Cranberry Pear Jam - Traditional and Low Sugar Recipes (2024)

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I tried plain pear jam several years ago and was underwhelmed. The taste was quite bland. This year I've been blessed with a bounty of pears from the neighbors again, so I went looking for some different recipes.

First I took the most overripe pears and made up a batch of pear wine with candied ginger. Next I ran across a recipe for Autumn Cranberry Pear Jam in the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving. (If you enjoy canning, I highly recommend this book. There are tons of great recipes!)

Cranberry Pear Jam - Traditional and Low Sugar Recipes (1)

I didn't have a couple of the ingredients (they used liquid pectin and apple juice), so I made some substitutions for the first batch.

We loved the flavor profile of the traditional jam, but it was quite sweet. I made batch #2 with Pomona's Pectin and less than half the sugar – much more fruit flavor. I'll share both versions here so you can choose the one that you prefer.

Cranberry Pear Jam – Traditional Recipe

Adapted from the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving

Ingredients

  • 3 cups pears – cored, finely chopped and crushed (I kept the peels on – your choice)
  • 2/3 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup cranberry juice or unsweetened apple juice or cider
  • 1/4 cup bottled lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon, organic preferred
  • 2 tablespoons powdered pectin
  • 1/2 teaspoon butter, to reduce foaming
  • 5 cups granulated sugar

Directions

Prepare canner, jars and lids. Your water bath canner should be filled about 2/3 full – enough to cover cup sized jars with two inches of water. Jars should be sterilized and kept hot. I run mine through the dishwasher. Some people heat them in their canning water or in a warm oven. You can see my full canning stovetop set up in the currant jelly post.

Cranberry Pear Jam - Traditional and Low Sugar Recipes (2)

In a large, non-reactive pot (I use a heavy bottom stainless steel pot), combine pears, dried cranberries, pomegranate or apple juice, lemon juice, cinnamon, butter and powdered pectin. Bring mixture to full rolling boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Quickly stir in all sugar. Return to full rolling roil and boil exactly one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim off foam, if desired.

Ladle into prepared jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two piece lids. Screw bands until snug. Process for 10 minutes in a water bath canner. Turn off heat, remove canner lid, let sit five minutes. Remove from canner and place on kitchen towel on counter top. After jars are cool, check seals. Refrigerate any jars that did not seal and use them first. (It's rare that a jam jar will not seal, but once in a while there may be a nicked rim or some other factor that causes a failure.)

Makes around 6-7 cups.

Cranberry Pear Jam – Low Sugar Recipe

Adapted from the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving

Ingredients

  • 3 cups pears – cored, finely chopped and crushed (I kept the peels on – your choice)
  • 2/3 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup cranberry juice or unsweetened apple juice or cider
  • 1/4 cup bottled lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar or 3/4 cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon, organic preferred
  • 2 teaspoons Pomona's pectin powder
  • 2 teaspoons calcium water (included with Pomona's Pectin)

Directions

In a small bowl, mix together sugar or honey and pectin powder. Don’t skip this step, or your pectin will clump. Set aside.

In a large, non-reactive pot (I use a heavy bottom stainless steel pot),combine pears, dried cranberries, pomegranate or apple juice, lemon juice, cinnamon, and the calcium water. Bring to a full boil.

Add honey-pectin or sugar-pectin mixture, stir vigorously 1-2 minutes while cooking to dissolve pectin. Return to boil and remove from heat.

Ladle jam into sterilized jars leaving 1/4″ headspace. Wipe rims clean and screw on the lids. Process for 10 minutes in water bath canner (add 1 minute for every 1,000 feet above sea level). Jam will last about three weeks once opened. Makes around 5 cups.

The cranberries, cinnamon and fruit juice team up with the natural sweetness of the pears to make a great fall jam that is more than the sum of its parts. If you use a fair amount of cinnamon, I highly recommend buying bulk Ceylon cinnamon, as opposed to cassia or Chinese cinnamon. The flavor is richer and more complex.

