Last year, I was all about the fruit butters. This year, apparently, is the year of boozy preserves: strawberry red wine jam, amaretto cherries, peach vodka and now a peach jam spiked with white wine.
There is just something about the alcohol that really brings out the flavor of the fruit. Strawberries that turned a bit sour during cooking are suddenly brought back to life with the addition of red wine. Amaretto brings a sweetness to cherries, making them taste like they were just plucked off the tree. And peaches taste richer and well-rounded with a little white wine thrown in.
Due to some miscalculations and more bruised fruit than I had anticipated, I currently have approximately 30 jars of this jam in storage. Friends and family, I hope you’re ready for some peach jam in your holiday packages this year.
Wine-Spiked Peach Jam
Makes 5 to 6 half-pint jars
Adapted from Christine Ferber’s Mes Confitures
3 pounds peaches
3 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup dry white wine
1 package (6 tablespoons) pectin
Wash, pit and chop the peaches into bite-sized pieces. Gently mix with the sugar and lemon juice in a large nonreactive bowl. Cover the bowl with a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.
The next morning, prepare for canning. Wash the jars and flat lids with hot, soapy water. Put the jars in the canning pot and fill the pot with hot water. Heat over medium-high heat to keep the jars hot. Place the lids in a heat-proof bowl.
Puree the peaches and pour them into a colander set over a large bowl. Move the collected juice to a large stockpot and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the juice is 212F on a candy thermometer.
Add the peaches, white wine and pectin to the stockpot. Simmer, stirring often, until the temperature is 220F.
Savvy Tip: The jam will still seem very liquidy at this point, but it will firm up as it cools.
Move some of the boiling water from the canning pot into the heat-proof bowl containing the lids. Line the hot jars up on a folded towel, then pour the water out of the heat-proof bowl and off the lids.
Fill the jars up to 1/2” below the rim. Use a clean towel to wipe any preserves off the rims, then top each jar with a lid and a tightened ring. Place the jars back in the canning pot and make sure they are covered by at least 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil and process for 10 minutes. Place the jars on a folded towel and allow to sit, undisturbed, for 24 hours. Check the seals of the lids after 1 hour. If a seal has not formed, refrigerate the jar immediately.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
You should sell them
Aine @ Something to Chew Over recently posted..Apricot and Almond Porridge
Umm I CANNOT wait to try this- it sounds like sangria in a jar!
Heather @ Side of Sneakers recently posted..Beat the Heat: Lasagna Soup
The wine is actually pretty subtle, but that doesn’t make it any less delicious!
Did you peel your peaches?
Billie Vanderburg recently posted..It’s Time for Pumpkin Cake
I didn’t, but if you don’t like the texture of cooked peels, you certainly could!
So,we puree the peaches,put them in a colander,the juice that drips into the bowl – we boil it first,and then introduce the pulp left in the colander.
Have I got it right?
Yep, that’s it!