Apricot Preserves are easy to make and capture the magic of summer fruit. The thyme and vanilla add a subtle layer of flavor to enhance the fantastic apricot goodness. Freeze a jar for a rainy day!
Combine the apricots, sugar, lemon juice and zest and thyme in a large bowl, mix well. Let sit for a few hours or overnight. This is called macerating and will draw out the juices and create a syrup.
Maintain a vigorous boil and stir frequently. Foam will form at the top. Skim this off into a small bowl. Save for your morning toast or mix it into yogurt or top your ice cream. It’s delicious!
When jam is ready, stir in vanilla. Ladle the preserves into clean jars, let it cool down and then refrigerate or freeze. If freezing, leave about a 1/2 inch of headspace at the top of the jar.