Despite the fact that I’ve now made this jam twice in as many weeks, I don’t have any pretty progress shots of it. I made it once with a class and another time for a video shoot, so there just weren’t any moments to snap a few images. However, it tastes so good that I didn’t want to deprive you all of the opportunity to make it just because I wasn’t able to make time for photography.
This is truly a transformative jam for vanilla lovers. Flavor-wise, pears are fairly retiring, so they provide a perfect platform for the vanilla to shine. What’s more, when cooked, the pears take on a translucent, golden-y hue that allows all those vanilla bean flecks to show their stuff.
Last Saturday night, we had a party to celebrate my husband’s 34th birthday. As in traditional in our little family of two, we put together a board of eight cheeses for our guests. I pulled out a couple of jars of jam to serve as accompaniment, but it was this one that got all the love. Paired with a runny triple creme, people were speechless with the goodness of it. Because I’m a girl who loves to share, I gave all the other jars away as late night party favors and now I’m totally out (I finished off the jar you see above yesterday). I may have to make another batch, so you may see those pictures yet.
Note: Often I’ll tell you that you can substitute vanilla extract for the more pricey beans. However, I do not recommend it in this recipe. Splurge a little and get the two beans. They are a vital ingredient in this recipe and I just don’t think you’ll be happy with the outcome should you make a substitution.
Ingredients
- 8 cups chopped Bartlett pears (or any smooth, thin-skinned pear. There’s no need to peel.)
- 2 vanilla beans, split and scraped
- 4 cups sugar
- 1 packet liquid pectin
Instructions
- In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine chopped pears, sugar and vanilla beans (and all that bean-y goodness you scraped out). Cook over medium heat until the fruit can easily be smashed with the back of a wooden spoon. Use a potato masher or immersion blender to break the fruit down into a mostly-smooth sauce (remove the vanilla bean solids before blending).
- Add the pectin and bring to a rolling boil. Let boil for a full five minutes in order to active the pectin, so that the finished product will have a nice jammy consistency.
- Fill jars, wipe rims to remove any residual jam, apply lids (heat canning lids in a small pot over very low heat while you’re preparing the jam to ensure a good seal) and screw on the rims.
- Process the filled jars in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes (start the timer when the pot has returned to a boil). When the time has elapsed, remove jars from pot and place the jars on a towel-lined countertop. Let them cool undisturbed for at least two hours. During this time, the lids should seal. Check to ensure the jars have sealed by pushing down on the center of the lid. If it feels solid and doesn’t move, it is sealed.
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I’m planning on making this jam, but noticed in your YouTube video for this same jam you added a cup of filtered water to this recipe. I’m just wondering which way I should do it, with or without the water, since the recipe here doesn’t call for it. Also, have you ever tried making it without pectin (ala your pear cinnamon or pear lavender recipes, which are similar but use lemon juice)? Thanks for a great and inspiring blog, I have just ordered your cookbook!
Bobi, the recipe with the water leads to a softer jam and a slightly longer cook time. You could try to make this without pectin, but it will have a softer set than it has with the pectin.
Made this tonight – amazing! Thank you!
I just made this too. It is amazing! Although mine is dark brown from the raw sugar.
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Please help, Marisa! Yours is the first jam I’ve tried making and I followed the directions to a T. I don’t think it “jelled” enough, though, and need some advice.
1. was I supposed to let it boil after adding the pectin until it was thick and jam-like and *then* put it in the jars and process it?
2. (here’s an odd one for you) can I – well, un-do it? pour it back in the saucepan and boil it longer to get it to “jam up”?
It’s not totally runny, by any means, but it certainly isn’t jam.
Thank you for any help you can give me.
Ellen, this is a soft-set jam. You won’t get a solid set from this recipe the way you would from a jam bought at the grocery store. Also, give it some time to set up, it can sometimes take several days (or more) for a jam to achieve its final set.
You are supposed to let the jam boil after adding the pectin until it is thick. The pectin needs time to activate.
If you want to redo the jam, the instructions are here: http://www.foodinjars.com/2011/08/canning-101-how-to-save-runny-jam/
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I have made two batches of this jam and it’s wonderful. I used Nielson-Massey Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste which I buy at my local grocery, $10.00 for 4 oz.; 1 tablespoon = 1 vanilla bean or 8 beans per jar. I actually find that I get a better, cleaner vanilla flavor than I do with real vanilla beans in recipes such as this one where the vanilla is front and center. I make a vanilla bean ice cream with the paste that always gets raves as does this jam. Thanks for sharing.
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