How to Use Jam in Cooking and Baking

We are all used to the traditional role of jam, namely to eat jam with toast. However, jam has many more roles and uses. Jam sweetness can be used in many ways in marinades and glazes, in salad dressings, in fillings for cookies, cakes and other desserts, in ice cream, in pancakes or even with meat and cheeses. In this article we will answer the question of how to use jam in cooking and baking. We will show you some creative ways of how to use and pair your homemade jam. You will find out how you can use your jam in various creative ways and not only in the traditional role.

1. Jams in marinades and glazes

Jams can be used as a foundation for marinades and for various glazes. Adding jam will change the texture and taste of your marinades and glazes. 

Turkey, pork, chicken, beef or lamb marinades can be made using jams, especially lingonberry jam. Use lingonberry jam as a base for a marinade and add then add some oranges and orange juice. Chicken meat tastes good with a marinade based on apricot jam or apple jam mixed with some lemon juice and garlic. Such sour and sweet marinade can be good for baking or grilling meat.

Fish glazes can be made using orange or mandarin jam as a foundation. Combine orange jam with some chopped ginger and garlic and top the fish with this glaze.

2. Salad dressings

Salad dressings can use jams as a base. Combine jams with salad dressing and add to your salads.

Prepare fruit or vegetable salads with salad dressings that were made using jams. Add some berries, cheese, dried and cubed apricots, vinegar and sunflower or pumpkin seeds oil and top with the jam dressing. 

Combine orange, lemon or mandarin jams with some orange or lemon zest, mustard and citrus juice, orange or lemon. Then top with some flax seeds and mix the salad dressing well. This dressing is good for green salads. 

3. Fillings for cakes and cookies

If you want to enrich the taste of your baked goods, the perfect and traditional solution will be to add jam. Add a few spoonfuls of peach or apple jam to enrich the taste of your homemade strudel. Spoon a few drops of cherry, strawberry or pear jam to your biscuits and cookies. 

Cut your cake in half and add the strawberry jam. Spread the strawberry or plum jam inside. In a bowl, combine the cream with some strawberry jam and stir well until there is a smooth mass. Next, top the parts of the strudel or cake with some cream and jam mix.

Jams can be used as fillings in layers of a strudel or other cake. Blackcurrant and cherry jam (cherry jam from frozen cherries) are the perfect solution for chocolate cake or chocolate fudge cake and apple jam goes best with moist cinnamon cake. 

4. Jam pairings

Jams can be used not only in sweet recipes but in spicy dishes as well and especially in fried or baked meat, but also in butter or cheese. Add some peach or apricot jam to your cheese, sausage and bread toast or eat your Pecorino Romano cheese with a spoon of lingonberry jam. Top the toast with some butter and then add some cherry jam on top. Use some chili jam with your grilled meat or fish, add a few spoonfuls of fig jam to your meat cutlets.

Jams are unique and universal and can be used in various recipes from marinades, glazes and salad dressings to pastry fillings or as side dishes for grilled meat and fish. If you want to know more about how to use jam in cooking, then read our article.