This Jam Brownie is a soft, light, and incredibly moist homemade dessert made with simple pantry ingredients and your favorite jam. The jam adds a subtle fruity flavor and an irresistibly tender texture, while a rich chocolate glaze and crunchy chopped nuts finish it beautifully.
It’s quick and easy to make, requires no mixer, and is the perfect recipe for using up a jar of jam you already have at home. Whether served with a cup of coffee, as an afternoon treat, or shared with family and friends, this simple jam brownie is sure to become a favorite.
A Few Notes on the Ingredients
Jam: Plum jam works beautifully in this recipe, but you can use any jam with a similar thick consistency. The jam adds moisture, tenderness, and a subtle fruity flavor to the brownie.
Baking soda: Mixing the baking soda with the jam creates a light, slightly foamy mixture before it is added to the batter. This simple step helps give the brownie its soft and light texture.
Vegetable oil: Oil keeps the brownie exceptionally moist and tender without making it heavy. It also makes this recipe quick and easy because there’s no need to cream butter and sugar.
Milk: Milk adds moisture to the batter and helps create a soft, smooth texture.
All-purpose flour: Measure the flour carefully and mix it into the batter gently. Overmixing can make the brownie less tender.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: Cocoa powder gives the glaze a rich chocolate flavor without making it overly sweet.
Butter: Butter creates a smooth, glossy chocolate glaze that sets beautifully over the warm brownie.
Chopped nuts: Nuts add a delicious crunchy contrast to the soft brownie and rich chocolate glaze. Walnuts, pecans, or your favorite chopped nuts can be used.
What You’ll Need
No mixer required for this one — just a few basics you probably already have. Here’s what I reach for.
- Balloon Whisk Set This brownie comes together entirely by hand. A sturdy balloon whisk does the whole batter in a few minutes — no electric mixer, no extra bowls to wash.
- Large Rectangular Baking Pan The batter is measured for a large rectangular pan. Anything much smaller leaves you with a thick center that stays underbaked while the edges dry out.
- Precut Parchment Paper Sheets Lining the pan lets you lift the whole brownie out in one piece once it has cooled, so the squares slice cleanly instead of tearing at the edges.
- Large Glass Mixing Bowl Plenty of room to whisk without splashing, and glass lets you see exactly when the batter turns smooth and silky.
- Small Saucepan The chocolate glaze cooks in a small saucepan over medium heat. A heavy base keeps the cocoa from scorching while you stir.
How to Make Jam Brownie
Make the Brownie Batter
1. Whisk the eggs and salt
In a large mixing bowl, crack the eggs and add a small pinch of salt. Whisk until smooth and lightly foamy.
2. Add the sugar
Add the granulated sugar and whisk until the mixture becomes slightly lighter in color. There’s no need for an electric mixer—a simple whisk works perfectly.
3. Add the oil and milk
Slowly pour in the vegetable oil and mix until fully incorporated. Add the milk and continue mixing until the batter is smooth and silky.
4. Add the flourr
Gradually add the all-purpose flour and gently mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.
Prepare the Jam Mixture
5. Combine the jam and baking soda
In a separate bowl, combine the jam with the baking soda. Mix well until combined. The mixture will become lighter and slightly foamy as the baking soda reacts with the jam.
6. Add the jam to the batter
Pour the jam mixture into the brownie batter and gently mix until fully incorporated.
Bake the Brownie
7. Prepare the baking pan
Lightly grease a 12 × 10-inch (30 × 25 cm) baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
8. Add the batter
Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan and gently smooth the surface with a spatula.
9. Bake
Bake in a preheated 350°F (180°C) oven for about 40 minutes, or until the brownie is baked through.
Make the Chocolate Glaze
10. Combine the glaze ingredients
While the brownie is baking, add the butter, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and water to a small saucepan.
11. Cook the glaze
Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir until the butter and sugar have melted and the mixture is smooth and glossy.
Finish the Brownie
12. Add the glaze
Pour the warm chocolate glaze over the warm brownie and spread it evenly over the surface.
