This apple jam is zesty and warm with a hint of ginger, lightly sweetened with honey, and lower in sugar than most jams. It’s an easy, delicious recipe that captures the coziness of fall and is perfect for canning. Enjoy it on toast, pancakes, waffles, or muffins, stirred into yogurt or oatmeal, or even as a flavorful pairing with cheese boards and savory dishes.
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There’s something magical about apple season. The crisp air, the smell of baked apples and spices, the rhythms of summer finally slowing down. This apple ginger jam captures all of that coziness in one spoonful. It’s sweet, zesty, a little spicy from the ginger, and naturally sweetened with honey for a wholesome touch.
If you’re looking for more healthy and easy apple recipes to use up your abundant apple harvest, try my coconut flour apple bread and French apple cake (both grain-free and gluten-free), my quick no-peel Instant Pot applesauce, and my delicious apple butter with honey.
If you love a good ginger kick, also try these amazing and gut-healthy recipes: pear and ginger jello with beef gelatin, fermented carrots and ginger, and carrot tops soup with ginger and bone broth!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Apples and ginger are a match made in heaven. The natural sweetness of apples pairs beautifully with the warm, spicy kick of fresh ginger, creating a jam that’s full of character. Each bite is bright and zesty, yet mellowed by honey, making it cozy and comforting.
Unlike most jams, which are loaded with refined sugar, this recipe uses just enough honey to enhance the apples’ natural flavor without overpowering it. The result is a jam that doesn’t just taste like sugar, but where the apples, ginger, and honey all shine in balance. And of course, less added sugar means a healthier jam!
One of the best things about this recipe is its versatility. Like every jam, it’s wonderful spread on toast, muffins, or pancakes, but you can also get creative: swirl it into oatmeal or yogurt, tuck it into baked goods, or pair it with cheese for a savory-sweet treat. You can even use it as a glaze for roasted meats.
Last but not least, this jam brings you all the amazing health benefits of ginger in a delicious way! With its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, ginger is well-known for aiding digestion, reducing nausea, bloating, and abdominal pain. It may also help ease menstrual cramps, muscle soreness, migraines, and sore throats.
Ingredients for This Apple and Ginger Jam with Honey
Apples. The stars of the show! Use any variety you have on hand. Even better is you use a mix of different varieties.
Honey. Adds natural sweetness and a gentle floral aroma that pairs beautifully with ginger.
Light brown sugar. Provides extra sweetness. You can substitute with more honey, granulated sugar, or your preferred sweetener. To keep it low-sugar, simply omit it and cook the jam a bit longer until the texture thickens.
Water. Use filtered water or apple juice as the cooking liquid. If your apples are very dry, add more liquid as needed.
Ginger. Gives the jam its warmth and zest. Grated fresh ginger works best. If you don’t like the texture of ginger fibers, you can juice it or blend it with the lemon juice.
Lemon juice. Balances sweetness, brightens flavor, and helps the jam set while preserving color and freshness. It’s also considered essential for safe canning.
Cinnamon stick (optional). Adds a subtle layer of spice without overpowering the ginger and apples.
Grass-fed gelatin powder (optional). Helps with texture and adds gut-healthy collagen. Apples already contain natural pectin, so it’s not required: just cook the jam a bit longer if skipping.
Tools You May Need
For making the jam
Cutting board and knife(s).
Large pot and spatula.
For canning
Water bath canner or large pot.
Canning rack (optional).
Jar lifter (optional, you can also let jars cool in water for 10 minutes, then remove safely).
Wide-mouth funnel (optional).
Bubble remover (optional, you can also use a small silicone spatula).
Clean towels.
How To Make This Apple and Ginger Jam with Honey
Step 1: Gather and prepare all ingredients. Peel, core, and chop apples; grate ginger; juice lemon. Bloom gelatin in two tablespoons of water, if using.
Step 2: In a large pot, combine chopped apples, lemon juice, cinnamon stick, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook for about 20 minutes, until apples are soft. If liquid evaporates too quickly, add more water, ½ cup at a time.
