Quince (Cydonia oblonga) are the unsung stars of my autumn larder, each resting like an artful still life awaiting a transformative trip to the kitchen. The beefy little orbs tend to be hard as rocks, but release a fruity perfume when appropriately ripe. Their real magic (in addition to outward beauty) comes when the fruit is cooked, at which time it softens further and turns a rich blush or rusty orange, depending on the variety.
When I share my quince, I’m always asked, “Well what do you do with them?” I happily share two recipes. One I’ve already posted: Quince Chutney; and another big favorite I will provide here, Quince Marmalade.
Why Make Quince Marmalade?
- Easy to make
- Just a few ingredients
- Sets easily, as quince is pectin-rich
- Creates a jewel-like jam, with chunky marmalade bits
- Flavor is tart and unique
- Works well for sweet and savory foods, as a jam or an accompaniment to cheese and Charcuterie.
Quince Marmalade Recipe
- 5 Pounds of quinces
- 4 Cups of sugar
- 1 whole lemon
- 4 Cups of water
- Chop 3 pounds of quinces, include cores and no need to peel. (Reserve 2 pounds for later.)
- Place in pan with 4 Cups of water. (You can also get fancy and use cider for a twist.)
- Simmer over low heat with lid on until soft, usually 30-45 minutes.
- Stir regularly.
- Once soft, put mushy pan contents in a colander or jelly bag over a bowl and let drain overnight.
- Okay to press contents to help draining liquid.
- In a pan add overnight quince juice and sugar, and cook over low heat until low simmer.
- Take your reserve 2 pounds of quince, wash thoroughly, clean off fuzz.
- Using a medium to large-holed grater, grate the remaining quinces, discard the cores. Okay to leave skin on.
- Add grated quinces to the simmer liquid.
- Add the zest and juice of 1 large lemon (or two small lime work, too)
- Simmer and stir for 30 minutes, when grated quinces softened.
- Cook the marmalade on low heat until it is thick, stirring often so as not to scorch the bottom of the pan.
- You can also use a thermometer and work to reach 220° F (104° C).
- I usually just eye it, and simmer until a spreadable thickness.
- If jarring up, leave 1/2″ head space and water bath for 10 minutes.
What a beautiful color! I can imagine the jars lined up in your pantry.
Eileen, I think I’ll do a little tidying up of the pantry and share a few photos, just for fun.
Hi Tom, what is the best way to store quince once it is off of the tree?
Tom.
This brings back memories, as a child we had 2 quince bushes in our back yard and my mother was always after the kids not to pick the fruit as they were not apples and we would be happy with the final product if we let them ripen. Of course, we would always pick one ot two just to see how they tasted. I musr say that your bushes produce more fruit than ours.
Vern, I think I need to bring you a jar of quince jam next time I visit. You need to see what you’ve been missing.
Hi Tom
Quince Jam always reminds me of my country of birth Lebanon. In summer Quince would be plentiful and everyone would be making quince jam in readiness for winter. Such a beautiful colour and taste. wonderful memories. Yours looks like what my grandmother would make.
Hi Paul, my dear grandfather was born in Lebanon, too, and I had no idea, quince was so plentiful there. So glad this post sparked some fond memories. Thanks for the kind comments.
ah quince, the cook’s fruit! One of my favorites. Looks like it likes your climate Tom… more so than Virginia. Your young tree is certainly productive. I make quince jam or marmalade every year (well every year I can get my hands on some), some years plain, some years not quite… This year I made a double quince jam: European quince slices in Japanese quince jelly… flavored with fresh ginger. Pretty good with the tartness of teh Japanese quince and the floral quality of the European.
I just took my pumpkins out of the oven to cool abit before I purée them. And then I see this page. Quince wow! Yours look fabulous! I had a hard time finding any this fall. I’m on the Oregon coast and no one seems to know what they are. I poached up what I found to make a Quince Custard Cake from Apt.2Bbakingco. It’s so yummy! I will try your marmalade next time I find some more. Sounds very easy. Thanks!
Thanks Chris, and here’s to finding more quince for future recipes!
It didn’t work for me, ended up sickly sweet and runny. Wouldn’t thicken up. Had to throw the whole lot away. (That said, it was my first attempt at jam making).