Cranberry Pear Jam - Traditional and Low Sugar Recipes (3)

More Preserving Recipes and Tips you May Enjoy

  • 9 Ways to Preserve Pears, Plus Tips to Prevent Browning
  • Blueberry Pear Jam
  • Autumnberry-Apple Cider Jam
  • Peach Jam Two Ways – Peach Vanilla and Fuzzy Navel
  • Pumpkin Fruit Leather – Tastes Like Portable Pumpkin Pie

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Cranberry Pear Jam – Traditional

Cranberry Pear Jam - Traditional and Low Sugar Recipes (4)
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★5 Stars☆★4 Stars☆★3 Stars☆★2 Stars☆★1 Star☆No reviews

A delicious blend of classic autumn flavors. Great for gift giving.

  • Yield: 67 cups 1x

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 3 cups pears – cored, finely chopped and crushed (I kept the peels on – your choice)
  • 2/3 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup cranberry juice or unsweetened apple juice or cider
  • 1/4 cup bottled lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon, organic preferred
  • 2 tablespoons powdered pectin
  • 1/2 teaspoon butter, to reduce foaming
  • 5 cups granulated sugar

Instructions

Prepare canner, jars and lids. Your water bath canner should be filled about 2/3 full – enough to cover cup sized jars with two inches of water. Jars should be sterilized and kept hot. I run mine through the dishwasher. Some people heat them in their canning water or in a warm oven.

In a large, non-reactive pot , combine pears, dried cranberries, pomegranate or apple juice, lemon juice, cinnamon, butter and powdered pectin. Bring mixture to full rolling boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Quickly stir in all sugar. Return to full rolling roil and boil exactly one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim off foam, if desired.

Ladle into prepared jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two piece lids. Screw bands until snug. Process for 10 minutes in a water bath canner. Turn off heat, remove canner lid, let sit five minutes. Remove from canner and place on kitchen towel on counter top. After jars are cool, check seals. Refrigerate any jars that did not seal and use them first.

Print

Cranberry Pear Jam – Low Sugar Recipe

Cranberry Pear Jam - Traditional and Low Sugar Recipes (5)
Print Recipe
★5 Stars☆★4 Stars☆★3 Stars☆★2 Stars☆★1 Star☆No reviews

Not so sweet version of these classic autumn flavors.

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 3 cups pears – cored, finely chopped and crushed (I kept the peels on – your choice)
  • 2/3 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup cranberry juice or unsweetened apple juice or cider
  • 1/4 cup bottled lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar or 3/4 cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon, organic preferred
  • 2 teaspoons Pomona’s pectin powder
  • 2 teaspoons calcium water (included with Pomona’s Pectin)

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, mix together sugar or honey and pectin powder. Don’t skip this step, or your pectin will clump. Set aside.
  2. In a large, non-reactive pot (I use a heavy bottom stainless steel pot), combine pears, dried cranberries, pomegranate or apple juice, lemon juice, cinnamon, and the calcium water. Bring to a full boil.
  3. Add honey-pectin or sugar-pectin mixture, stir vigorously 1-2 minutes while cooking to dissolve pectin. Return to boil and remove from heat.
  4. Ladle jam into sterilized jars leaving 1/4″ headspace. Wipe rims clean and screw on the lids. Process for 10 minutes in water bath canner (add 1 minute for every 1,000 feet above sea level). Jam will last about three weeks once opened. Makes around 5 cups.
Cranberry Pear Jam - Traditional and Low Sugar Recipes (6)

Originally posted in 2013, last updated in 2018.

Cranberry Pear Jam - Traditional and Low Sugar Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between pear jam and pear preserves? ›

Jam: A pear jam is made using crushed or mashed pears. Preserves: Pear preserves are used made using chunks of pear.

What's the difference between cranberry jelly and jam? ›

Simply put, the difference between jam and jelly is that jam contains actual fruit, while jelly is made from fruit juice and contains no fruit. Where it gets confusing for many folks is the fact that the fruit used to make jam can be so pureed in the production process that you can't see any fruit bits.

What pairs best with cranberry? ›

It's one of those funny fruits that people only pair with orange. But if you're still getting stone fruit (or have some frozen fruit around), it's great to combine cranberries with peaches or nectarines in a sauce for the best of their sweet and tart flavors.

What fruit mixes well with cranberries? ›

Cranberries are a versatile fruit. They can be made into appetizers or beverages, or used in breads, desserts, entrees, and side dishes. The tart flavor may need sweetening to be acceptable to most people. To avoid sugar, try mixing cranberries with fruits that have natural sweetness, like apples, oranges, or apricots.

