Simple & Yummy Fruit Jams & Powders for This and That!
Need a blueberry frosting, a raspberry filling, cranberry cupcake swirls, or a fruity cheesecake topping? How about a tangy dusting of fruit powder?
Fruity jams and powders bring sensational color and flavorful punchiness to a range of your favorite bakes. Gussying up your treats with a dash or splash here and there will have your family and friends coming back for more and showering you with never-ending compliments.
Life is like a fruit salad: it’s sweet, tangy, and always better with a little zest!
One of the most useful additions to many bakes is something juicy and fruity. But who has time to pull out the Mason jars and slave over the canning process all night? We don’t; and we bet you don’t either; especially when you are excited about pulling together a delicious cake, a batch of cupcakes, a fancy fruit-topped cheesecake, or some yummy bars/traybakes. So let’s make some simple fruit jams that require just 2 ingredients: fruit and sugar. That’s it! Oh snap, there’s more. We might as well throw in some powdered fruit too, why not… we won’t get arrested! Be sure to check out the gallery of example bakes with simple fruit jams or powdered fruits or both! So, pucker up and let’s get to it!
On Measuring Ingredients: My preferred method of measuring is weight by grams. Baking by volume rather than weight can lead to varied and unexpected results. Flour is especially problematic when measured by volume (sifted, not sifted, spooned, not spooned, fluffed or not … you get the point). Grams are always the same; they are your friend as a baker. King Arthur Baking Company’s Ingredients Weight Chart is helpful for converting recipe weights.
Simple Jams
3⅓ cups fresh/frozen berries or fruit of your choice (400g)
*Measurements will vary slightly depending on fresh/frozen and type of fruit; add sugar to suit your taste.
1½ cups granulated sugar (125g)
Optional: a dash of lemon juice
Fruit Powders
1 ounce freeze-dried fruit (30g) (“fruta liofilizada” in Spanish)
* Freeze-dried fruit (not dehydrated fruit which contains moisture) can be found in many larger grocery stores or online.
Simple Jam
1. Mix the Fruit and Sugar: Combine your chosen fruit (e.g., strawberries, raspberries, etc.) with sugar in a saucepan. The amount of sugar depends on your taste preference and the sweetness of the fruit. A common ratio is equal parts fruit and sugar, but you can adjust to taste.
2. Simmer on a Medium Heat: Place the saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Allow the fruit and sugar mixture to come to a gentle simmer. Stir occasionally to ensure the sugar dissolves completely.
3. Stir Constantly Until Thickens: Once the mixture is simmering, reduce the heat slightly and continue to stir constantly. This helps prevent the jam from sticking to the bottom of the pan and ensures even cooking. As the mixture cooks, it will gradually thicken. This process usually takes around 20-30 minutes, but it can vary depending on the fruit and the desired thickness of the jam.
4. Pass the Jam Through a Sieve: Once the jam has thickened to your liking, remove it from the heat. While still a bit warm, pass it through a fine-mesh sieve or strainer to remove any lumps, seeds, or skins from the fruit. Press the mixture through the sieve using a spatula or the back of a spoon, leaving you with a smooth, seedless jam.
Enjoy your homemade fruit jam!
Fruit Powder
1. Blitz Freeze-Dried Fruit: Using either a food processor or an immersion blender, add the freeze-dried fruit to the bowl or container. Pulse or blend the fruit until it reaches a fine powder consistency. This usually takes just a few seconds, as freeze-dried fruit is already brittle and easy to break down.
2. Pass the Powder Through a Sieve: Once the fruit has been blitzed into a powder, transfer it to a fine-mesh sieve or strainer set over a bowl. Gently tap or shake the sieve to sift the powder through, leaving any seeds or larger particles behind. You may need to use a spoon to help press the powder through the sieve, ensuring a smooth and seed-free result.
Enjoy your freshly powdered freeze-dried fruit, ready to be incorporated into various recipes!
Here are some goodies make with simple fruit jam or fruit powder:
Equipment (Disclosure: Items below include affiliate links with Amazon USA. You pay the regular price, and I get a small commission.) I only recommend products that I own myself and know to be excellent quality. I often get asked on social media sites about my kitchen tools, so here are most of them used to make this recipe. The full list of our recommended kitchen equipment can be found here.
Braun Immersion Blender (This tool comes in handy for many small tasks like blitzing freeze-dried fruit.)
Mixing bowls (I like this oven-proof glass set of 10 for mixing and portioning out ingredients.)
Mesh strainers/sifters/sieves (Sifting warm fruit jam and fruit powder ensures smooth results.)
Kitchen scale (Ingredients should be weighed rather than relying on volume.)
Saucepan (This 2.5qt pan is a keeper for many tasks. Works with all cooktop types, including induction.)
Silicone spatula set (These are great for stirring super hot liquids.)
Weck tulip jars (Why go with any other jar?)