13. Add the nuts
Sprinkle the chopped nuts evenly over the glaze while it is still warm, gently pressing them into the surface if needed.
14. Chill and serve
Let the brownie chill for about 30 minutes to allow the glaze to set. Slice into squares and serve.
Pro Tips for Making This Recipe
• Choose a thick jam. Plum jam works especially well, but any jam with a similar thick consistency can be used. Avoid very runny jams, as they can change the texture of the batter.
• Don’t skip the baking soda and jam step. Mixing them together first creates a light, slightly foamy mixture that contributes to the brownie’s soft and tender texture.
• Don’t overmix the batter. Once you add the flour, mix gently and only until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can make the brownie less soft.
• Use parchment paper. Lining the pan makes it much easier to lift the brownie out and slice it neatly once cooled.
• Pour the glaze over the warm brownie. The warm brownie absorbs some of the chocolate glaze, making every bite extra moist and flavorful.
• Add the nuts while the glaze is warm. This helps the chopped nuts stick to the surface instead of falling off when you slice the brownie.
• Let it chill before slicing. Give the brownie about 30 minutes to cool and allow the chocolate glaze to set. This will make cleaner, prettier slices.
• Try different nuts. Walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts all work beautifully with the chocolate and jam flavors.
Jam Brownie
Description
Soft, moist, and incredibly tender, this easy Jam Brownie is made with simple ingredients, your favorite jam, a rich chocolate glaze, and crunchy chopped nuts.
Ingredients
For the Brownie Batter
For the Jam Mixture
For the Chocolate Glaze
For the Topping
Instructions
-
Make the Brownie Batter
1. Whisk the eggs and salt
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and a pinch of salt until smooth and lightly foamy.
2. Add the sugar
Add the granulated sugar and whisk until the mixture becomes slightly lighter in color.
3. Add the oil and milk
Slowly pour in the vegetable oil and mix until fully incorporated. Add the milk and whisk until smooth.
4. Add the flour
Gradually add the all-purpose flour and gently mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
Flour: Avoid overmixing once the flour is added to keep the brownie tender.
-
Prepare the Jam Mixture
1. Combine the jam and baking soda
In a separate bowl, mix the jam with the baking soda. The mixture will become lighter and slightly foamy.
2. Add the jam mixture
Pour the jam mixture into the brownie batter and gently mix until fully incorporated.
Jam: Plum jam is my favorite for this recipe, but you can use any thick jam with a similar consistency. • Baking soda: Mixing the baking soda with the jam creates a light, slightly foamy mixture that helps keep the brownie soft.
-
Bake the Brownie
1. Prepare the pan
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease a 12 × 10-inch (30 × 25 cm) baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
2. Add the batter
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with a spatula.
3. Bake
Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the brownie is baked through.
-
Make the Chocolate Glaze
1. Combine the ingredients
While the brownie is baking, add the butter, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, and water to a small saucepan.
2. Cook the glaze
Place over medium heat and stir until the butter and sugar have melted and the mixture is smooth and glossy.
Glaze: Pour the glaze over the brownie while both are warm for the best texture and flavor.
-
Finish the Brownie
1. Add the glaze
Pour the warm chocolate glaze over the warm brownie and spread it evenly.
2. Add the nuts
Sprinkle the chopped nuts over the glaze while it is still warm.
3. Chill
Let the brownie chill for about 30 minutes, allowing the glaze to set.
4. Slice and serve
Cut into squares and serve once the glaze has set.
Nuts: Walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, or almonds can be used, or you can leave them out. • Storage: Store the brownie in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. -
Freezing: The brownie can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving. • Serving: Allow the brownie to cool and the glaze to set before slicing for the cleanest pieces.
Equipment
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 12
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 400kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 21g33%
- Saturated Fat 7g35%
- Sodium 150mg7%
- Total Carbohydrate 50g17%
- Dietary Fiber 2g8%
- Sugars 31g
- Protein 5g10%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
