No Cook Peachy Orange Jam

The whole point of freezer jam is fresh fruit flavor, and this one delivers. Because you never cook the peaches, they keep their just-picked taste and color instead of the cooked-down flavor of boiled preserves.

It’s barely a recipe. Diced peaches, orange sections and rind, and chopped maraschino cherries get mixed with sugar and lemon juice, then a quick-boiled dose of Certo pectin is stirred in to set everything.

The orange does double duty: the juicy sections add brightness while the grated rind brings fragrant citrus oils, and the cherries lend pretty flecks of color and a candied sweetness.

The one rule is to keep stirring the pectin in for the full few minutes so it distributes evenly. Rush it and the jam can set unevenly or stay runny.

Let the jars set at room temperature, then stash them in the freezer for the long haul or the fridge for the next few weeks. No water bath, no canning equipment, no fuss.

Kitchen Tips

• Stir the fruit and pectin for the full time so the jam sets evenly instead of staying loose.
• Leave a little headspace in each jar; jam expands as it freezes and can crack a too-full container.
• Use ripe but not mushy peaches for the best balance of flavor and texture.

Variations

• Use fresh sweet cherries instead of maraschino for a less candied, more natural flavor.
• Swap the orange for tangerine, or add a little grated ginger for warmth.
• Peel the peaches first if you prefer a smoother jam without skins.