This Low-Sugar Peach Jam Will Leave You Feeling Peachy Without The Guilt!
Raw, baked, grilled, broiled, or sautéed, juicy peaches are one of life's many little pleasures! They taste delicious, they smell divine, and they look gorgeous!
And when they start bearing fruit from mid-May to early August (here in Georgia at least), our peach trees make the garden look like the garden of Eden!
Ava and I love picking the peaches, enjoying them straight from the tree, or making all kinds of yummy recipes. Sometimes we as a family will enjoy a lovely picnic under the trees and get all the summer feels!
Scroll down to discover how to use peaches (including some yummy recipes), how to select peaches, how to grow peach trees, and my favorite low-sugar peach jam recipe from Ball® Home Canning
This post is sponsored by the makers of Ball® home canning products.*
The Wonders of Peaches
Peaches are extremely versatile and can easily be incorporated into warm or cold dishes:
You can enjoy them on their own for a nutrient-rich, healthy snack;
Topped with yogurt, granola, and a handful of nuts;
Added to summer salads for a sweet twist;
Stirred into a hearty chickpea curry;
To make salsa;
Used as a popular ingredient in many desserts;
And one of my favorites - to make peach jam.
Peaches come in a wide range of varieties, but most will have white or yellow flesh. White peaches are usually sweeter, while the yellow ones tend to be more tart.
If you don't have your own peach trees to pick from, you'll find plenty at your local grocer.
When selecting peaches, the sweeter their smell, the riper they will be. You can also tell they are ready to eat when the flesh slightly gives when pressed down on it. Lastly, look for a well-defined crease that runs from the stem to the point.
Peaches will continue to ripen after they're picked. So if your peaches are too firm, just leave them on your countertop for a few days. Ripe peaches will last about one week at room temperature or longer when refrigerated.
Did you know you can freeze ripe peaches?
This is great when you buy in bulk or harvest a bunch from your trees, and you won't use them all up in one go.
When freezing, it's best to slice them and let them soak in lemon juice for 5 minutes to avoid browning. After that, place them spread out on a tray, freeze overnight, and then put them in resealable bags. They should keep one year in the freezer.
Canning is my tried and true method however of storing peaches to ensure I can enjoy them all year long! See one of my favorite recipes below!
Low Sugar Peach Jam Recipe
As mentioned, I love making peach jam and serving it with yummy scones, on toast, or mixed with plant-based yogurt. And when the jam contains less sugar, even the better, as we can enjoy it without the guilt!
I used the water-bath canning method to make this jam (and most of my other preserves). Canning and preserving is a favorite pastime activity of mine!
If you want to learn more on water-bath canning and how to can, these blog posts explain it all:
Recipe
This recipe is quick, easy, and oh-so-delicious. Mixed with a sugar substitute, makes this a more health-conscious version of your favorite jam.
You'll need:
4 8oz Quilted Ball® Jars. You can get them HERE
A Water bath pot or a deep stock/ pasta pot. It should be deep enough to have 2 - 3 inches of space above the jars to leave room for the boiling water.
Padding at the bottom to minimize rattling and possible shatter of your jars and allow for even heat circulation. A wire rack or trivet will do the trick.
Ball® Glass jars, lids, bands, and your contents ready to go into them.
A jar lifter
Home canning funnel, bubble remover, and headspace tool.
THIS is the best starter canning kit. It has absolutely everything you need and is perfect for this recipe! All the items above, except for a pot, can be found in this kit. Ball® Home Canning products are my absolute favorite when it comes to canning, and it is the only brand of jars and canning equipment I use and trust.
Ingredients:
4 cups crushed ripe yellow-flesh peaches (about 2 1/4 lbs. or 7 medium peaches)
1/3 cup water
3 Tbsp Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin
2 Tbsp bottled lemon juice
Up to 1 cup granulated sugar, granular sugar substitute, or honey
* CAUTION: Do not use this process to can white-flesh peaches. Some varieties of white-flesh peaches are higher in pH (i.e., lower in acid), making them a low-acid food for canning purposes. At this time, there are no low-acid or acidification procedures for white-flesh peaches.
Directions:
Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars in simmering water until ready to use; do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set aside with bands.
Combine crushed peaches, lemon juice, and water in a medium saucepan. Gradually stir in pectin. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add sugar or sugar substitute and return to a full rolling boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
Ladle hot jam into a hot jar leaving a ¼ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and wipe the jar rim. Center lid on the jar, apply the band and adjust to fingertip tight. Place jar in boiling water canner. Repeat until all jars are filled.
Process jars for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off the heat, remove the lid, and let the jars stand 5 minutes. Remove jars and cool them for 12-24 hours. Check if the lids are sealed - they should not flex when the center is pressed.
Growing Your Own Peaches
We have 8 organic peach trees in our orchard, and this is the third year they will bear peaches!
We planted them five years ago and waited patiently for two years to get our first harvest. We purposely removed the blooms during the first few years to allow the roots to develop fully and grow into strong trees.
Our organic tree planting method, lots of sun, proper pruning, good drainage, and regular fertilizing are what we have found to be the essentials for successful peach harvesting.
These blog posts will explain more and guide you in planting some of your own peach (or any fruit) orchards.
And as promised, here are a few more delicious peach recipes:
PIN FOR LATER
I hope you enjoy making all these peach recipes; they are really divine! If you’re looking for more canning recipes you can go to www.ballmasonjars.com for an amazing selection of tested and delicious recipes.
Love, Annette xx
*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post that is part of an ongoing partnership with the Fresh Preserving Division of Newell Brands. They have provided jars, equipment and monetary compensation. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.