Easy Grape Jam is the easiest grape jam recipe – no peeling grapes here and no added pectin! With a taste out of this world, this is a jam recipe you must try!
I can’t tell you how excited I am about this Easy Grape Jam recipe that I developed this week.
How this Grape Jam Recipe come about!
My local supermarket was selling boxes of multi-coloured grapes and obviously bought in too many! Hence I found myself picking up a couple of boxes reduced to 90 p each from £3 (which was already a bargain for a kilo of grapes).
When I got home I washed one of the boxes of grapes and soon realised that we wouldn’t be able to eat them all before they started to perish.
So what was I going to do with the rest? Well hello, Crazy Jam Lady here, of course I decided to make jam; it’s what gluts of fruit were made for!
So I started researching recipes for grape jam and the majority were American. Some suggested peeling the grapes, “hello, I don’t do faff” I thought to myself. Peeling near on 2 boxes of grapes would have taken an age!
Then there was a more sensible solution I came across where you used a stick blender to pulverise the skins so no need to peel. That sounded far more sensible I thought.
I didn’t find one recipe that told me all I needed to know, many used pectin and none said how long to boil the jam for, it was either “use a jam thermometer” or “boil until it looks right” and many recipes added water.
I decided this wasn’t necessary as grapes are basically water in a skin!
I’m a pedant for detail when it comes to writing jam recipes so I love it when I can put out a recipe that is missing from the internet!
I plotted out my Easy Grape Jam recipe and used my Simple Blueberry Jam recipe as a guide because blueberries and grapes are quite similar after all. Grapes just have tougher skins which is why the blending is necessary.
Well blow me down the recipe worked to perfection! I’d also bought 3 Mason jars I’d found going cheap (79 p each can you believe) and the Easy Grape Jam filled the 3 jars exactly.
I couldn’t believe it! It was like this jam was just meant to be.
I waited until the next day to try the jam and having heard so much about peanut butter and jelly I decided to give the family a cracker each with peanut butter and my Easy Grape Jam.
They all loved it and hubby who had doubted that grape jam was even a thing was gushing with compliments!
I do love it when I’m right about something, don’t you? He kept saying he’d never had grape jam before and how wonderful it was. Well I’ve never had it either and I have to say it is fabulous!
Why this Grape Jam recipe isn’t written using Cup measurements!
As I realised this recipe would have wider global appeal I did think about converting it to cup measurements as I’ve been getting quite a few requests from across the pond for these lately.
However on testing out an online conversion chart which said 100 g of whole grapes was equal to 1 cup I found that it was in fact 142 g and I’m sure depending on the size of the grapes one could get many differing results.
Also the cups you buy in the UK do not measure the same as US cups.
So don’t think me mean when I don’t rush off to do the conversion for you,
I just don’t want to be responsible for misinformation which could lead to inaccurate results.
Not all cooking is a precise science but jam making really is. So instead I have converted the recipe to pounds and ounces and suggest if you want to achieve perfect results then a set of electronic scales really is the way forward.
How long will Grape Jam keep for?
Grape Jam is shelf stable so will keep for years. However, it will be in peak condition (for colour & flavour) in the first 12 months if stored in cool, dark, dry place. I keep mine in a cupboard in my garage.
Once opened, store Grape Jam in the fridge where it will last many months provided you always use a clean spoon to serve it.
More summer jam recipes you should try!
I have so many more wonderful jam recipes for you to enjoy, here are just a few!
- Fig Jam
- Watermelon Jam – 2 Ways
- Quick One Punnet Strawberry Jam – 1st Prize Winning
- Easy Seedless Blackberry Jam
- Easy Blackberry & Apple Jam
- Rhubarb & Gin Jam
- Rhubarb & Ginger Jam
- Peach & Apricot Jam – 1st Prize Winning
- Blueberry & Lime Jam
- Quick & Easy Raspberry Jam
More Grape Recipes
If you still have more grapes left here are some more recipes to use them up!
- Pork in Grapes
- Chicken Fiesta
- Coronation Chicken Salad
- Chicken Salad for One
- Grape & Red Onion Chicken Drumsticks
- Seared Paprika Salmon with Rosemary Grapes
- Grilled Pork Chops with Orange & Grape Salsa
- Spinach, Grape & Blue Cheese Salad
- Fried Halloumi Salad with Baked Pomegranate Grapes
- Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Lentils & Grapes
- Red Grape & Rosemary Focaccia
- Fat Free Greek Yogurt Fruit Brulee
- Frozen Grapes on a Stick (Easiest-Ever Grape Popsicles)
- 2 Ingredient Instant Frozen Yogurt(vegan)
- Lemon Panna Cotta with Grapes 2 Ways
I’m sure you’ll love my seedless Grape Jam as it’s my most popular jam recipe! It’s like grape jelly in flavour but fruitier.
Leave a comment and rating below when you’ve made this recipe; I love getting your feedback! You can also share your pictures by tagging @FabFood4All over on Instagram.
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Easy Grape Jam – just 3 ingredients and no pectin!
