By Justine Sterling |
Ah, I see you’re making a charcuterie board—creating your very own meat-cute. Delicious. But wait, aren’t you forgetting something? It’s jam! Yes, you need jams for charcuterie board greatness. But what are the best jams for charcuterie board prowess? We tasted 13 different jams to find out.
Charcuterie jam is different from the jam you’d use on a PB&J. That seedless raspberry jam might be great spread on toast, but it’s just not going to hold up to an aged cheddar or elevate a wedge of brie. The best charcuterie board jam is bold and interesting with good acidity and complexity. It shouldn’t be too sweet but it should have some sweetness to contrast with the salty meats and cheeses on a charcuterie board. And it can’t be jelly—no one wants something translucent and jiggly on their Shropshire blue. When looking for jams for charcuterie board making, we sought out thick, chunky jams that will get people’s attention. From fig jam to onion jam, here are the best charcuterie board jam. (And if you really want to make the best charcuterie board, don’t forget to check out the best crackers for charcuterie boards.)
- Bonne Maman Apricot Preserves
I’m a sucker for Bonne Maman’s packaging. It looks like a jar of homemade jam your manic pixie dream girl neighbor would drop off in a basket on your doorstep. Luckily, the stuff inside this jar of apricot preserves is also good. You get nice, big chunks of apricot for textural variety. And it’s not too sweet at all. It has a really lovely acidity that would be great with a creamy, mild cheese like brie. That said, it would also work with a really salty salami. It’s a mild charcuterie board jam that won’t claim the spotlight but will be a quality supporting player—more Laura Dern than Kathy Bates.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Stonewall Kitchen Sour Cherry Jam
If you’re wondering what jam to use for charcuterie board making and don’t have this list handy (why isn’t it on your homescreen? why isn’t it tattooed on your right arm?), then just remember Stonewall Kitchen. They make great charcuterie board jam. It’s really hard to go wrong. Their sour cherry jam straddles the line between a dried fruit compote and jam—it’s extremely chunky with whole, tart cherries in the mix. It’s bright and zingy, fresh, sour cherry flavor. It is hard to spread, though. Instead, use it to top an open-faced cracker sandwich.
Credit: Merc / Stonewall Kitchen
- Dalmatia Fig Spread
If you’re well-versed in charcuterie boards, you’ve probably had this jam. There’s a good reason: It’s the best fig jam for charcuterie board making if you want straight ahead fig jam. The little seeds add nice pops of flavor and texture. It’s sweet and rich—but not overly so. It’s easily spreadable but it won’t just ooze everywhere. It would be great on a cracker with cheddar or with some thinly sliced prosciutto or both. You’ll be looking for excuses to break out this charcuterie jam.
Credit: Merc / World Market
- Stonewall Kitchen Roasted Garlic Onion Jam
If you want a savory charcuterie board jam, this is the one for you. It’s both savory (thanks to the garlic) and sweet (thanks to the onions). The onions aren’t totally pulverized—you still get good, crunchy pieces in the mix. It’s one of the most unique charcuterie board jams I’ve ever tried and it will definitely give people something to talk about if they’re really struggling to come up with co*cktail party conversation. Pair this charcuterie board jam with a hard, dried salami and a funky gruyere.
Credit: Merc / Stonewall Kitchen
- Stonewall Kitchen Fig & Ginger Jam
This is the best jam for charcuterie board making, for sure. It really has it all. It’s bright and zingy, sweet and tart. You get big chunks of candied ginger and figs. It’s rich and dark and tangy. It would be an incredible charcuterie board jam on a holiday board with some strong stilton or even grassy chevre. To quote my tasting notes, “yum, yum.”
Credit: Merc / Stonewall Kitchen
Best with Brie
Rating:
7.5/10
Sporks
Best Tart
Rating:
8/10
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Best Fig
Rating:
8.5/10
Sporks
Rating:
9/10
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Best of the Best
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Other charcuterie board jams we tried: St Dalfour Fig Royale, Felix Lingonberries, Wilkin & Sons Ltd Tiptree Black Currant, Good Good Fig Jam, Bonne Maman Four Fruits Preserves, St Dalfour Blueberry Spread, Stonewall Kitchen Red Pepper Jelly, Jalapeno Pepper Jelly
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About the Author
Justine Sterling
Justine Sterling is the editor-in-chief of Sporked. She has been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and is an avid at-home cook and snacker. Don’t worry, she’s not a food snob. Sure, she loves a fresh-shucked oyster. But she also will leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and loves a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.
Your thoughts.
Courtney
I have a charcuterie board class that I teach and every single time the Dalmatia fig is gotten by the end of the night. It is one of our favorites. You should definitely look into Fischer and Wieser’s Triple Berry Preserves as well.
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