stir in. Remove from the heat and skim any foam off with a metal spoon. Remove the jars from the canner and invert on a clean dish towel to drain. Turn over and fill to within 1/4″ from the rim. Wipe the rims with a clean hot dishcloth and put the lids on rubber seal against the clean jar rims. Add a screw band and tighten just until you get resistance- finger tip tight. Put the jars in the lifter of the canner and then submerge them. Add boiling water if needed to cover the jars by 1-2″ of water. Return the canner to a gentle rolling boil and process for 10 minutes if sea level. I have to add 10 minutes for altitude. Consult an altitude chart on your pectin package to adjust for your altitude. Once the process time is over turn off the heat and leave the jars submerged for another 5 minutes. Lift the lifter out of the water and transfer the jars without touching the lids to an clean towel on your counter or other heatproof surface. Leave for 12-24 hours for the jam to gel and the lids to seal. You should hear a soft “plonk” when each seals (it’s usually within a minute or two of removing them from the water) Label and store. Refrigerate and use immediately any that do not seal.
Hope you enjoy!
Could I use frozen peaches
Thanks Donna- glad you liked it 🙂
Deborah- yes that’s a lot of jam 🙂
Teresa- sorry no I don’t have a no sugar recipe. Hope you find one elsewhere. 🙂
Made this jam a few weeks ago, well it ended up being more of a sauce not setting quite right. Didn’t matter it is by far my favorite of the year. I am looking forward to making a bunch more this coming weekend.
i just read your amaretto peach jam recipe. wow thats alot of sugar. i can’t have sugar so i have to use honey to can my fruit. do you have this recipe in a no-sugar. thank you
I made peach jam from a half bushel of peaches last year, and ended up with SO much jam! I still have a lot of it left, so needless to say, I won’t be making more this year!
Lauren: Thanks I must admit I have given a few away but I am greedily hoarding the rest 🙂
Lori: I have some books that suggest the upside down method- I think sometimes we are super cautious and can get away without the canning for storage but I wouldn’t want to recommend it to anyone since there is more chance for spoilage. I’m so glad you tried and liked the recipe. I think it will be great on scones! mmmm!
Kevin: Thanks!
So I love your jam. I made it today! WOW is it ever good! I cant wait to have it on a scone this winter.
Adding some amaretto to peach jam sounds really good!
I know I am bad but I never “cold pack” them after I fill the jars. My mother taught me that way and I continue. I turn the jars upside down for about fifteen minutes. Then turn them right side up. I get my “plinks”. I have been reading about French jelly making. They dont even use pectin and it is left out on the counter. Its a soft set. Pretty interesting though.
I did the same thing you did. I bought two pecks of peaches today. They were calling me the same way. Visions of peach food danced in my head. I think I will try your jam first!
i have bought excellent peach amaretto jam. I am jealous of your now-many jars of it.