Making a thick jam without sugar or gel fixative is possible if you choose the ingredients for such preserves well and properly handle the thermal processing. Even the smallest details matter.

Bring the fruit-sugar mixture ... This easy jam recipe works with almost any fruit. The results are modestly sweet and balanced with lemon juice. Learn how to make jam without pectin.

This recipe is adapted from the Prickly Pear Jelly Recipe on Root Simple.com. Use tongs to hold each piece of fruit over the burner on your stove for a few seconds to burn off the spines. Use the ...