A simple stovetop old-school plum jam which actually stands up to sugar-free. Enjoy the great-tasting jam to treat yourself to that forgotten bread jam breakfast.
Jams, jellies and preserves are an absolute delight to have. They make one of the easiest options for breakfast as well. When you are diabetic, there are limitations as these can be sugar-rich and not suitable. none of these agree with you when that life turns upside down, but not altogether.
My mission was to create a sugar-free version for my jam-loving husband. Ever since he was diagnosed as borderline diabetic, we have been working on deliberate attempts to remove added sugar from our diets. Yet, at times he does crave the simplicity of that bread jam or a dessert treat. It makes my life easy as well if I don’t have to think too hard for breakfast, there is nothing faster and easier than toast with a bit of jam!! I think both of us missed the idea. This is when we jump-started the idea to try jam recipes with no particular additions.
The successful ones so far have been plums, sugar plums, apples and prunes. These are the ones that we find stay good while too and not go bad so easily.
My mission was to create a sugar-free version for my jam-loving husband. Ever since he was diagnosed as borderline diabetic, we have been working on deliberate attempts to remove added sugar from our diets. Yet, at times he does crave the simplicity of that bread jam or a dessert treat. It makes my life easy as well if I don’t have to think too hard for breakfast, there is nothing faster and easier than toast with a bit of jam!! I think both of us missed the idea. This is when we jump-started the idea to try jam recipes with no particular additions.
The successful ones so far have been plums, sugar plums, apples and prunes. These are the ones that we find stay good while too and not go bad so easily.
How to choose the plums to make this sugar-free plum jam?
Plums are rich in sugar but are slightly sour even when they are ripe enough to be eaten. This sweetness is not enough to keep your jam tasty without any added sugar. So for this recipe, you are looking for slightly on the overripe side. It is easy to spot these plums. If you press gently, they yield, are soft and form dents. This is the type of plums you need. The sugar plums are naturally sweeter than the other varieties. It is not essential to have sugar plums for this recipe, just about any ripe plum would do.
Ingredients to make this jam
Plums: plums are the only ingredient you need to make this recipe. I have used a mix of yellow and red plums that were available to make it. This was a bit unripe when I picked them up and stored them sealed in a brown paper bag for a couple of days till they were soft and sweet.
Let’s make plum jam
Prep the plums: once the plums are ripe, remove the stalk and wash them clean. Slice them in half and remove the seed. You don’t need to chop them up as they melt as soon as they hit the heat.
Making the jam: use a heavy-bottomed saucepan or for a bigger batch a stock pot. Ensure that you have a pot 3 times bigger than the fruit you have to avoid splutter. Add all the deserved plums you have onto the pot. Set it on medium heat and let it cook. Keep stirring initially till the plum starts to break down. Keep stirring as the bubble, reduce and break down to form a simmering gloop. Once the liquids start evaporating and look like the jam is coming together, check if the line scored at the back of the spatula stays. This is a good indication that the jam is ready. Remove from heat and set it aside.
Storage: scoop the jam into the cleaned sterilized bottles. It will be a bit runnier than when it cools down. Tap out any air bubbles. Place the lid tightly and flip over the bottle. once it is cool, the jam is ready to be had or refrigerated.
Storage: scoop the jam into the cleaned sterilized bottles. It will be a bit runnier than when it cools down. Tap out any air bubbles. Place the lid tightly and flip over the bottle. once it is cool, the jam is ready to be had or refrigerated.
How long does this plum jam stay?
I won’t recommend this as a long-standing type of jam as there is no added sugar to act as a preservative. The best is to keep them for up to 4 months if sealed properly and kept in the refrigerator.
Is it ideal to keep the sugar-free plum jam out or refrigerated?
These jams have no added sugar or pectin to keep the preservation optimal. So I prefer to keep them in the refrigerator. I use the water bath method to sterilise the bottles and I have had success for up to 4 months. We are massive jam lovers, so it doesn’t last more than that.
How diabetic-friendly is this recipe?
This fruit jam attempt is one we devised to carry on our lives without the sugar added, In saying that, condensed fruit is never devoid of natural sugar. So you won’t be avoiding the sugar. It is just the added sugar in the forms of white, raw, dates, jaggery, honey or maple syrup that you are avoiding adding. It is still a treat or a well-rewarded breakfast that should be had after consultation with your doctor. Kindly avoid making it a habit as it is pretty addictive
Diabetic friendly plum jam
Ingredients
- 1 kg plum better if over ripe
Instructions
- Wash and dry the plums Quarter them and remove the stone.
- In a heavy stock pot add the cut plums and set it on medium heat. Stir it occasionally and let the fruit cook down.
- Turn down the heat if it gets dried out faster.
- Mash the softerned fruit as you go along.
- When nearly most of the mositure seems gone and the fruit shows a jam consistency remove of heat and set aside for 10 minutes.
- Transfer into oven dried jam bottles.
