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Fresh Small-Batch Peach Jam Recipe with Cardamom and Vanilla Bean Made Easy

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A quick and easy small-batch peach jam infused with warm cardamom and real vanilla bean, perfect for breakfast toast, gifts, or a sweet summer treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups peeled and diced fresh peaches (about 6–7 medium peaches)
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 6 whole cardamom pods, lightly crushed
  • 1 whole vanilla bean, split and scraped (or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract)
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions

  1. Wash and peel the peaches by scoring an ‘X’ at the bottom, blanching in boiling water for 30 seconds, then transferring to ice water. Peel skins off and dice peaches into 1/2-inch pieces to yield about 4 cups.
  2. Lightly crush the cardamom pods using the back of a spoon or mortar and pestle to release aroma without grinding into powder.
  3. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine diced peaches, sugar, lemon juice, crushed cardamom pods, scraped vanilla bean seeds plus the pod, and water. Stir gently to combine.
  4. Place the pan over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mash peaches lightly if a smoother texture is desired.
  5. Check for doneness by seeing if the jam coats the back of a spoon and wrinkles when pushed with a finger (test on a cold plate). Continue simmering if too runny.
  6. Remove the cardamom pods and vanilla bean pod before bottling to avoid bitterness.
  7. Ladle hot jam into sterilized glass jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rims clean, seal with lids, and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate immediately or process in a hot water bath for longer shelf life.

Notes

Use ripe but firm peaches to avoid mushy jam. Slowly simmer to allow flavors to meld and sugars to caramelize. Remove cardamom pods and vanilla bean pod before jarring to prevent bitterness. Sterilize jars to prevent spoilage. You can substitute vanilla extract if fresh vanilla bean is unavailable. For a smoother jam, mash peaches during cooking or strain out cardamom bits. Reduce sugar or use coconut sugar for a less refined sweetener. Lemon juice helps with natural pectin and color preservation.

Nutrition

Keywords: peach jam, small batch jam, homemade jam, cardamom jam, vanilla bean jam, summer preserves, easy jam recipe, fruit jam, vegan jam, gluten-free jam

Find it online: https://sweetstirring.com/fresh-small-batch-peach-jam-recipe-with-cardamom-and-vanilla-bean-made-easy/