This is my favorite way to use up jam right now. 
chocolate-plum jam with cowgirl creamery mt. tam cheese = i’m eating it for breakfast, whether that’s an appropriate breakfast or not. eggs be damned. 
Cowgirl Creamery cheese is insanely expensive but 100% worth every penny and totally delicious.* Chocolate plum jam, on the other hand, is dirt cheap if you make it when there are lots of plums around. The original recipe, which I wrote last summer, is here.
Since I am so incredibly happy and humbled to be up on Freshly Pressed today, I want to share a few tweaks that I think make it even better. This is absolutely one of the best jams I’ve ever made and I hope that you bookmark it for when the plums come in so you can make it too.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading. I can’t say it enough.
Improved Chocolate Plum Jam
Cook Time: oh, an hour or so
Ingredients:
- 6 c. santa rosa plums, diced
- 5 c. sugar
- 1/2 c. honey
- 1/4 c. cocoa powder
- 2 ounces lemon juice
- 2 tbs. pomegranate vinegar (any fruity vinegar is good- raspberry, balsamic, etc.)
- 1 sprig of fresh sage (4 or 5 leaves)
Bring boiling water canner to a boil. Combine all the ingredients in a large, nonreactive pot. Cook on high heat, stirring occasionally to prevent the plums from sticking and burning. Cook until the jam reaches 220 on a candy thermometer, or whatever your preferred method of testing for gel point is. (I realized my candy thermometer is a piece of crap and not accurate at all, so I’ve just been doing the sheeting method with the spoon I stir the jam with- click this link for a picture if you don’t know what I’m talking about).
Before you put the jam into jars, you can remove the sage leaves if you want. I actually gave the whole thing – sage leaves and all – a zap with my immersion blender since I was using frozen plums that didn’t have much in the texture department anyway. Purée it or leave it chunky – either way is fine.
Pour the hot jam into clean half pint jars, leaving 1/4″ headspace. Wipe rims and screw on lids. Process half pints for ten minutes (adjust for altitude if necessary).
*they didn’t pay me to say that or anything, the Cowgirl Creamery people definitely don’t know who I am.
Chocolate plum jam! I am so making this this summer. I just cleared out the last of last summer’s plums with a batch each of plum and plum-ginger jam–can’t wait to try your recipe!
YUM. I made some plum jam last year, it was delicious – it must go so well with chocolate added.
Oh, if I am able to find plums this summer, I am definitely making this. Sadly, folks around here don’t raise them much. And this looks like a perfect breakfast (or for that matter, any meal) to me!
OMgoodness, the plums just fall on the ground every yr. In our area every one has an abundance. I am going to make this jam this yr. it sounds lovely for Christmas gifts.
Where do we get Cowgirl Creamery Cheese?
Oh wow, that sounds and looks amazing. I love a good plum jam, team it with chocolate and cheese and that’s just about heaven on bread isn’t it. Now I just need my very small plum tree to get growing – and wait for Spring as it’s Autumn here right now.
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emmy- i’ve been meaning to do a plum/ginger combination, it’s totally on my list for this summer!
frugal- plums and chocolate are a great combo, it’s true. this jam is inspired by a dessert i made on a whim once, just sliced plums dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in crushed hazelnuts. it melted my brain it was so good.
michelle- i hope you can find some plums!
shari- i’m sure people will love you if you give them this jam for christmas
barbara- i’m sending your little plum tree happy growing vibrations! we planted two years and years ago and finally, this summer it looks like we’re going to have a huge plum harvest.
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Oh my word. I love Mt. Tam Cheese. And my friend made the jam and let me sample some tonight. I CANNOT WAIT to have this combo. I might faint from the deliciousness
mt. tam is seriously addictive, it’s so true! I’m glad you liked the jam, that’s always so great to hear.
This jam is fantastic! I loved the first batch so much, I just had to make a second. The chocolate taste is subtle, and the balsamic and sage add just that perfect kick. Love, love, love it.