- Use a clean dry butter knife to remove and spread when you need. Store in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Notes
Take care to seal the bottles well and also ensure that the bottles are well sterilized.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Some classic jam recipes on this blog
We love making homemade jams. We mostly make smaller quantities as it helps keep it fresher and also tackle the few bits of fruits that remain from the weekly purchases. Hope you enjoy these classic jams too.
Stay connected
Plum jams are an absolute favourite because of the colour and the flavour. being able to save it up for the season’s end and tide over winter by making this no sugar plum jam has been a brilliant idea. Hope you will give it a go and let us know how you go as well. Tag us when you make this recipe on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Threads.
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I always used to buy diabetics friendly jam for my father in law from stores but never thought it could be made at home so easily, lovely share thanks.
Glad it is of use to you Soma.
Wow this is such a wonderful and simple one ingredient recpie…will surely try
Thankyou Renu, i am sure it will go perfect with the buns you have in pic
This is really a very simple recipe. Nothing can be better than home made jams without preservatives.
so true,home made is therapy
Homemade jams and sauces are the best..plus you have not added sugar so this makes it even more healthy
Thats the whole point. overripe fruits are anyway full of sugar
A 1-ingredient recipe! Not only is it diabetic friendly, it is also figure friendly AND laden with flavour.
Aruna, am so glad you like it. Hope you will let me know when you try it.
Wow this is amazing one ingredient jam recipe, I saw the similar recipe in tv one of the international chef made jam using one ingredient,from that time I was looking for full tested & tried recipe,now I got one thanks for this beautiful share.????????
I will really take the comparison as a complement Joly. You give me a whole new boost to my effort
Awesome share. Never thought of without sugar jam. Its a blessing for diabetic people. I will surely try it for my husband.
i have been trying for a while asmy household too needs sugar free stuff and its really difficult to deal with the craving.
I never knew you can make jam without sugar, I thought you would need to add a sugar free substitute. I guess the plums must have been very sweet to start with.Its good you have mastered this so your hubby can enjoy it.
That was my belief too and it is pretty cumbersome to make two sets, one for the kids and one for the husband. Then began experimenting this way…
This sugar free version of jam sounds so flavorful and healthy.. awesome share !!
Thanks poonam, hope you could try it out some time
Diabetic friendly plum jam looks excellent and you have done justice. Lovely colour and very tempting jam.
Thanks Priya, it is luscious and yes the over ripe plums give out such beautiful colour as they simmer.
Nothing can beat Homemade jams especially because they do not have added preservatives….I love to make seasonal fruit jams…This diabetic friendly jam looks super simple and delicious!!
it is super delicious indeed, it was mopped up clean bythe kids too.
Amazing texture despite leaving out the sugar. Love the color too. Lovely share 🙂
Thanks freda. it is true the texture was simply amazing
Homemade jam is always best, that too you made without sugar! Nice share ????
Thanks Uma, hope you could try this when you get some at hand
Wow..this Jam sounds great..never thought of making diabetic friendly jam…the jam looks awesome
Typical diabetic jams have sweetener which again has its own effects, hence thought of this trial
hope you could try Lathiya
Wow!! Such a wonderful share dear. Never thought we can make jam with just one ingredient. Superb.
avoiding sugar brings out a whole world of more possibilities than when we have sugar
What a blessing this sugar free jam is and how tempting the luscious colour! I’m a big fan of fresh fruit jams and chutneys – just made a big batch of dried plum chutney yesterday. This jam is next on my list of yummies. ????
I love plum chutney. do you have it on your blog? will love to try.
This is such a delectable and healthy one ingredient recipe Seema. Loved it.
glad you do Jayashree.
Absolutely loving this diabetic jam as no sugar involved in this recipe and totally jam is made with fruits own natural sugar.
thanks Jagruthi. yes we have been on a sugar avoidance for a while and this really helps us to understand the sweetness in each fruit, the natural ones actually enhances the experience
Getting the jam consistency without the sugar must have been difficult. I would love to try this recipe out.
Not really Mayuri, slow simmering bring out the pectin from the skin and it thickens faster than we think.
Wow !!! sugar free version of jam is really a healthy option particularly for Diabetic persons. Awesome share !!!
Your recipe is so easy and perfect for Diabetic patients and toddlers. Fabulous share !!
I used prune plums from our own tree. The flavour is really good. The recipe is disappointing since there are no cooking guide lines. Do you cook at a bubble boil for 15 (?) minutes? What is the test for jam consistency? Back of spoon coating…….?
Hi Nancy, Thank you for the feedback. I agree the recipe has not been thought through from a reader’s perspective at the time of writing. I will update it as per the recommendation. To answer your question, the bubbling time cannot be estimated as the fruit changes in water content depending on the season and variety.However, 10 to 15 minutes for simmering will be a good estimate. Usually I keep an eye on it at this time and don’t leave it. The test of the jam is the soft spreadable nature. it will be runny when hot and yes, coats… Read more »
So healthy and delish!
Love that this is diabetic friendly. Have a bag of plums from local farmer’s market.