Equipment
- 1 Digital scales
- 1 Set of measuring spoons
- 1 preserving pan or similar large pan
- 1 stick blender
- 1 long wooden spoon
- 1 jam funnel
- 3 Saucers or small plates
- 3 500 ml jam jars with lids
Ingredients
- 1.7 kg / 3 lb 12 oz seedless grapes I used equal quantities or red, black & green grapes
- 1 kg / 2 lb 3 oz granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Place grapes, sugar and lemon juice into a preserving pan or similar.
- Using a gentle heat dissolve the sugar slowly, stirring frequently.
- As the mixture heats up break up some of the grapes with your wooden spoon or use a potato masher in order the release the grapes’ juices.
- Once all the sugar has dissolved fully (around 20 minutes) take the mixture off the heat and use a stick blender to blend the grapes to a juice like consistency.
- Put pan back on the heat, bring to a rolling boil and then time for 25 minutes, stirring continuously. (You could start with 23 minutes as depending on freshness and variety of grapes the setting time can vary a little).
- Take the pan off the heat and test for set by placing a few drops of the jam on a chilled saucer and place in fridge for a minute.
- The jam should form a crinkle when you push your finger through it.
- If not then boil for another 2 minutes and re-test until set is achieved.
- Pot up in hot jars and place lids on immediately.
- Store in a cool dry place and once opened keep in fridge.
Video
Notes
Put 2 – 3 saucers in the freezer.
Sterilise 3 x 0.5 ltr jars by washing in hot soapy water (or take straight from dishwasher), fill with boiling water, empty and then place in oven for 20 minutes at 140°C where you leave them until the jam is ready. Washed lids should be sterilised with boiling water and then left to drain.
Chez
I make jam every year and have been trying to find a recipe to make with my friends. My friends love it and believe it’s the best jam they’ve ever had.
Camilla
So glad you and your friends like the recipe, it is a fabulous jam:-)
Yvonne
Sounds great
I’m going to make it tomorrow. My grapes have seeds. I use a sharp knife to cut grapes in half to remove seeds.
This is a relaxing activity for me.
Thank you for the recipe.
Camilla
Enjoy. Yes it can be very relaxing doing a repetitive task like that:-)
Glenis
It’s taking a long time to get right consitancy, followed exactly as stated, not setting in fridge on the saucer. Don’t know the name of the grapes but ouch, taking too long. Any advice welcome
Camilla
Hi Glenis, hard to know without being in your kitchen. Is your jam on a full rolling boil? Did you weigh the ingrdients accurately or attempt a conversion to cups?
Tommy
This recipe sounds awesome. What flavour of jam that you have listed is your favourite? I want to make one and I like the sound of this or watermelon. Thanks in advance!
Camilla
That’s a really hard question as it’s almost like saying what’s your favourite fruit! I would say this Grape Jam, Blueberry Jam, Blackberry & Apple Jam and Rhubarb & Gin Jam are all worthy of being called favourites but then so are so many others, I’ve made an awful lot of jams over the years, many more than listed here, just got to my Jam category list: https://www.fabfood4all.co.uk/category/preserves/jam/
Melissa Garza
Thank you so much for your recipe this is the first jam that I have attempted and turned out great!
Camilla
Awesome Melissa, so glad you had success with your first attempt at making jam. Hopefully you can try some more of my jam recipes in the future:-)
Jan
I am from Adelaide, Australia.
Thank you for this GREAT recipe.
I only used sultana seedless grapes from our garden.
I have also added a minimal amount of chilli.
It is so delicious with cheese on crackers.
Thank you
Camilla
Ooh, that sounds wonderful Jan, thank you so much for your feedback:-)
Kathleen Colton
Hello from Illinois, USA! I used this recipe with our homegrown Concord SEEDED grapes last fall, I found that mashing the grapes during cooking also essentially smashed the seeds! My hubby, like your’s, absolutely loved it, as he is the grape grower. Thanks so very much!
Kathleen Colton
Camilla
Awesome Kathleen, so pleased you find it works with seeded grapes too as I often get asked about this! Hope you try some of my other jams too:-)
Kerrie Lyndale Regan
Is it possible to use seedless grapes for this recipe please?
Camilla
This recipe uses seedless grapes.
Elenor
Love this recipe. Your detailed instructions are so easy to follow & result in a perfect jam.
I have just discovered your page & I’m a big fan, thank you!
Camilla
Aaw, Elenor, so glad you like the grape jam and my blog:-) Hope you find many more recipes to enjoy!
Brenda Whilby
Thanks!
Camilla
You’re most welcome Brenda:-)
Michelle
Hi is it possible to make the grape jam with sweetener instead of sugar.
Camilla
Hi Michelle, no you can’t swap sugar for sweetener as the sugar is what preserves the jam and also has a role in the gel formation. Sugar free jam is a whole different ball game and I’ve only ever tried making it with chia seeds once but didn’t like the flavour the sweetener gave so never share the recipe. Sorry I can’t be of more help. Maybe one day I’ll try to come up with something.
Pearl
can i use a normal blender? i dont have the stick blender :c
Camilla
Hi Pearl, yes you can but to save time cooling the mixture down in order to put in your blender I think I would start by blending the grapes and then adding to the sugar and lemon juice.