Vintage recipes are really special because they are usually delicious. But more often because they come along with a special story or memory. Grandmom Gaskill’s Tomato Jam is both.Grateful Prayer Thankful Heart is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We will only recommend products we use, love or think are informative and helpful.
Origin of Grandmom Gaskill’s Tomato Jam Recipe
Grandmom Gaskill’s family
Grandmom is in the center with her six children.
Grandmom Gaskill’s Tomato Jam Vintage recipe
Preparing the tomatoes for Grandmom Gaskill’s Tomato Jam
Drop the tomatoes into boiling water 1 minute, or just until skin cracks.
Remove the tomatoes from boiling water with a slotted spoon.
Allow tomatoes to cool until able to handle. Remove the skins and discard.
Chop and mash the tomatoes (or use processor for a few seconds).
Put tomatoes into a large pot and bring to a boil. 
Add the sugar in the amount equal to the tomatoes; stir and blend.
Bring Mixture to a full boil; cook, stirring frequently, watching closely that it doesn’t boil over, until it thickens about 1/2 hr. (30-40 minutes)Just before taking jam off heat add lemon or lime juice. This keeps the sugar from separating from the fruit later on. If you like the taste of cinnamon, add a dash at the same time as the lemon juice. Stir in.
Pour into clean pint jars leaving 1″ head-space; cap and seal jars. If you are not canning the jam, cap the jars and store the jam in the refrigerator.
For canning
When water is boiling briskly cover pot and set timer for 15 minutes (Remember the water has to cover the jars for 15 minutes).
Carefully remove hot jars and set to cool on folded kitchen towels.
One by one, in rapid succession they’ll make a popping sound. Jam will thicken as it cools Remember to label and date the jars. Makes 4 pints.
A very simple recipe that is surprisingly delicious! Spread on a cracker with cream cheese and we couldn’t stop eating it!
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Grandmom Gaskill’s Tomato Jam
INGREDIENTS:
- 10 to 12 Large Ripe tomatoes enough to make 6 cups pulp
- 6 cups Granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice
DIRECTIONS:
Wash ripened tomatoes (do not use cherry tomatoes) cut out stalks.
Drop into boiling water 1 minute, or just until skin cracks.
Remove from boiling water and allow to cool until able to handle; remove skins and discard.
Chop and mash the tomatoes (or use processor for a few seconds).
Put tomatoes into a large pot and bring to a boil; cook for 15 minutes to reduce liquids.
Add sugar in the amount equal to the tomatoes; stir and blend. Bring Mixture to a full boil; cook, stirring frequently, watching closely that it doesn’t boil over, until it thickens about 1/2 hr. (30-40 minutes)
Just before taking jam off heat add lemon or lime juice. This keeps the sugar from separating from the fruit later on. If you like the taste of cinnamon, add a dash at the same time as the lemon juice. Stir in.
Canning tomato Jam
Pour into clean pint jars leaving 1″ head-space; cap and seal jars.
Place in large pot. Pour in enough boiling water to cover the jar tops and bring to a boil.
When water is boiling briskly cover pot and set timer for 15 minutes (Remember the water has to cover the jars for 15 minutes).
Carefully remove hot jars and set to cool on folded kitchen towels.
One by one, in rapid succession they’ll make a popping sound. Jam will thicken as it cools Remember to label and date the jars. Makes 4 pints.
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My mother made tomato jam or preserves when I was a very little girl it was so amazing tasted like strawberry jam that summer it was the only thing I would eat on my peanut butter and sandwiches and she never made it again when I grew up and had children of my own I asked her about it she said she lost the recipe and that she hated making it said she had seeds everywhere she was not a canner so I never learned how to can but I’m learning as of today when I made Peach Melba Jam all my lids popped I’m so excited so on to the next one I’m excited to try this tomato jam recipe 🙂
Hi Cher,
Your Peach Melba Jam sounds delicious and that is great that all the lids popped! Let me know if you do make the tomato jam. I thought it sounded strange until I made my first batch. I really like it, especially on cheese and crackers.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comment!
Kindly, Lorraine
I’m making the recipe now to can….. no pectin at all? I’m a new canner lol I have much to learn.
Hi Maegan,
Excited to hear that you made the tomato jam. How did it work out for you?
You’re right, no pectin in this recipe. It thickens up naturally.
Thanks a bunch for stopping by!
Kindly,
Lorraine
I made you tomato preserves and it turn out perfect!!! It tasted like my grandma and my moms ! I can not thank you enough. It was so easy to make. I gave some to my husbands family and they all loved it. They said it is just like grandma and mom made LOL I think now I have a lot more preserves to make. That you Lorraine! Love your recipe
I love and thank you! My husband has always wanted me to make tomato jam, I made this and it turned out perfect! Thank you thank you! I hope more try this recipe! It was very easy to follow instructions!
Hello Dawn,
Yeah, so happy you found and enjoyed this recipe for Tomato Jam 🙂 It is easy and surprisingly good since it sounds unusual making it from tomatoes. We love it too.
Thank you for taking the time to leave your comment!
Kindly, Lorraine
I am intrigued as to making a jam with the use of pectin as ur preservative for keeping it shelf worthy. Any thoughts on that anyone? Thanks kim
Hi Kim,
The tomato jam in this recipe is safe to store on a pantry shelf and does not require refrigeration when the canning procedure is followed.
Pectin does not preserve the jam but rather causes it to thicken.
Here is a little about pectin from the internet:
Pectin is a naturally occurring substance (a polysaccharide) found in berries, apples and other fruit. When heated together with sugar, it causes a thickening that is characteristic of jams and jellies.
