Homemade Dragon Fruit Jam
Homemade Dragon Fruit Jam is an easy way to enjoy the exotic flavor of this vibrant fruit, and it pairs especially well with recipes like Jam-Filled Corn Flake Muffins. Made with just three simple ingredients, this easy jam recipe comes together quickly and adds a bright, lightly sweet flavor to morning toast, sandwiches, and a variety of baked treats.
If you’re tired of the same strawberry or raspberry jams, this is a fun way to change things up. Homemade dragon fruit jam is easy to make and brings a lightly tropical flavor with a pop of color, much like a Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl. It’s a great option if you enjoy making recipes like Homemade Strawberry Preserves, but want something a little different.
Get ready to give your taste buds a tropical sensation with this dragonfruit jam! You will love how the mild, kiwi-like sweetness of the pitaya transforms into a rich and luscious gourmet treat.
Dragon Fruit Jam
When deciding what to make with the gorgeous pink/deep magenta fruit, I knew I didn’t want to just use it in smoothies, but something more that could be used in a few different ways. Jam came to mind, and while I am not a person who needs or wants deeply involved recipes, I knew it had to be easy.
This recipe for tropical jam is beyond easy and only has 3 ingredients. While it doesn’t set up really thick like jams made with pectin, it holds its own just beautifully. With minimal ingredients, there are no huge quantities of chemicals, just natural ingredients.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Breakfast time just got even better! This jam tastes delicious on homemade bread, biscuits, and toast. Your peanut butter and jelly sandwich will taste a bit more exotic with this tasty spread.
If you’re an afternoon tea person, slather some of this jam onto a croissant and enjoy. It’s also a perfect filling for mini-tarts or to spread between two layers of cake. I served it alongside pancakes, and it was a hit.
Timesaving Tips and Variations
This jam is already low-effort, but a few small adjustments can make it even easier. Whether you like a smooth texture or want to change up the flavor slightly, these ideas keep the recipe flexible.
- You can use fresh or frozen pitaya in this recipe, making it easy to make anytime.
- Puree fruit before cooking if you prefer a smoother jam with no fruit pieces.
- Adjust the sugar based on the sweetness of your fruit or your personal taste.
- If the jam is too thin, stir in a cornstarch slurry (one tablespoon cornstarch mixed with two tablespoons cold water) and cook until thickened.
- Adding a little bit of vanilla extract enhances the fruit’s mild sweetness with a rich, creamy roundness and floral aromatics.
- It’s great to swirl a bit of the fruity spread into your yogurt.
These small tweaks let you customize the jam without changing the core recipe. It’s forgiving, adaptable, and easy to make your own.
More Fruit Recipes to Make at Home
Looking for more ways to enjoy fresh, flavorful fruits? These easy recipes are perfect for breakfast, snacks, or desserts.
- Glazed Lemon Ginger Scones
- Mango Strawberry Hand Pies
- Blueberry Pear Muffins with Allspice
- Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Macaron
- Super Moist Mango Coconut Cake
These recipes are all simple to make and bring a burst of fruity flavor to your kitchen. They’re a great way to explore different fruits and add variety to your meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is one of many tropical fruits and is native to Mexico and Central America. There are a few kinds of exotic fruit. The most popular is a variety that has white pulp with black seeds. There is also a yellow dragon fruit that has yellow skin and white pulp with black seeds. The less common kind is one with pink or red skin, red pulp, and black seeds. That is the one I am using to make the jam.
Pink or Red Dragon fruit tastes like a cross between a pear and a kiwi and is a low-calorie fruit that is high in fiber and provides a good amount of several vitamins and minerals. It is a great addition to smoothies, fruit salsa, and smoothie bowls, and use it in fruit salads.
Dragon fruit is so easy to cut. One way is to slice the pitaya in half lengthwise and use a large spoon to scoop out the flesh from the two halves. Discard the skin of the fruit, or you can use it as a serving vessel, as I did with the jam.
The other way is to cut the fruit in half lengthwise and peel the skin from the flesh. Then you can cut the fruit into pieces to use in fruit salads or to eat as is.
Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it will keep for up to two weeks. Always use a clean spoon when serving to maintain freshness. Because it’s a small-batch jam, it’s best enjoyed fairly quickly.
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Kitchen Tools Needed for Dragon Fruit Jam
Making this jam doesn’t require any specialty equipment, which keeps cleanup simple. A few basic kitchen tools are all you need.
