Pear, plum, and apple jam

Pear, plum, and apple marmalade: a delicious and aromatic recipe

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Number of servings: approximately 5 jars of 400g

Pear, plum, and apple marmalade is a delight you shouldn't miss! This simple recipe will transform your seasonal fruits into a treat you can enjoy on toast, with cheese, or as a filling for pastries. Plus, it's an excellent way to preserve fruits and enjoy their intense flavors throughout the year.

Ingredients needed:
- 1 kg ripe pears
- 1 kg plums (preferably dried or fleshy plums)
- 1 kg apples (choose sweet apples like Golden or Jonagold)
- 1.5 kg granulated sugar

Step 1: Preparing the fruits
Start by peeling the pears and apples and removing their seeds. Cut them into small cubes to ensure even cooking. The plums should also be pitted, and if you prefer, you can remove the skin, although this will add extra texture to the marmalade. Place all the chopped fruits in a large pot.

Step 2: Mixing with sugar
Add the sugar over the prepared fruits and mix well. Let the mixture macerate for 2-3 hours, so the fruits release their natural juices. This step is essential for achieving a rich and aromatic marmalade.

Step 3: Boiling the marmalade
Once the fruits have released enough juice, place the pot over medium heat. Stir constantly to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Boil the mixture for about an hour, or until it becomes thick and the liquid significantly reduces. You can test the consistency of the marmalade by dropping a small amount on a cold plate; if it sets slightly, it's ready.

Step 4: Packing into jars
Prepare the jars by washing and sterilizing them in the oven. Once the marmalade is ready, carefully pour it into the warm jars, filling them to about 1 cm from the rim. Cover the jars with the appropriate lids.

Step 5: Baking for a crispy crust
Place the jars in a preheated oven at 100°C for 30 minutes. This step will not only help seal the jars but will also create a delicious crust on top of the marmalade.

Step 6: Cooling and storing
After removing the jars from the oven, let them cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, you can seal them with plastic wrap or put on the lid. The marmalade will taste better if you let it rest for a few days before consuming, allowing the flavors to intensify.

Serving suggestions and variations
Pear, plum, and apple marmalade is excellent on toast or as a filling for pies. You can add some spices to the mix, such as cinnamon, cloves, or vanilla, to give it an even more complex flavor. You can also experiment with the proportions of fruits, replacing some apples with apricots or peaches for a different flavor.

Enjoy this delicious marmalade and savor the taste of fresh fruits, even on chilly days! With this simple recipe, you'll always have a treat on hand.