Easy Haitian Pineapple Jam
A rich and flavorful Caribbean-style pineapple jam made with warm spices, citrus, and traditional essence for a balanced, slightly chunky preserve.
Ingredients
- 1 large pineapple about 2 lbs diced
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg grated
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon ground
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon mixed essence
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 lime zest and juice
Instructions
- Peel the pineapple, rinse it with water, and allow it to drain. Cut into cubes, and unlike other pineapple recipes I’ve shared, keep the core as it will cook down and add additional texture to the finished Haitian Pineapple Jam.
- Dice the pineapple into very small pieces.
- In the same pot you will be using to cook the jam, add the pineapple, nutmeg, salt, vanilla extract, mixed essence, sugar, two one-inch pieces of lime zest, and the juice of the lime. Stir well to combine.
- Allow the mixture to macerate for 4 hours or overnight for best results. If storing longer, use a non-reactive container and refrigerate.
- After the maceration process, the mixture will release a significant amount of natural juice.
- Place the pot on a medium-high flame and bring to a boil. Reduce to a rolling boil and simmer, cooking for 40 minutes, stirring often during this time. As the jam cooks and the sugars concentrate, it will become very hot and can splatter, so be mindful and avoid getting burned. You’ll notice it starting to thicken and slightly coat the back of a spoon when it’s close to ready.
- Carefully pour the hot mixture into a blender or food processor and pulse. Alternatively, use a stick blender for better control over texture. Keep in mind that the jam will still be extremely hot at this stage due to the cooked sugar, so use caution when blending. The goal is a slightly chunky consistency. If too thick to blend, add 1/4 cup water to assist.
- Allow to cool and store in a sterilized glass container in the refrigerator for up to 5 months.
Video
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Haitian Pineapple Jam different from regular pineapple jam?Haitian Pineapple Jam uses warm spices and mixed essence, giving it a deeper, more aromatic Caribbean flavor compared to simpler versions. What can I use instead of mixed essence?
You can substitute with a blend of vanilla extract and a drop of almond extract, though the flavor will not be the same. Do I have to keep the pineapple core?
No, but keeping it adds texture as it softens during cooking, which is traditional in many Caribbean jams. Can I reduce the sugar in this pineapple jam recipe?
Reducing sugar will affect both the texture and preservation. The jam may be looser and have a shorter shelf life. Why is maceration important in this recipe?
Maceration helps release natural juices and allows the flavors to develop before cooking, resulting in a richer final jam.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!