Homemade Sweet Chilli Jam Recipe

Vibrant, glossy, and bursting with sweet chilli spice.

Homemade Sweet Chilli Jam Recipe @Feli Chic’Cuisine

This versatile homemade Sweet Chilli Jam Recipe is easy to make, uses just 4 simple ingredients, and makes a fantastic gift or addition to any cheese board.

Made with red chillies, sweet Romano peppers, sugar and cider vinegar, this jam has a wonderful combination of sweet, tangy and spicy notes. Its flavour can be adjusted to suit your taste, making it as mild or as hot as you prefer.

One of my favourite ways to serve Sweet Chilli Jam is alongside creamy Camembert on toasted sourdough. The richness of the cheese works beautifully with the sweetness and gentle heat of the jam. It is equally delicious with mature Cheddar, cold meats, roasted vegetables, grilled fish or as a glaze for savoury dishes.

This is also a lovely recipe to prepare ahead of the festive season. A jar of homemade chilli jam makes a thoughtful addition to a Christmas cheese board or a homemade food hamper.

JUMP TO RECIPE

Homemade Sweet Chilli Jam Recipe @Feli Chic’Cuisine

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Just 4 Pantry Ingredients: No artificial preservatives, food coloring, or pectin required.

• Incredibly Versatile: Serves as a dip, spread, glaze, or marinade.

• Customizable Heat: Easily tweak the chilli-to-pepper ratio to suit your heat tolerance.

• Gourmet Edible Gift: Spoon it into decorative jars for a thoughtful homemade gift during the holidays!

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Tips For the Best Sweet Chilli Jam

1. Wear Gloves! Always wear kitchen gloves when chopping chillies. Avoid touching your face, and wash your equipment thoroughly after use. Capsaicin from chillies lingers on your skin for hours.

   
   

2. Food Processor Shortcut: To save prep time, roughly chop your peppers and chillies, then pulse them in batches in your food processor.

   
   

3. Patience with Cooling: The jam will look a bit runny while hot in the pan, but it naturally thickens as the sugar cools down in the jars.

Homemade Sweet Chilli Jam Recipe @Feli Chic’Cuisine

When making Sweet Chilli Jam, combining two types of peppers - sweet peppers for body and color alongside spicy chillies for heat - creates the best texture, depth, and color balance.

Sweet Pepper Base (For Bulk, Sugar & Color)

Sweet peppers balance out the heat and give the jam its thick, jewel-like texture and bright red color.

• Romano Red Peppers: The absolute top choice! Sweet, long, and thin-skinned with less water content than standard bell peppers, which helps the jam set faster and gives a rich, complex pepper flavor.

• Red Bell Peppers: The standard, easy-to-find choice. They provide bright red color and sweet flesh. (Tip: Drain excess liquid if pulsing them in a processor so the jam doesn't become watery.)

• Sweet Cherry Peppers / Pimiento: Round, thick-walled sweet peppers that add a mild, fruity flavor.

Homemade Sweet Chilli Jam Recipe @Feli Chic’Cuisine

Chilli Variety (For Heat & Kick)

For Mild to Medium Heat

• Long Red Cayenne Chillies / Serenade: These long, slender red chillies provide a gentle, warming bite without overwhelming the sweetness.

• Fresno Chillies: Look like red Jalapeños with thick walls and a fruity, mild-to-medium spice level.

For Extra Heat & Complex Flavor

• Bird’s Eye Chillies (Thai Red Chillies): Small, potent, and fiery. Adding just 3–5 of these alongside standard red chillies elevates the heat to a true "hot" level.

• Scotch Bonnet or Habanero: Very hot, but they add a fruity, tropical aroma and smoky-sweet undertone. Using 1 or 2 deseeded Scotch Bonnets alongside sweet Romano peppers creates a gourmet, restaurant-style jam.

Pro Tip for Perfect Jam

• Always choose firm, glossy, unblemished peppers with vibrant green stems.

