This is for all the carrot cake lovers: carrot cake jam! Sweetened with crushed pineapple and spices, this sunny fall jam tastes just like carrot cake – but in jam form! Made with just a few ingredients, you’ll love making this easy preserve recipe that jars up the delicious taste of carrot cake.
This is a flavorful recipe from the makers of Ball® home canning products, and bonus: It makes a perfect gift for any occasion, simply add some ribbon! This recipe is the perfect addition to any charcuterie board or slathered between layers of a spice cake with cream cheese frosting. Yum, let’s get canning!
This post is sponsored by the makers of Ball® home canning products.*
Why we Love this Recipe
If you love carrot cake, you’re going to love this delicious recipe that preserves the amazing flavor of cinnamon, carrots, pineapple, and pears.
If you’re craving a slice of carrot cake, this delightful jam will satisfy! Enjoy a dollop on top of your morning toast or mix it in with oatmeal. Or, try layering between your favorite spice cake or shortbread cookies for a fun take on carrot cake.
Additionally, this recipe is the perfect way to use up your extra pears and carrots before they over-ripen.
Entertaining tip: Keep a few jars on hand for quick and easy hostess gifts for the upcoming holiday season!
Table of contents
Carrot Cake Jam Ingredients
- Fresh Carrots: You can’t have carrot cake without carrots! Thee sweet earthy flavor of carrots is the base of this recipe.
- Fresh Pears: The perfect richly flavored fruit for carrot cake jam. Remember, always select fruit at its peak ripeness.
- Crushed Pineapple: Pineapple is a staple ingredient for delicious carrot cake!
- Lemon Juice: Select bottled lemon juice for its reliable pH level.
- Cinnamon: A key spice for bringing the carrot cake flavor to life!
- Nutmeg: Freshly grated is ideal for the freshest flavor.
- Cloves: Complete the spice trifecta for the perfect carrot cake flavors.
- Ball® RealFruit Classic Pectin: Helps create the perfect texture for your jam.
- Sugar: To sweeten, preserve, and help the jam gel. Remember to use the exact amount specified in the recipe to ensure food safety.
Instructions for Carrot Cake Jam
Be sure to scroll down for the full printable recipe!
- Prepare the boiling water canner. Heat the jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. This disinfects them prior to use. Don’t boil. Set the bands aside.
- Combine carrots, pears, pineapple with juice, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a 6-8 quart saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently.
- Reduce heat, cover, and boil gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and whisk in pectin until dissolved. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down over high heat, stirring frequently.
- Add sugar all at once and return to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
- Ladle hot carrot cake jam into hot jars leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply the band and adjust until its fingertip tight. Place the jar in the boiling water canner. Repeat until all jars are filled.
- Process jars for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off the heat, remove the lid and let the jars stand for 5 minutes. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. The lid should not flex up and down when the center is pressed.
Tips for Success & FAQs
Whenever canning food, always select fruit and vegetables at their peak ripeness to preserve the best flavor and quality.
Bottled lemon juice is ideal for canning because of its consistent acidity levels to ensure food safety.
Double-check your crushed pineapple is stored in natural fruit juice and not syrup. The extra sugar will affect the flavor of the jam.
All high-acid foods should be processed in a water bath canner to minimize the risk of food spoilage. Be sure to follow tested recipes exactly, you can always trust that Ball® home canning recipes have been tested for safety. For even more recipes, check out their website or the Ball® Blue Book!
No, don’t allow the jars to touch each other. If they are touching you run the risk of the glass cracking. You also want room for the boiling water to flow all around the jars.
The Recipe
Carrot Cake Jam
Ingredients
- 1-½ cups Carrots peeled and finely grated
- 1-½ cups Pears peeled, cored, and chopped
- 1-¾ Canned Pineapple including juice
- 3 tbsp Lemon Juice bottled
- 1 tsp Cinnamon ground
- ½ tsp Nutmeg ground
- ½ tsp Cloves ground
- 6 tbsp Ball® RealFruit Classic Pectin
- 6-½ cups Sugar
Instructions
- Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside
- Combine carrots, pears, pineapple with juice, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a 6 or 8 quart saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently.
- Reduce heat, cover and boil gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and whisk in pectin until dissolved. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down over high heat, stirring frequently.
- Add sugar all at once and return to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
- Ladle hot carrot cake jam into hot jars leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band and adjust until it's fingertip tight. Place jar in boiling water canner. Repeat until all jars are filled.
- Process jars for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off heat, remove lid and let jars stand for 5 minutes. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.
More Recipes for you to Try
Check out this caramel apple coffee jam for more fall-inspired flavors. It’s a great way to use up your fall apple harvest! If apple pie is your jam (pun intended), you’ll love this apple pie filling recipe.
Honey spiced peaches would round up the perfect trio of autumn preserves to gift during the holidays. We’d add in some crusty bread, artisanal crackers, and these salted caramel shortbread bars in a pretty basket. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive that?
*This is a sponsored post that is part of an ongoing partnership with the Fresh Preserving Division of Newell Brands. They have provided jars, equipment and monetary compensation. All thoughts and opinions expressed remain my own.