Amendment to my previous note above: after receiving advice from a ‘jam maker’, I reheated the one jar I didn’t throw out, and it worked, it is now jam!!! Lovely rose colour and pleasant sweetness (I did add shredded Quince to it), so it is a success! I am now kicking myself for throwing away most of it earlier.
Hi Ian, good for you for experimenting a little. I was sorry to read the first batch was runny, but delighted that you preserved and made it work. Jam making can be a real art, so don’t be discouraged and if it doesn’t set up for you, that’s okay too, still can it and you’ve got quince syrup, for pancakes, yogurt, cheesecake or ice cream topping or a drink mix. The good news is you learned a lot and soon folks will ask you for jam-making advice. 😉
Hi Tom,
Just wanted to thank you for this recipe. It turned out amazing!!! We grated the quince on the coarse grater and let it really reduce and change color to rosy red/orange. The whole house smells amazing! Got 5 jars out of 3.6 lbs of quince; used 3.5 cups of sugar and juice of 2 lemons. Used the cold plate method to determine if the marmalade set instead of letting it cool and then reheating it.
Thanks again!!!
Thanks for the kind words Tanya, so glad this recipe worked out. I have a few sad looking quince left that need to hit the jam pot soon. Warm regards, Tom
and it’s great with any pork dish! I think my daughter-in-law adds in some apples…
I work for Schare and Associates, we are a Food Trading and Distribution company. We specialize in the purchase of over stock bulk food ingredients. I was wondering if you might have anything in inventory that you might want to liquidate. Some of the items we purchase, but not limited to these, are bulk packed frozen juice concentrates, frozen fruits, purees and vegetables. These can be older packed products, expired, slightly off spec., etc. Please let me know if you have any problem inventory like this that you need to move. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Marie Coccaro
Sourcing Agent
Schare and Associates
Phone: 877-859-4861 x 7
Fax: 866-826-1548
Email: overstocks@juicedeals.com
Hi Marie, Thanks for your inquiry but I use all the fruit and juice I have. I wish overstock was a problem. 😉 Well wishes in the New Year.
Great recipe! However don’t throw the pulp out! I put mine through a food mill, add some lemon juice sugar and a good sized hunk of butter to taste and voila, you will have quince butter! I freeze mine, sometimes I freeze in ice trays and bag . Great on toast or with pork or lamb roast.
Fabulous thank you! 11lb fruit, 11 huge Kilner jars of ruby red quince jam 😃 did add Grande Marnier for added depth & about to make the quince butter with the left over pulp!
Hi atom, what is the bedt way to store quince ? I want to keep some for making Xmas tar tar tin. Basement? Garage? I am in Wisconsin.
Anne, that’s a tough one, as I find quince doesn’t store very well. In fact I went to make jam with mine this week and the outsides looked great but the interior flesh was brown. You live and you learn. I would refrigerate them the minute the fruit is picked, which will slow down the process. I would say quince lasts unrefrigerated about a month. I have apples that will last in cold cellar for 3-4 months, but not my quince. With refrigeration you get 1.5 – 2 months out of the quince. You could can them early as they are firmed textured and will work handily when baked, keeping shape and form in a tarte tartin. Good luck!
Crazy delicious! I added a stick of cinnamon and a teaspoon of cloves when cooking the chopped quinces in the beginning since I couldn’t smell my quinces and didn’t trust their subtlety. IT came out Devine.
Nice touch Julie, I bet those spices give it a little somethin’ somethin’ – I’ll have to try that next time. Thanks for the tip!
where are the actual recipes and ingredients pls
Hi Claire, I’m so sorry; the plug-in I used to post the recipe is no longer working so I have to add each again manually, that is type it out. I hope to have it done today, and I’ll start with this recipe. Tom
Claire I just added the recipe, after its disappearance.
Do I peel the initial quinces
No need to peel the first batch of quinces. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I updated recipe.
Success Tom, I added the zest and juice of an orange and the lemon, tastes great, though I had the boil the bejeesus out of it to get a good set.
Alright Mark! I think you boiled it the right amount of time; it does take a good long time. Here’s to your patience and tasty reward!