I can confidently say this is the easiest and tastiest Apricot Freezer Jam recipe I’ve ever made without pectin! Your family will LOVE the tangy sweet spread on toast, pancakes, waffles, ice cream, in apricot pies, and on yogurts! Only 10 minutes to make and lasts year(s) in the freezer!
If you have an Apricot tree, chances are you get a TON of Apricots every year (or almost every year). The perfect way to preserve a large amount of that beautiful harvest is to make several batches of this super easy Apricot Freezer Jam!
Step One Clean Apricots
The first step in making Apricot Freezer Jam is to clean your apricots really well!
Dirt, bird poop and pests can make tree ripened apricots dirty. Make sure you get anything on the apricots off especially down in the stem area. (This is a favorite spot for earwigs, so clean well!)
Clean well because, anything left on your fruit may end up on your (or your friend) toast!
Pit & Slice Apricots
After cleaning your apricots, cut them in half and remove the pits. Now is the time to inspect for brown spots, or other undesirable spots on your fruit, and trim that out. Discard pits and trimmed off fruit, and place good apricots into the blender!
Blending Apricots
I prefer to use a blender for apricot freezer jam, because my family prefers smooth apricot jam! I usually use a standard 14 cup blender.
However, If you prefer chucky freezer jam, use a food processor, or potato masher, instead and process till desired consistency.
No Cook Apricot Freezer Jam
One of the best things about this recipe is that is does not require cooking at all. You don’t cook the fruit or the fruit in jars, like traditional jams! Apricots retain their fresh and natural flavor since they aren’t cooked or processed like traditional jams…. YEA!
Can You Make Freezer Jam With Apricots?
YES, you can most certainly make apricot freezer jam with fresh or frozen apricots! Apricot freezer jam has been one of my family favorites for over 15 years!
Apricot trees are good producers, and what do you do with all that apricot goodness? Making Apricot Freezer Jam is a wonderful and tasty way to preserve apricots for year(s)!
TIP: You will need to thaw frozen apricots to blend, but make sure to save all juices to include in blender, you’ll want all that goodness!
What Is The Difference Between Jam and Freezer Jam?
Traditional jams are made with large amounts of sugar, and are cooked with pectin, then processed by water bath canning.
However, freezer jams require little sugar, and do not cook fruit! What you are left with is a far superior product that is FRESH, and TASTY!
Freezer jams are stored in the freezer not on the shelf like traditional jams. However both types of jam are best used within one year!
Should You PEEL Apricots For Jam?
Some people peel apricots before making jam, however I do not. The apricot skins blend smoothly into the jam, adding a touch of texture and natural goodness. So, I keep the skin on and blend together. You can’t tell the skins or peels were left on after making this recipe!
TIP: If you want to remove skins anyways, blanch them first, and skin will easily remove without taking the flesh of the apricots with it.
Are Apricots High In Pectin?
There are multiple sources and charts showing pectin levels of fruit. Apricots naturally have pectin, making them great for creating smooth and spreadable jams without extra additives.
Pectin is not needed in this freezer jam recipe… UltraGel is all you need to make your jam as thick as you like!
Can You Freeze Apricots?
If you have a TON of Apricots, it can be overwhelming. YES… Go ahead and wash your apricots, trim and pit them and freeze! You can make freezer jam from frozen Apricots later!
There is no negative effect to apricot freezer jam by making it with frozen fruit!
Apricot Freezer Jam From Frozen Apricots
To make Apricot Freezer Jam from previously frozen fruit, just thaw apricots on the kitchen counter and reserve juices. (You’ll need apricot juices to blend with apricot flesh!)
After apricots are thawed, follow this recipe as if they were fresh!
How Long Does Freezer Jam Last In Freezer?
Freezer Jam is best if used within a year… HOWEVER it’s still very TASTY through 2 years in the deep freezer. The top layer of your freezer jam may become discolored from oxygen. Simply remove discolored layer and enjoy!
TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
- Blender or a Food Processor
- Measuring Cups
- A Big Soft Spoon
- Freezer safe jars or storage containers
- And Freezer Space!
ULTRA GEL or EZ Gel Thickener
Ultra Gel and EZ Gel (below) is a modified food starch made from potato or corn starch. They use an enzyme to change or modify the starch in corn or potatoes so that you don’t have to cook it to thicken! Ultra Gel thickens any liquid whether it’s hot or cold. It’s is an AWESOME thickener to keep on hand, and it’s wonderful for raw jams, like this apricot freezer jam recipe!
CAN I USE PLASTIC CONTAINERS FOR FREEZER JAM?
Yes, you can use plastic containers to freeze your strawberry freezer jam! Any smaller sturdy plastic container with a tight fitting lid will work. However, I prefer containers that are BPA free, like these BPA free small containers!
Recipe Card
If you try this recipe and love it, I’d love if you give it 5 stars and let me know how it turned out in the comments or review! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouse_harvest with your delicious creation!
Apricot Freezer Jam (Low Sugar – No Cook)
Ingredients
- Trimmed Apricots – Batches are made by filling your blender. About 6 cups at a time
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup lemon juice concentrate
- 1/2 cup Ultra Gel Thickener or EZ Gel
Instructions
- Wash fruit thoroughly
- trim and pit apricots
- place chopped apricots and lemon juice in blender or food processor and blend till desired texture. (I just fill my blender to 3 inches of the top, I don't measure… so about 5 cups)
- add sugar and Ultra Gel and blend till well incorporated.
- Pour into freezer safe jars or bags.
- Enjoy or Freeze for later use!
Notes
Nutrition
More Recipes
If you liked this simple freezer jam recipe, you may also like our Raspberry Jam! The award winning Blackberry Jam is also very popular!
If you have any question or suggestions, please let me know in the comments below! Thanks for visiting and make sure to subscribe… See you next time!
14 comments
Juliea Huffaker
Hi Rhonda! Yes just wash them and slice! When I say trim.. I mean cut off any bad spots;)
juliea
Hi Jan! I you can use fresh lemon juice or the 100% lemon juice in the bottle! most lemons are organic… Not very many pests bother lemons, so they don’t need pesticides;)
Sandy H
Hi,
What brand of Ultra Gel Thickener do you use.
All kinds on internet. I’ve actually have never heard of it before.
Sandy
Hi,
I’m a novice with freezer jam.
What brand of ultra gel thickener should I get? What do you use? I have to order on-line.
Thanks
juliea
I use either the Ultra Gel or the EZ Gel in the blue bags. Ultra Get gets bought out faster than EZ Gel for some reason. They seem the same to me.
Linda S Cabot
Can you use surejell instead with this recipe?
Elaine Cook
Can I use pineapple also in this Jamand how much ? If I can ?
juliea
Hi Elaine! Of course you can! I just keep it to 4 cups fruit, about 1/3 cup thickener & lemon juice to preserve color and sweeten to taste!
juliea
I’ve never tried suregel… If it is an instant thickener then it will work!
Darlene
Love how perfectly sweet and tart this apricot freezer jam is!
Gio
Can I use the Ultra Gel to thicken runny freezer jam made with Ball pectin.
Followed a recipe and have runny strawberry jam?
juliea
Hi Gino! Yes you can! Ultra Gel thickens all jams no matter the other ingredients!
Ben
Thus apricot freezer jam is so good that I eat it with a spoon. It’s really simple and easy to make. And it barely has any sugar, no preservatives and no fake food, so I have no guilt.
East
I love This apricot freezer jam! I eat it like apple sauce with a spoon, it’s that good! Better than regular jam or jelly! Make a lot because you’ll eat it or share it!