Step 3: Remove the cinnamon stick. Mash the apples with a fork or potato masher until you reach your desired texture: smooth for a more spreadable jam, or leave some chunks if you like it rustic.
Step 4: Stir in ginger, honey, and sugar. Also add the bloomed gelatin (if using) and stir until fully dissolved.
Step 5: Continue cooking on low, stirring often, until the jam reaches your preferred thickness. (If using gelatin, remember it will firm up more once cooled, so you don’t need to cook it as long.) When ready, ladle the hot jam into jars.
How To Can This Apple and Ginger JAm with Honey
Step 1: Set up your water bath canner or large pot, fill with water, and bring to a boil.
Step 2: Ladle hot jam into jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles with a bubble remover or silicone spatula.
Step 3: Wipe rims clean with a clean towel, place new lids, and secure rings.
Step 4: Place jars in the canner, ensuring at least 1 inch of water above them. Process for 15 minutes (pints) or 20 minutes (quarts).
Step 5: Remove jars and let sit undisturbed for 12–24 hours. Check seals (lids should be flat, sealed tight, and not pop when you press on them). Remove rings and store sealed jars in your pantry.
If you try this apple jam with ginger and honey, I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a comment down below and don’t forget to leave me a 5-star review if you loved this recipe!
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More Recipes You May Like
Quick No-Peel Instant Pot Applesauce
Delicious Apple Butter with Honey Recipe
Coconut Flour Apple Bread (Grain-Free, Gluten-Free)
Coconut Flour French Apple Cake (Grain-Free, Gluten-Free)
Partridge Berry Jam Recipe with Honey and Beef Gelatin
Pear and Ginger Jello with Beef Gelatin
How to Make Jello with Beef Gelatin (and 4 Recipes)
Fermented Carrots and Ginger Two-Way Recipe
How to Make Lacto-Fermented Onions
Fermented Coleslaw: Easy and Delicious Gut-Healthy Recipe
Carrot Tops Soup with Bone Broth and Ginger
Printable Recipe Card
Apple and Ginger Jam with Honey
Equipment
- Cutting board and knife(s).
- Large pot and spatula.
- Mason jars with new lids. For canning
- Water bath canner or large pot. For canning
- Canning rack. For canning, optional
- Jar lifter. For canning, optional
- Wide-mouth funnel. For canning, optional
- Bubble remover. For canning, optional
- Clean towels. For canning
Ingredients
- 5 lbs apples
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 2 cups water or apple juice
- 3 tbsp fresh grated ginger
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tbsp grass-fed beef gelatin optional
Instructions
Make the jam
- Gather and prepare all ingredients. Peel, core, and chop apples; grate ginger; juice lemon. Bloom gelatin in two tablespoons of water, if using.
- In a large pot, combine chopped apples, lemon juice, cinnamon stick, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook for about 20 minutes, until apples are soft. If liquid evaporates too quickly, add more water, ½ cup at a time.
- Remove the cinnamon stick. Mash the apples with a fork or potato masher until you reach your desired texture: smooth for a more spreadable jam, or leave some chunks if you like it rustic.
- Stir in ginger, honey, and sugar. Also add the bloomed gelatin (if using) and stir until fully dissolved.
- Continue cooking on low, stirring often, until the jam reaches your preferred thickness. (If using gelatin, remember it will firm up more once cooled, so you don’t need to cook it as long.) When ready, ladle the hot jam into jars.
Can the jam
- Set up your water bath canner or large pot, fill with water, and bring to a boil.
- Ladle hot jam into jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles with a bubble remover or silicone spatula.
- Wipe rims clean with a clean towel, place new lids, and secure rings.
- Place jars in the canner, ensuring at least 1 inch of water above them. Process for 15 minutes (pints) or 20 minutes (quarts).
- Remove jars and let sit undisturbed for 12–24 hours. Check seals (lids should be flat, sealed tight, and not pop when you press on them). Remove rings and store sealed jars in your pantry.
