Make this Concord Grape Jam recipe when fresh grapes are in season. A hint of vanilla gives the preserves a special flavor.

Concord Grapes come into season in the early fall and you can often find them in a well stocked grocery store or local farmer’s market.

Although Concord Grapes have a really wonderful flavor that is often described as “musky”, the thick skins make them a little less pleasant to eat than seedless table grapes.

If you get a big batch of concords, Concord Grape Pie what you’ll want to make. In the late summer I do see concord grapes in our local market. If you see them, buy a bunch and bake a pie and/or make some preserves to enjoy later in the year.

I’m not a big fan of commercially made grape jelly. But this homemade Concord Grape Jam with Vanilla is what store bought grape jelly wants to be when it grows up.

As I say every time I post a home canning recipe, it’s really easy and not at all scary to make your own jams, jellies and preserves. You just need the proper jars, a big pot and a bounty of fresh produce.

For more information about home canning visit the Ball Canning Website.

Scroll through the step by step photos to see how to make Concord Grape Jam with Vanilla:

Squeeze the pulp from the skins. Place the pulp in a large pan.

before and after photos of pureed concord grape skins — Puree the skins with a little water.

concord grape pulp straining out the seeds — Cook the pulp then strain out the seeds.

concord grape jam gel test — Place a dollop of the jam on a; cold plate to check the texture.

Pair this jam with peanut butter on White Sandwich Bread for the perfect PB&J. If you want a real treat, use your homemade Concord Grape Jam in Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Cookies.

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4.58 from 14 reviews

Concord Grape Jam with Vanilla

By: Eileen Gray

Make Concord Grape Jam with Vanilla when fresh grapes are in season. This recipe makes 3 pints.

Prep Time30

Bake Time25

Total Time55

96 servings

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Ingredients

7 cups fresh concord grapes (measure after plucking from the stems)
4 oz water (½ cup)
¼ vanilla bean (split)
2 ½ lbs granulated sugar (5 cups)

Instructions

Put a small plate or bowl in the freezer to chill while you prepare the jam. You'll use this to test if the jam is gelled.
Separate the skins from the pulp from 7 cups fresh concord grapes, reserving both. In a food processor or blender, pulse the grape skins with 4 oz water until you have a chunky puree.
In a large pan, cook the pulp ¼ vanilla bean over medium heat until soft, about 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently. Remover the vanilla bean pod and run the grape pulp through a food mill or strainer to remove the seeds
Scrape the the seeds from vanilla bean and add them to the pulp. Combine the strained pulp with the skins and 2 ½ lbs granulated sugar in a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook about 15-20 minutes until it begins to thicken.
To check if the jam is ready, take the plate from the freezer and put a small dollop of jam onto the cold plate. Let it cool then push on the jam. If it wrinkles it's ready. If it's still runny cook it a few more minutes.
Pour the hot jam into sterilized canning jars. Use a wet paper towel to wipe the rims of the jars to make sure they're clean. Any bits of fruit can prevent the lids from sealing properly. Cover and process the jars in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes (see note).
Remove from the water and allow to cool at room temperature. You should hear the lids "pop" to let you know the jars are sealed.