Read more at https://pickyourown.org/pectin.htm#targetText=Pectin%20for%20Making%20Homemade%20Jam,characteristic%20of%20jams%20and%20jellies.#TwOo4Rf4GjZvQ6hh.99
Hope this is helpful to you.
Kindly, Lorraine
My moms recipe is the same as this recipe. She got the recipe from her mom. They lived on a farm and sold what they raised. My grandma would preserve things to sell. My grandma always had so many Tomatoes she would can lots and my moms family would eat them over the winter. My mom use to tell me that grandma would have some for years in her pantry for year and sell the new ones. When my Grandma died my mom opened some and we Loved it. My mom has passed now and I am ready to make tomato preserves I found my moms recipe and saw this one. I know how to make it now and not with pectin .
Hi Deborah,
Thank you so much for your visit and your comment! I love reading your story 🙂 I think there is something wonderful about old family recipes.
Growing up, I never had tomato jam. I thought it sounded a little weird. I love it and it is a hit with people when I serve it or give as gifts.
Hope you are having a great week!
Kindly, Lorraine
I made this today and am pleasantly surprised how good it is! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Thank you for the recipe,sure does bring back memories.I too think simple is a lot of times best. God bless you immensely.
ILove the simple recipe better also sometimes simple is best. I thank you so much for this recipe sure does bring back memories. Thank you and may God bless you Immensely.
I almost cried when I found this recipe. My Momma made it when I was a child. When she died the recipe went with her. All the other recipes that I have found on the internet had spices and lemon peel in it. Momma's didn't have either. I just remember her being real sweet tasting. I do believe this is what my Momma made….so a great big THANK YOU!
I love this jelly, I made it 2 days all ready and just can't keep up with it. Everyone around me love it. Thank you!
My mother made tomato jam. She added a slice of lemon and a cinnamon stick to each jar. I have put up 2 gallons of stewed tomatoes and a gallon of sauce. I believe I will try your recipe with the many tomatoes I still have.
My mother made tomato jam. She added a slice of lemon and a cinnamon stick to each jar. I have put up 2 gallons of stewed tomatoes and a gallon of sauce. I believe I will try your recipe with the many tomatoes I still have.
I’m curious. Why not cherry tomatoes?
Hi Toni,
I suppose you can use cherry tomatoes though it might be a little tedious to remove the skin from each small tomato.
Hope you will drop me a note if you try the recipe and let me know how it goes.
Kindly, Lorraine
Hello. Are you related to margaret Gaskill of clare, MI who died may 2011?
My husband and I searched the internet to get a recipe for tomato jam just like my mother (Portuguese) used to make and came across your site. We tried it and loved it so much we make it a few times in the summer and give it out as gifts!! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Hi, is it possible to use canned tomatoes instead (due to some ingredients constraints I have). How much canned tomatoes should I use instead of the fresh ones? Thank you
I'm completely intrigued by this recipe and can't wait to try it! I featured you tonight at the Project Inspire{d} link party!
Bring on July and some fresh vine-ripened tomatoes. This looks fantastic & I can't wait to try it!!
I have to admit, I've never had tomato jam, but, oh boy, it sounds so good! I have to pin this, I would really love to try it.
Thanks for dropping by and for your lovely comment!
Debbie 🙂
Can hardly wait for tomato season.
I love old family recipes and think it is so important to preserve them. You've done just that in this wonderful blog post. It looks delicious as well.
Thank you for sharing! I love to see old family recipes that everybody loves. We do alot of canning so I am hoping to try it this summer.
Living in a part of the country where tomatoes are in abundance each summer, I am thankful for the step by step instructions of this great looking recipe. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I know this is one my friends and family would like to be served. I like your pictures too.
I love the story! My Granny canned everything and taught me how too. I used to can more when I was younger but it became expensive to buy the produce. I was never a great gardener because I was the only one interested and it is SO much work that I couldn't keep up alone! But, tomatoes are cheap and I do usually manage to grow those. I am going to try this! Thanks for sharing!
This sure sounds good! Ma always talks about G-Mom-D's tomato jam. She used to put one whole slice of lemon in each jar, I'm wondering if this is similar:@)
Hi there, Thank you so much for this recipe-it is a wonderful ways to utilize huge amounts of tomatoes. There are so many recipes that are difficult because I can't have gluten but this is perfect.
Noreen
Wow, that's quite an interesting recipe. The jam looks so beautiful and delicious. I already planted my tomato plants, and hopefully I'll have a nice tomato harvest in the summer. I want to try this recipe. I'm am pinning it! Thank you Lorraine!
This looks great. Each year I grow tomatoes and then make tomato chutney but this looks lighter than chutney and would make a nice change
I would have never thought of tomatoes and jam together. I have a feeling it is just delicious, especially with crackers and cream cheese..yum. Enjoyed this as all of your posts!
I forgot to say that your photos are sooo beautiful of the jam! They look like they should be in a magazine, like Country Living or Southern Living.
What a treasure to have this recipe, Lorraine! I make jam all year long, but have never made or eaten tomato jam. I look forward to your kicked up version, too. I loved seeing the old photos that you shared.
This looks delicious! Thank you for sharing it!
I especially appreciate the family history….makes it taste better in my opinion!
Thank you for this recipe. We are praying for a good tomato year. I will definitely be trying this one.
This is my kind of recipe!! Tomato jam was on my list for this year, thanks for sharing the recipe! You are smart to preserve this piece of your family history, we let it slip away too quickly, and our youhger generations need to know these things!
Love the way you've presented! It's sounds easy too… I loved the "apple coffee cake" too in your previous posts, and I can't wait to try it:)