Do you have a bunch of overripe bananas on your counter that you don’t know what to do with? They are perfect for this classic, simple homemade banana jam. Let’s get cooking!
Ingredients for homemade banana jam:
- 8 very ripe bananas;
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar.
Just two ingredients—it’s that simple. Now, let’s make this sweet treat!
How to make homemade banana jam:
- In a non-stick pot, add the sugar;
- Over medium heat, melt the sugar until it reaches a deep caramel color. Once it’s a smooth, golden-brown liquid, turn off the heat;
- Meanwhile, mash the bananas (if you like, set a few aside and slice them into rounds for decoration);
- Add the mashed bananas to the pot and stir well until fully incorporated with the caramel;
- Return to medium heat and cook until the mixture is uniform and the banana pieces have softened and blended into the caramel;
- Keep stirring constantly to prevent it from burning;
- Once it reaches your desired consistency and color, turn off the heat;
- If you saved some banana slices for decoration, quickly pan-sear them in a separate skillet;
- Pour the jam into a serving dish and top with the seared banana slices;
- Your dessert is ready to serve!
Did you know?
Banana jam is a traditional Brazilian sweet. While this base version uses only fruit and sugar, some variations include cinnamon sticks, cloves, or a squeeze of lemon juice for balance.
This “compote” style jam is different from bananada, which is a firmer, sliceable banana paste. Because this is a rustic jam, there is no need for additives like pectin or citric acid.
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