What is healthier jam jelly or preserves? ›

Preserves are the closest thing to consuming whole fruit. They contain chunks of the actual fruit, making them richer in fiber and nutrients. As with jam, though, the sugar content can vary based on the brand or recipe. In terms of health benefits, preserves generally come out on top due to their whole fruit content.

Is jam better with or without pectin? ›

Preserve fresh flavor.

Strawberry jam with added pectin can be cooked in as little as ten minutes, preserving that fresh berry flavor and quality. Strawberry jam without added pectin needs to be cooked up to four times longer to reach the gel stage, resulting in a much sweeter, less fresh-tasting jam.

Is jelly better with or without pectin? ›

The use of commercial pectin simplifies the process, but jelly made without added pectin contains less sugar and tastes fruitier. Follow the manufacturer's directions for using commercial pectin and do not interchange liquid and powdered pectins. Acid: The proper level of acid is critical to gel formation.

Are cranberries high in pectin? ›

Cranberries are high in pectin, which helps them set naturally into a jelly without the need for any other thickeners. Orange zest and cinnamon are natural flavor pairings for cranberries, enhancing and complementing their tartness.

What not to mix with cranberry? ›

Possible Interactions
  • Warfarin (Coumadin): Cranberry may raise the risk of bleeding, especially if you already take medications to thin the blood such as warfarin. ...
  • Aspirin: Like aspirin, cranberries contain salicylic acid. ...
  • Other medications: Cranberry may interact with medications that are broken down by the liver.

What is a vodka and cranberry drink called? ›

The Cape Cod or Cape Codder is a type of co*cktail consisting of vodka and cranberry juice. Some recipes also call for squeezing a lime wedge over the glass and dropping it into the drink.

What flavors compliment cranberry? ›

cranberry
  • Thyme (Orange) citrus. grassy. woody. floral.
  • Sage (Common) savory. herbal. menthol.
  • Rosemary. savory. herbal.
  • Mexican Tarragon. citrus. anise.
  • Zaatar Marjoram. woody. floral.
  • Marigold Flower. citrus. grapefruit. grassy.
  • Epazote. oregano. anise. mint. gasoline.
  • Basil (Purple Ruffles) cinnamon. anise. menthol.

What fruit goes with pears? ›

1. Opt for a sweet juicy pear for a satisfying snack. Eat out of hand or as part of winter fruit salad along with apples, dried fruit, toasted nuts and coconut. Add a dollop of vanilla yogurt, if desired.

What flavors go well with pear? ›

Pear: Pairs well with almond, apple, caramel, chestnut, chocolate, cinnamon, citrus, clove, ginger, hazelnut, nutmeg, pecan, raspberry, rosemary, vanilla, and walnut. It mixes best with brandy, port, crème de cassis, Grand Marnier, kirsch, rum, whiskey, and dry red white, and sparkling wines.

Do cranberries get sweeter when cooked? ›

When fresh cranberries are cooked, they release all their sweet-tart flavor and the jammy goodness (from natural pectins) that makes cranberry sauces and relishes so popular at Thanksgiving.

What is the difference between jam and preserves? ›

Jam: Jam is made with mashed fruit. Preserves: Preserves have whole fruit or large pieces of fruit. Some fruits such as blackberries or raspberries will not stay whole during the processing so there may not be much difference between raspberry jam and raspberry preserve.

Which is thicker jam or preserves? ›

Fruit preserves are a lot like jam, but they're slightly thicker, thanks to the addition of large chunks or whole pieces of fruit instead of chopped, crushed, or puréed fruit. You'll usually find large bits of fruit suspended in preserves, as well as seeds, in many cases.

What pear is best for pear preserves? ›

Many varieties of pears are grown in Oregon. Bartlett, Bosc and Seckel are good varieties to preserve, however Anjou, Comice, Nelis and Forelle may also be preserved, depending on the end product. It is important to harvest pears at the correct time.

Can you buy pear jam? ›

Williams Pear Jam 220 g

The williams pears found in this jam were cut into cube to make the most of their texture. Williams pear jam prepared in Alsace by Christine Ferber exclusively from fresh fruits.

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