GORILLA GRIP BPA-Free Reversible Kitchen Cutting Board Set of 3, US Designed, Nonporous, Juice Grooves Catch Liquid, Slip Resistant Border, Durable Food Chopping Boards, Holiday Prep Essentials, Black
CAROTE 1.5Qt & 3.0Qt Sauce Pan Sets with Lid Cooking Pots Nonstick Saucepans Cookware Set with Pour Spout Small Kitchen Pot, Induction Comptable, Easy to Clean, PFOA FREE (White Granite)Wide Mouth Mason Jars 16 oz [5 Pack] With Mason Jar Lids and Bands, Mason Jars 16 oz – For Canning, Fermenting, Pickling – Jar Décor – Microwave/Freeze/Dishwasher Safe.Cooking Spoon for Nonstick Cookwares, Great for Cooking and Serving Sturdy BPA-Free Matte Silicone, Wood Handle Spoon for Mixing, Scoop, and Scrape (2 Pack of Black, 11.4 inch)
![Wide Mouth Mason Jars 16 oz [5 Pack] With Mason Jar Lids and Bands, Mason Jars 16 oz - For Canning, Fermenting, Pickling - Jar Décor - Microwave/Freeze/Dishwasher Safe.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/418qy+VyK7L._SL500_.jpg)
These everyday tools make the process smooth from start to finish. No canning setup or extra gadgets required. It’s an approachable recipe for any home kitchen.
Ingredients for Dragon Fruit Jam
This recipe keeps things intentionally simple to let the exotic fruit shine. Each ingredient plays a clear role in flavor and texture.
- Pink dragon fruit – provides color, flavor, and natural sweetness
- Granulated sugar – enhances sweetness and helps thicken the jam
- Fresh lemon juice – balances the sweetness and brightens the flavor
With so few ingredients, quality matters. Choose ripe fruit for the best color and taste. The result is fresh, vibrant, and naturally appealing.
How to Make Homemade Dragon Fruit Jam
Step 1
Slice the pitaya in half lengthwise, and scoop out the flesh, leaving the skin behind. Save the skin to use as a vessel for the cooled jam, if desired.
Step 2
In a medium saucepan, simmer the fruit pulp and sugar over medium heat until it reaches a jam-like consistency. If it isn’t thickening enough, stir in a cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened.
Step 3
Once it’s thickened, add the lemon juice and cook for two more minutes.
Step 4
Remove from heat and allow to cool completely before storing in a glass jar with a lid. Store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.
This pitaya jam is amazing on a warm slice of Homemade Bread. It also shines as part of Brunch Charcuterie Boards for any occasion.
How to Make Dragon Fruit Jam
Equipment
- knife
- medium saucepan
- 8 ounce mason jar
Ingredients
- 1 pink dragon fruit
- 3 – 4 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Slice fruit in half lengthwise, and scoop out the flesh, leaving the skin behind. Save the skin to use as a vessel for the cooled jam, if desired.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the fruit pulp and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook the dragon fruit until it has a jam-like consistency, stirring often to prevent sticking. This will take about 30 minutes. Use the back of the wooden spoon to break up the pieces of fruit as it cooks. NOTE: if you find it’s not thickening enough after 30 minutes, make a cornstarch slurry (two tablespoons cold water and one tablespoon cornstarch – mix well before adding) and mix it into the jam and allow to cook a bit longer until thickened.
- Once it’s thickened, add the lemon juice, stir, and continue to cook for two more minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool completely before transferring to a glass jar with a lid. Store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Nutritional Disclaimer
“Blogghetti” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Jam is the perfect way to preserve this delicious fruit.
Yum! This jam sounds amazing and I love the color!
This has such a beautiful color. I bet it would make a great pbj sandwich.
It looks so pretty! One day I will get some read dragon fruit and make this. I keep getting the yellow ones. Not as pretty. LOL
I love this. Dragonfruit is so much fun! And now I’m wondering if you could dye Easter eggs with it!
Yummy! Love the color of this jam. I love jams and dragon fruit, this looks and sounds very delicious.
Tht jam looks s so good. I would love to have it on some fresh homemade biscuits.
I love this is low processed sugar. I am going to make this for Easter breakfast
Just makes this jam. Super quick and easy! TY
Looks amazing. Does it can well?
Hi Matt, I’ve never canned it so I can’t help with this one