This banana jam recipe is great to make any time of year as the fruit is always readily available. It is one of the most budget friendly homemade jam recipes too, since overripe bananas are so inexpensive.
Until you try a peanut butter banana jam sandwich you don't really know what your favorite jam is! This preserve is a fantastic edible gift idea too.
Banana Jam - A Family Tradition
When I was a kid (ahem...way back in the 1970's), my mother used to make us this banana jam that we LOVED. We lived in a rural area, and she did a ton of canning and made other preserves. The jars in the cupboard that really drew me though were filled with banana jam.
A few years back, I asked her dig out this old banana recipe for me. I can't remember if she found it, or we grabbed another version off the web, but I made a few batches. It was good, but not quite the way I remembered it.
Over this past weekend, I ended out buying a lot of overripe bananas cheap. I was long overdue to make another batch of this jam, and decided introduce it to my daughter rather than making banana bread yet again. This time, I was going to figure out how to replicate the original recipe though.
How to Make Banana Jam
The banana jam recipe I'd made last time came out a little too "orangey". I wanted the banana flavor to stand strong, with just a subtle citrus accent. I chose to use less OJ and add a little lime juice*. I also reduced the sugar slightly, so it could also double as a banana topping for waffles or ice cream.
The results were spot on (in my opinion anyway), and I now have the new recipe version readily available right here next time I want to make a batch.
*lemon juice would also work well.
So here it is, my easy banana jam recipe for you. If you are trying to avoid HFCS and preservatives in your family's diet, this might be a good choice to try.
The homemade jam recipe makes a great edible gift. Bananas are one of the few fruits that is affordable in bulk for jam making year round. You can even make this inexpensively in December for Christmas gifts.
Serving Banana Jam
While the banana preserves are of course fabulous on a peanut butter sandwich, that is just the start. Banana jam is great spread on English muffins, banana bread or scones. Use it as a banana sauce on desserts or a wonderful topping for waffles, pancakes or vanilla ice cream.
No. You will need lemon or lime juice to ensure there is enough acid in the jam as bananas aren't acidic. If you are not keen on it you can stir in 1 teaspoon of citric acid in instead.
The bananas should be from yellow ripe to slightly over ripe with brown spots.
Banana Jam Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 cups ripe bananas sliced
- 2 cups sugar granulated sugar
- ½ cup orange juice
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice , or lemon juice
- generous pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
- Put all ingredients in large pot over med heat.
- Once the jam starts to bubble, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the jam is cooking place jars, lids and any equipment that will come in direct contact with the jam into the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, then shut off oven, but leave items in there until you are ready to use them.
- Once jam is cooked, ladle the hot jam into the jars and place lids and screw tips on. As jam cools vacuum will be created and lids will seal (you will generally hear a pinging sound when the seal happens).
Notes
Nutrition
Robin says
I wish bananas didn't give me such bad heartburn because this looks and sounds flippin' awesome!!!
morgann says
How long do you think this jam will stay good for? I was thinking the would be a good idea as gifts for christmas!
Robin says
Due to to reduced sugar, I wouldn't store these for extended periods of time unless you either simmer the sealed jars in a hot water bath for 20-30 minutes (like you do when canning fruits & veggies) or up the sugar by about a cup.
Kim says
Love this! Do you Refrigerate after the jars have sealed?
Robin says
No, but of course refrigerate after opening like any other jam.
Mary Beth Elderton says
This sounds delicious! I had never even heard of banana jam.
Heather says
what a unique recipe! I've never heard of banana jam before.
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says
This is genius! I wouldn't have thought to make banana jam but this sounds delicious!
Nichol says
Oh yum. I would love this over my waffles/pancakes! Never would think of this.
Kasandria Reasoner says
Can I just say your pics are AMAZING!!! This made me so hungry!
Kas
:D says
Can you store these jam sealed at room temperature for at least 6 months?
Robin Gagnon says
D,
I would up the sugar and lime a little for longer term storage. My mom used to make big batches, and it lasted, but hers was a bit sweeter. The sugar acts as a preservative & the lime will help avoid discoloring. I used mine up within 3 months (stored at room temp), and it was fine.
Crista Alleva says
This sounds great! How long after open will this jam last in the fridge?
C says
If I use very ripe bananas and leave the sugar aside would it still be sweet?
Robin Gagnon says
Your guess is as good as mine, if it would be sweet enough for you. I would like to caution you though. If you remove the sugar, either go through the full canning process like with vegetables or store in the freezer in small containers and use within a couple days or toss. Without the sugar it would not qualify for the simpler canning methods used with jams & jellies.
Debbi DuVall says
I also love banana butter. Found it on the Web about 5 or 6 years ago. Great taste. Like real bananas.
Crystal says
About how long will this last for? And does it need to be refrigerated?
Shirley says
Hi! Could I use lemon rather then lime?
Robin Gagnon says
yes, it is just the acid from it that you need
Norma BEAMISH says
Are your bananas at the eating stage or do you use vertical ripe ones thank you x
Robin Gagnon says
Eating stage is what I typically use, but a little less ripe than that is probably ok. I wouldn't go too green though.
Paula V says
I made my first batch over the weekend. This stuff is great, Everyone is getting banana jam for Christmas this year!
Jade says
Oh my goodness. This was wonderful. I encounter so many jam recipes on the web that turn just to be alright but this is a keeper.
Thank you. This will be a hit!!
Nellie Tracy says
This pairs perfectly with peanut butter and pancakes!
Beth says
I have never heard of Banana Jam before but now I need this on everything! Delish!
Cindi says
Please be careful about canning this for long term. Bananas are a low acid food, and without the proper amount of acid added (either citric acid or pasteurized lemon juice, etc.), these can be deadly due to botulism. This recipe sounds soooooo good, and I am hoping to make it, but saying you can can this without the proper acid is a huge danger. It could be pressure canned, as all low acid foods can be, and that WOULD be safe. Enjoy it, but please be careful about canning it with only a water bath. I wish you could hear me to know that I am NOT bashing or being snarky. This column is too cool to get in trouble over something simple and yet so important.
Laurie says
👍
Becky says
This was a first time ever making Banana Jam. I have stunned many when I say what I was making. This stuff is soooooo good! Easy too. The only thing I wish was added in recipe would be an approximate number of bananas to use, and not just cups. Oh well, that's no big deal. Delicious!!
Robin Gagnon says
Hi Becky, with variation in banana size I thought that might throw some people off. I'll add a range next time I make a batch.
Tara says
Can you make this in like a water bath instead of the oven cuz I'm much more secure making it in a water bath or pressure canner if I need to.
Robin Gagnon says
Yes, absolutely.
Randi says
How do you store this? Fridge, shelf, cabinet, pantry?)
Robin Gagnon says
I store on shelf until open. I personally don't keep it around nearly as long as berry jams out of caution, but my mom used to store it for months in the cabinets.
Laura says
I'm looking forward to making this, I'm having to impatiently wait for my bananas to ripen a bit more! It'll be my first time making banana jam after only making my first ever jam yesterday. I've read on other sites that banana jam doesn't keep as long, how long does this keep for?
Robin Gagnon says
I personally don't keep it around too long, a couple months at most... but my mom kept it a lot longer. I'm leery about suggesting long term storage, since someone is bound to skip a step or something.
Pat says
Can i replace orange juice?
Robin Gagnon says
You can up the lime juice a little to maintain the acidity. It will be a bit thicker, haven't actually made a batch without it myself.
Pat says
Could i use frozen bananas?
Thanks
Robin Gagnon says
That should be fine.