Mandarin Jam Recipe: Sweet Homemade Spanish Preserve 2026

Mandarin jam is one of those preserves that makes the most of the fruit's peak season, when the mandarins are at their sweetest. Because the fruit is so naturally sweet, you need less sugar than usual, and the result is a bright, fragrant jam that tastes like sunshine in a jar.

This easy Spanish dessert comes together with just three ingredients: mandarins, sugar and a splash of lemon juice. The real trick is using the peel too, dried and ground into a fine powder, which intensifies the citrus flavor and gives the jam a deeper, more complex character.

Make a big batch when mandarins are at their best and stock your pantry so you can enjoy homemade mandarin jam all year long. It's lovely on toast, stirred into yogurt or spooned over desserts.

The process is straightforward: peel the fruit, simmer it with sugar and lemon, then blend for a smooth texture. A thermometer helps you hit the perfect set, but a simple plate test works just as well.

Once jarred, this jam keeps beautifully in the fridge and makes a wonderful homemade gift. The optional mandarin peel powder is a clever extra that really elevates the flavor.

Ingredients for Mandarin Jam

This recipe yields about 700 g of jam, or 12 servings.

• 1 kg mandarins
• 400 g sugar
• 20 ml lemon juice

How to Make Mandarin Jam Step by Step

1. Peel the mandarins without the white pith

Wash 1 kg of mandarins well and peel them, removing the white pith, which could make the jam bitter.

2. Dry the peel in the microwave

Dry the mandarin peel in the microwave for 2 minutes at full power, or until the peel is dry, depending on your microwave's wattage. This step is optional but highly recommended for great flavor. Set aside.

3. Finish peeling and separate the segments

Peel the mandarins completely, discarding all the white pith and any seeds. Separate the segments.

4. Combine with sugar and lemon juice

Place the mandarins in a wide saucepan with 400 g of sugar and 20 ml of lemon juice. Stir so the segments are well coated in sugar.

5. Cook for 45 minutes

Cook over medium heat for 45–50 minutes, stirring occasionally.

6. Grind the dried peel

While the jam cooks, grind the dried mandarin peel in a coffee grinder or small chopper.

7. Add the peel powder and blend the jam

Add 1 tablespoon of mandarin peel powder to the jam and blend until you get a smooth, homogeneous texture.

8. Fill the jars

Divide the jam among clean jars.

9. Store in the refrigerator

Store the jars in the refrigerator.

Tips for the Best Mandarin Jam

Use peak-season mandarins

Make the jam when mandarins are at their sweetest; you'll get a more flavorful jam and need less sugar than usual.

Add the optional peel powder

Drying and grinding the peel into powder adds intense citrus flavor. You can dry the peel in the microwave or in the oven at 120°C (250°F) for 15 minutes or until dry. Use a coffee grinder for powder or a small chopper for a grated texture. This is optional but recommended.

Test the set

Use a thermometer: the jam is ready at 105°C (221°F). Or do a plate test: put a teaspoon of jam on a cold plate and push it to one side; if it doesn't return to its original position, it needs more cooking.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to rotation that covers cozy comfort plates, well-known dishes from around the world, and sweets that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, my picks are usually this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

Tapas and Mediterranean cooking are a mood I return to often, and I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, these crackly Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This chilled Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also makes the table when I feel like something a bit more elevated.

Come lunch or a slow dinner at home, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When hunger runs bigger, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, golden Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also work nicely as a light starter or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a jug of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or ending with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of trying, tweaking, and remaking dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the ones that stick around are built on straightforward steps, methods you can trust, and serious flavor.

What follows is the set of recipes I keep circling back to—whether it's a fast plate just for me or a bigger spread for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something that feels fancy without much fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and uncomplicated, I'll usually reach for the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for heavier comfort plates, my usual picks are the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm just as happy sharing dishes with roots in other countries, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's own Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I use all the time, since it cuts down on effort while still giving you excellent results. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a baked pasta classic can still be creamy, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

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