In this short post, I’m going to share with you 7 things to do with runny jam or jelly so it doesn’t have to sit untouched on your pantry shelf.
One of my favorite things about the warm seasons is the many ways to use the plentiful fruit and to preserve them for the rest of the year.
Making homemade jam and jelly is a common way that folks have been preserving fruit for decades.
Have you found yourself with a batch of jam that ended up runny? It seems that it can be so easy for a batch of jam to “fail” and not set properly, no matter how close you follow the directions.
There are all kinds of jam experts out there telling us how to properly make jam. When the jam or jelly continues to not “set” for us, it can be quite frustrating, to say the least.
This post is not about how to “fix” runny jam or jelly, but how to use it the way it is.
There are articles out there offering helpful tips on things to do to re-thicken the jam; from sugar levels, to the type of pectin used, to the process of water bath canning, and so on.
Jams and jellies are made up of several base ingredients: the ripe fruit, (or fruit juice), sugar, citric acid, pectin, maybe lemon juice and sometimes a few other ingredients.
Common causes why jam or jelly doesn’t set
A common cause of jam not setting is when we cut back on the sugar. Most jams and jellies use a TON of sugar. Unless you have a recipe that has a low sugar content, you have to add in the directed amount of sugar for it to set properly.
A second reason for most jam or jelly not setting, is the thickener used. Some common thickeners are liquid pectin, powdered pectin, and chia seeds can be used in natural jam or jelly recipes also.
In considering and analyzing the runny batch of jam or jelly, some practical questions to ask ourselves are: Is it past its best by date?
Did you swap one type of thickener or pectin for another? Follow the exact directions closely for best results.
The good news is that there are delicious uses for these “flawed” jams. Or, if you simply have an abundance of perfect jam on your hands, read on for creative ways to use it up.
Use on crepes, waffles or pancakes
Thin jam or jelly makes an excellent topping for pancakes, waffles and crepes. It adds wonderful flavor and taste. Fruit is often a favorite topping for pancakes, waffles and crepes, so jams and jellys are a second-best option!
Every year when my family goes to Michigan to pick blueberries, we always stock up on a jar or two of the blueberry sauce at the little farm stores.
When you wonder what to possibly do with your jam or jelly that turned out runny, think homemade fruit syrup! This is just like the store bought bottles but only homemade and much healthier for you!
Topping for ice cream, yogurt, pudding and tapioca
One of our favorite custard toppings at Culver’s is raspeberries.
Anything like raspberry jam or jelly is great to use at home on a bowl of ice cream, tapioca or vanilla pudding. Those bright red swirls in the bowl of creamy whiteness, is just so mesmerizing!
If yogurt for breakfast is your thing, then incorporating some of that runny jam or jelly into your serving is am excellent idea. It is just like sprinkling on some fresh berries, only they are cooked down into a fruit syrup (unintentionally, of course!:)
Serve over angel food cake
Strawberries are not the only thing to serve on angel food cake. Jams and jellies are great to spread over that gorgeous piece of angel food cake, topped with a generous dollop of whipped cream.
Spoon over oatmeal
A dish of oatmeal is great with honey and milk, but why not take it up a notch and garnish with your jam or jelly that didn’t thicken? This is a very yummy way to re-purpose that jam or jelly. No need to waste tears here!
This overnight baked oatmeal in the slow cooker is perfect to pair with a jar of jam or jelly!
Make a coffee cake and swirl some jam in
Jam or jelly can be spread either in the bottom of the pan of your coffee cake, or swirled in on the top before the crumb topping is added.
Surprise your host with this gorgeous twist, the next time you are invited out.
Add to smoothies or milkshakes
Runny jam is a great fruit flavor addition to smoothies or milkshakes. Good flavor ideas are raspeberry, blueberry, strawberry, multi fruit, apricot etc.
Make into fruit leathers
All you need for this one is a dehydrator (even a oven could work) and parchment paper.
Spread the jam into a semi-thin layer, up to the edge, and dehydrate on the fruit setting. This is a great homemade snack option to have on hand! Kids love fruit leathers and so do grown ups!
So in conclusion, as I shared these 7 things to do with runny jam or jelly, I hope that it gave you some inspiration and encouragement, not only in figuring out what to do with those jars, but also in your jam and jelly making journey. Remember, we are learning the in’s and out’s of canning together!
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A little about me!
Hi! I’m Rebecca, wife and mother and I love homemaking and cooking on a daily basis.
Baking healthy desserts and cooking nutritious filled foods is a passion that I have and that is reflected in the recipes I post here!
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