Spiced Grape-Orange Jam

Last year our grape harvest was a bust with the Japanese beetles eating their fill and leaving little to none for us.

This year, I was able to harvest a colander full for grape jam.   (In years past, we have had bucket loads of grapes.  I was just glad I got enough for a batch of jam this time around.)

I have three favorite grape jam/jelly recipes and I cannot decide which is my favorite.   Our old standby is a family heirloom passed down from my great grandmother.   I found a Spiced Grape Jam in an old Farm Journal Cookbook and it has become a favorite.  If you read my Spike Cherry Conserve recipe, you know how much I love Rachel Saunders so another grape favorite, Grape Jam with Orange Essence, is based on one of her recipes.

With so little grapes this year, I decided to optimize the harvest and combine all of my grape jam recipes into what I hope will be a new favorite.

Spiced Grape-Orange Jam

4 lbs. stemmed grapes (to yield about six cups of pulp)
2 1/2 lbs. sugar
zest of one orange
2 oz. fresh orange juice
3 oz. lemon juice
1/2 t. ground cloves
1 t. ground cinnamon

Place grapes in a large kettle.   Using a potato masher, mash the grapes as you bring them to a simmer over medium heat.   Once the grapes start to simmer, cover and cook for about 3-5 minutes.   Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Press pulp through a fine mesh strainer or chinois.   Discard skins and seeds.

Add the grape pulp, sugar, orange zest, orange juice, lemon juice and spices to the large kettle.  Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring often.  Continue to cook until done, 20-30 minutes, stirring frequently.  Jam is done when it reaches 220 degrees F.   Remove from heat and skim off any foam.

Pour into sterilized jars, add lids, and tighten rings.   Process in a water bath for 10 minutes.

Yields 7-8 half pint jars.

This didn’t turn out to be the most beautiful jam I have ever made.  It’s color was a bit earthier than I would have liked for a grape jam.  But, it is delicious and the house smelled like Christmas as I was making this with an aroma that I can most identify with wassail.   The spices are pretty prevalent and I think that you could actually fool someone into thinking they were eating a spicy apple butter.  That all being said, I still think this recipe is a success.

I first tried this jam experiment on my “Truth Telling” biscuits from a recent Food ‘n Flix posting.