How To Make Damson Jam

Homemade Jam Recipes

Ingredients: Damson Jam Recipe

3 lb / 1,300 grams of damsons
2 lb / 1,000 grams of white sugar (granulated rather than caster sugar)
15 fl oz / 450 ml of tap water
1/2 oz / 15 grams of butter

Method - What To Do

Check all of the damsons for any rotten areas or wasp damage, and trim as required. Pick off all of the stalks from the fruit and cut in half, so that the stones can be removed, before transferring the damsons to a saucepan.

Slowly cook the halved damsons (they can be chopped more if you prefer smaller pieces) on a low heat with the water, so that the juices begin to run from the fruit and flavour the water. Try not to stir the fruit if possible, shaking the pan to mix things around instead, as this prevents the damsons from falling apart as much and allows them to retain their shape better.

After the damsons have been gently simmering for 15 minutes, place all of the white sugar in an ovenproof bowl and warm it up in an oven that has been pre-heated to around 180°C / 355°F. Keep an eye on the sugar to ensure that it doesn't burn and after it has been warming up for ten minutes, pour the heated sugar into the damsons and stir gently, so that the sugar completely dissolves and the fruit pieces remain as intact as possible.

When you can clearly see that all of the white sugar crystals have dissolved in the mixture, increase the heat and boil the damson jam mix for no more than ten minutes. The jam should now be ready to set properly and this can be tested by spooning a small portion onto a plate previously cooled in a fridge or freezer. After a minute, run your finger through this cooled jam to see if a skin has formed. If it 'creases' when you touch it, you will know that it will be able to set. Otherwise, continue simmering the damsons and repeat this test as many times as necessary until you reach the setting point.

Leave the mixture to cool down for 15 minutes, so that the pieces of damson will be more evenly suspended in the thickening mixture. Finally, ladle into sterile glass jars, adding the wax paper circles and firmly tightening the lids.

Damson Jam Recipe - More Jam Recipes.