• Ratio rule: A 50:50 ratio (or 60% sweet peppers to 40% chillies) yields a well-balanced, family-friendly jam. If using extra-hot varieties (like Scotch Bonnet or Bird’s Eye), lower the chilli proportion significantly.

Homemade Sweet Chilli Jam Recipe @Feli Chic’Cuisine

Frequently asked questions

1. How do I control the heat level?

   • For a Milder Jam: Swap the ratio! Use 700g Romano peppers and 550g (or fewer) chillies, and remove all seeds.

   • For Extra Spice: Keep the seeds and white pith intact, or substitute a few red chillies for Thai bird's eye chillies.

   
   

2. Why is my chilli jam too thin?

   If your jam seems too liquid after cooling, simply pour it back into a saucepan and simmer for an additional 10–15 minutes to reduce more water content before re-jarring.

   
   

3. How should homemade Sweet Chilli Jam be stored?

   Unopened, properly sealed jars stored in a cool, dark pantry will last up to 6 to 12 months. Once opened, keep the jar in the refrigerator and use within 1 month.

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Love this recipe? Please leave a comment below! Your feedback, suggestions, and adaptations are so helpful to other home cooks!

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Homemade Sweet Chilli

Jam Recipe

A sweet, tangy and gently spicy homemade condiment made with red chillies, sweet peppers, sugar and cider vinegar. Delicious served with cheese, crusty sourdough, savoury platters or grilled meats and fish.

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Prep Time: 35 min | Cook Time: 1 hour |

Total Time:1 h 35 min |

Yields:5–6 medium jars (250ml each) |

Dietary:Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free

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Ingredients

• 700g (1.5 lb) Long Red Chillies

• 550g (1.2lb) Romano Red Peppers

• 1000g (1 kg /5 cups) White Granulated Sugar

• 1000ml (1 litre/4 cups) Apple Cider Vinegar

  
  

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Method

⚠️ Safety First: Put on kitchen gloves before handling and chopping the chillies to prevent painful skin irritation or accidental contact with your eyes!

1. Prepare the peppers and chillies

Wash the peppers and chillies thoroughly and drain well. Remove the stalks and chop the peppers and chillies finely. Removing the seeds and inner membranes from the chillies will generally reduce the heat, although the result depends on the variety.

2. Dissolve the sugar

Add the sugar and cider vinegar to a large, heavy-based stainless-steel saucepan. Heat gently, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved.

3. Cook the chilli mixture

Add the chopped peppers and chillies to the pan with the syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes (or up to 30 minutes for a thicker set), stirring regularly to prevent sticking and scorching. The mixture will reduce, become glossy, and darken into a deep ruby color.

4. Check the Setting Point

Spoon a small amount of the hot jam onto a chilled plate and let it cool completely before judging its consistency. Hot jam will always appear runnier in the pan than it will once cooled. Avoid relying strictly on a timer, as the exact setting time depends on the moisture content of your fresh peppers.

5. Transfer and Store

Spoon the hot jam into warm, sterilized jars and seal tightly. Allow to cool completely at room temperature. Store unopened jars in a cool, dark pantry for up to 1 year. Refrigerate after opening and use within 4 weeks.

Enjoy!

Notes

1. Pour hot jam directly into warm, sterilized jars. This prevents heat shock (cracking) and guarantees a vacuum seal for long shelf life.

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2. Jam sets more as it cools. If it becomes too thick once chilled, warm it slightly and stir in a splash of boiled water or cider vinegar to reach your ideal spoonable consistency.

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A Thought Among Flavours

What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.

― John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America

Have you tried making this Homemade Sweet Chilli Jam Recipe? I'd love to hear about your experience! Share your thoughts and any creative twists you added to the recipe in the comments below. Or, tag me on Instagram (@FeliChic'Cuisine) when you post your recipe creations. Let's inspire each other. Thank You!

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