Easy Kumquat Jam Recipe

Preserving fruit is surprisingly easy and very satisfying—even more so when it's a fruit you really love or a fruit that you grew. One of the best ways to make your kumquats last you throughout the year is to turn them into jam so you can enjoy them anytime in yogurt or on toast.

The sweet and tart contrast of kumquats makes them perfect for creating a delicious jam. Add a cinnamon stick in the pot for a hint of spice with your citrus if you love the spice and citrus combo.

This easy recipe only requires just a few ingredients, some jars, and a little bit of time.

Kumquat Jam Recipe

• Prep Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
• Servings: 1 ¼ cups jam or 20 total servings
• Good for: kid-friendly, gifts, condiment, parties, gluten-free, vegan
• Difficulty: easy

Nothing beats homemade, so the next time you have an endless amount of kumquats growing or got a surplus at the store, whip up this jam so you can enjoy the tart and sweet citrus fruit all year round!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sliced kumquats with seeds removed
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Equipment:

• Cutting board
• Knife
• Mixing bowl
• Spatula
• Stove
• Pot
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Immersion blender
• Glass jar

Recipe Steps:

Prepare the kumquats:

1. Slice the kumquats and remove any seeds and add them to a mixing bowl.
2. On top of the kumquats add the water, sugars, lemon juice and cinnamon stick if you’re using it.
3. Stir together and let the kumquats sit for an hour to macerate, which will help pull the fruit’s natural sugars out. 

Make the jam:

1. Add the prepped kumquats to a pot and bring to a boil on medium-high heat.
2. Reduce the heat to low-medium and continue to stir occasionally as the mixture simmers for 30-35 minutes or the mixture reduces by half and thickens into a syrup-like consistency.
3. If using a cinnamon stick, take it out after the first 10 minutes of cooking.
4. To know you’ve cooked the jam long enough, put a few plates in the freezer. When you’re ready to test your jam, drop a bit of the jam on the plate to see if it gels up. If it runs everywhere, it’s not done but if it thickens and gels, the jam is cooked through. You can also use a thermometer and once the temperature reaches 220 degrees Fahrenheit, the jam is done cooking.
5. Once the jam is done cooking, use an immersion blender to blend everything up before transferring to a glass jar.
6. The jam will thicken up in the glass jars as it cools. 

Serving Suggestions:

Top your jars with a few fresh kumquat slices and give them away as gifts. We all need gifts to have one hand and jam makes an easy one to store and give away for later!

Use your jam in oatmeal, toast, buttery croissants, yogurt parfaits - the options are endless!

Nutritional Information for One Serving:

• Calories: 50
• Total Fat: 0g
• Saturated Fat: 0g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 0mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 13g
• Dietary Fiber: <1g
• Total Sugars: 12g - Includes 10g Added Sugars
• Protein: 0g
• Vitamin D: 0mcg
• Calcium: 10mg
• Iron: 0.2mg
• Potassium: 40mg 

Don’t forget to show us how you’re making your kumquat jam on Instagram @FruitStandcom! Nothing makes us happier than when we see you enjoying your fruit. Each time you share your FruitStand experience, you’re supporting small farmers and helping other fruit geeks discover rare and delicious produce sustainably. Try even more kumquat recipes from your FruitStand fam on our blog!