Charcuterie boards are not just the new trend in today’s culinary world but also a great way to showcase both your taste in food and creativity. While great savory meats and delicious aged cheeses are the typical centerpieces of a board, the best jams for charcuterie boards are just as important to amp up the experience.

Jam charcuterie board recipes

Small batch peach jam

An easy-to-do peach jam that requires only 3 simple ingredients, it’s the perfect jam to compliment the other pieces of any charcuterie board flavor themes:

Yields: Around 2 cups

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 60 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs or 8 pieces of fresh, ripe peaches
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 tsp lemon zest (optional)

Steps:

1. Start by blanching your peaches. That is to put the peaches in a pot of boiling water for 1 minute. Be careful not to boil for longer as it can destroy the texture or make the peaches bitter.
2.  Peel the peaches. Blanching should make this easier.
3. Pit the peaches and cut them to pieces.
4. In a large heavy-bottomed pot, place the peaches, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
5. Cook for 15 minutes until the peaches have softened and the juices are released.
6. While softening the peaches, stir often with a wooden spoon or spatula to mash and break them down.
7. After 15 minutes, add the sugar and stir until dissolved.
8. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for 5 minutes while stirring continuously. 
9. After 5 minutes, reduce the heat to low and cook for another 40 to 60 minutes. No boiling, just slow cooking at this point.
10. To check if the jam is done, do a spoon test. Dip a spoon into the mixture and drag it across the pot. If the spoon is leaving a trail, it’s perfect!

Onion jelly

A sweet yet savory jelly that’s great to spread over crackers and dip croutons in. It mellows out strong, aged meats and cheeses for a balanced bite.

Yields: 3 ½ cups

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ lb or 4 medium yellow onions, diced.
• 2 tsp salt (or to taste)
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 ½ tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
•  ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• ¾ cup + 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Steps:

1. Place the onion in a medium bowl and add 2 teaspoons of salt. Set aside for 60 minutes.
2. In a saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat, then add the onions, including the liquid that formed at the bottom of the bowl. Cook until the onions are translucent, occasionally stirring, for about 10 minutes.
3. Add black pepper and 1 tablespoon thyme leaves, then stir to combine.
4. Lower the heat to medium-low, then add the red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar. Cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Raise the heat to medium-high, then add the sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Stir to combine.
6. Cook for another 15 minutes or until you can leave a trail using the spoon test mentioned in the previous recipe.
7. Remove from the heat, add the remaining 1 tablespoon thyme leaves, then cool.
8. Once fully cooled, season with salt to taste.

Bacon Bourbon Jam

Not a fan of purely sweet jams? Understandable. Let’s go with something different. 

While this particular homemade jam is one of the best jam recipes to include in your charcuterie board tray, it’s so delicious that it can be a meal in itself by adding it on toasted ciabatta bread.

Yield: 2 cups

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 24 ounces of bacon
• 3 medium white onions
• 5 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• ¼ tsp dry mustard powder
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• ¼ cup brewed coffee
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• ½ cup light-brown sugar
•  ½ cup bourbon
• Salt to taste

Steps:

1. Cut the bacon in half-inch strips. Cut onions into 1/4inch slices.
2. Place the bacon in a large skillet then gradually heat over medium heat. Cook until the bacon is crispy, then remove using a slotted spoon.
3. Drain the bacon oil in the pan until you only have about 3 tablespoons of it left. Add the onions to the pan, then saute for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 5 more minutes. Remember to keep stirring to prevent sticking and burning the onions.
4. Add the thyme leaves along with the ground mustard, pepper, and cloves.
5. Add the brown sugar, then stir it in with balsamic vinegar and coffee. Simmer for 5 minutes.
6. Turn off the heat, then carefully add bourbon into the pan. You may light the bourbon to burn off the alcohol, or you may let it sit as the alcohol should burn off in 1 to 2 minutes.
7. Once the alcohol is burned off, return the pan to the stove and cook for 10 more minutes or until the onions have fully caramelized.
8. You may add the onions now and stir, or you can use an immersion blender or regular blender to puree the onions into a preferred consistency, then add the bacon.

Not a fan of doing everything yourself?

We get it. We want to give the best to our guests and ourselves. However, it can be difficult for some people to make homemade charcuterie recipes on jam. If that’s the case, then check out Platterful, the world’s first charcuterie board subscription service.

Platterful offers the perfect number of products to make a beautiful and full board with ingredients sourced from their partners of small artisan food makers across the United States, even the best jams for charcuterie boards. 

Platterful includes step-by-step written and video instructions with their boards, all of which are delivered straight to your doorstep.