Forget the big brands of jam that are more sugar than fruit and try one of these brands instead. You can make your own jam, but it’s very complicated usually as you have to use pectin and sterilise glass jars etc. These jams appear to be free from it, but never leave any foods containing xylitol (sweetener) around pets, just a few licks or crumbs could be lethal. Campaigners want warnings on the labels.
Fearne & Rosie is a brand of jams that is bursting with more fruit, and also vegan-friendly and free from palm oil. Founded by a former teacher and Yorkshire mum, this business set in the rolling hills is bringing the homemade taste of jam to the modern age, using locally-grown sugar beet over refined sugar, to create a low food miles treat for all the family. Jam is still not suitable for diabetics, check your medication.
These naturally reduced-sugar jams contains 40% less sugar than conventional jams in stores, and they are full of fresh fruit, over concentrates. Sold in sustainable packaging, the jams are also good value for money, with at least one flavour recently reducing in price, to help people on a budget enjoy them. Many of the jars use surplus fruit, to help avoid the 3.5 million tons (7.2% of all harvested food) going to waste. You can also buy an extra jar for a food bank charity, to help someone in need, when ordering from their site.
Enjoy these jams in sandwiches or on toast, or swirl into natural plant-based yoghurt and stir through a crushed oatcake, for a crunchy alternative to sugar-filled biscuits. These are also great with apple sticks for dipping. Choose from:
- Strawberry
- Raspberry
- Blackcurrant
- Cherry
- Superberry
- Strawberry Cranberry (Christmas edition)
Blackberry jam is low in pectin, so you’ll need citrus juice and jam sugar to help it set (and a sugar thermometer). You also need sterilised jars and lids (clean and bake in a low oven for 15 minutes) then ladle stirred jam into jars, seal and label.
(vegan) Lemon Curd for Breakfast Tables
Lemon curd is a very popular breakfast spread in England, made with tart lemons and eggs. Also called ‘lemon cheese’, it also can be made with lime or other fruits. It’s sort of like a custard so does not keep for that long, once made. Dating back to the mid 1800s, the recipe was sort of the precursor for the filling for today’s cheesecakes. It is mostly spread on bread or toast, but can also be used to top pancakes or steamed puddings. Some people also ripple it through ice-cream.
Vegan Lemon Curd (Addicted to Dates) is made with just 5 ingredients. Good for spreading on toast, or adding to biscuits and favourite desserts.
5-Ingredient Vegan Lemon Curd (Short Girl, Tall Order) is made in just 10 minutes. Use it to top pancakes, or use as cake filling or as the ‘custard’ in a lemon tart.
Vegan Blood Orange Curd (Anna Banana) uses sweet Spanish citrus fruits, for a curd that is ideal with breakfast pancakes or porridge, or use to fill a pie or biscuits. Good also on toast.
Easy Vegan Passionfruit Curd (Heartful Table) is thick, smooth and glossy, and ideal to use in a vegan trifle. It needs just 4 ingredients, and only takes 10 minutes to make.
These raspberry curd tarts (Lazy Cat Kitchen) are not just plant-based and delicious, but are also made with leftover ingredients that would otherwise go to waste. The ground almonds for the pastry base are from the leftover pulp used to make homemade almond milk. And the light whipped ‘meringue’ is made from aquafaba, which is made by whizzing up the leftover brine water from canned chickpeas. The pastry can be made with palm-oil-free vegan butter or coconut oil (keep fresh dough away from pets).
The raspberries can be fresh or frozen, so an ideal way to use up that glut of fruit that you picked at the PYO farm. Or use fresh from the garden. You could of course swap out the fruits and try whatever’s in season, from strawberries to blackberries to blueberries. Think of the different pretty coloured curds you could try out!
Orange Curd (Addicted to Dates) is a thick creamy plant-based breakfast curd made with real oranges and vanilla bean. You can spread it on toast, or use it to fill cakes and pastries.
Where to Buy Vegan Lemon Curd
Plant Based Artisan Qurds are handcrafted in small batches to a loving recipe. In lemon or lime, these have a unique flavour, ideal paired with sourdough bread, cakes and crumpets.
