Small Batch Blackberry Jam Recipes

BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Place the berries in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a full boil over high heat, mashing the berries with a potato masher as they cook. Add the lemon juice and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring and mashing constantly.
• Add the sugar and return the mixture to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until it begins to look syrupy and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and test for doneness: a candy thermometer should register 220 degrees F and the mixture should coat the back of a spoon. Run a finger--or a clean object about the width of a finger--through the coat of jam. If the jam does not run and fill the gap, it is done. Otherwise, return the pan to the heat for another 1 to 2 minutes and test again. Be careful not to let the mixture get too thick--it will thicken as it cools.
• When the jam is done, transfer it to a heatproof jar and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate. The jam will keep for up to 2 weeks.

BLACKBERRY JAM RECIPE FOR CANNING

Steps:

• Wash jars, lids, and bands in hot soapy water, dry completely, then set bands aside.
• Simmer lids in warm water in saucepan until ready to place them on jars.
• Keep jars warm by simmering in hot water until ready to use. Do not boil.
• Fill 20 quart stock pot or your water bath canner with hot water, and place on stove over medium-high heat. {you'll need enough water to later cover your jars with at least 1 inch of water}
• Crush blackberries in large mixing bowl or shallow glass baking dish using hand masher until nice, smooth consistency.
• Transfer crushed blackberries to 8 quart stock pot. Add pectin, lemon juice and butter to pot, and stir constantly with wooden spoon over high heat, while bringing to a rolling boil.
• Once boiling, add sugar, return to rolling boil, then boil for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
• After 1 minute, remove foam from top of jam by skimming it off with a metal spoon.
• Then... one by one, remove a jar from hot water, transfer to a cookie sheet {this will catch any spills}, place regular mouth canning funnel on jar, and ladle in blackberry jam mixture leaving 1/4 inch empty head space at top of the jar. After filling, wipe off rim of lid and threads of jar with damp cloth.
• Continue until all jars have been filled.
• Remove warm lids from saucepan {magnetic lid lifters work like a charm}, and place one lid on each jar.
• Then screw one band on each jar just until snug {not overly tight}.
• Place filled jars on rack in 20 quart stock pot {or water bath canner}, then lower down into hot water. Make sure there is enough water in pot that there is at least 1 inch of water above the jars. If necessary, add more HOT water.
• Place lid on your pot, and bring to a gentle boil.
• Once water is boiling, set your timer for processing. Boiling time will vary depending on where you live... for altitude 0 - 1,000 feet boil 10 minutes, for 1,001 - 3,000 boil 15 minutes, for 3,001 - 6,000 boil 20 minutes, for 6,001 - 8,000 boil 25 minutes, and for 8,001+ boil 30 minutes.
• Once jars have finished boiling, turn off heat, remove the lid from the pot and let jars sit for 5 minutes before removing. After 5 minutes, lift up rack to elevated resting position, then carefully remove jars, one by one using a jar lifter, and transfer to folded towels on the counter to cool.
• The lids on the jars will begin to 'pop' into the sealed position, signifying the jam has been preserved.* {see notes} If any lids do not pop, transfer those to the refrigerator and use those up first.
• Homemade Blackberry Jam Shelf Life: Jars can be stored in your pantry, or a cool, dry cupboard for up to 1 year. Label the top of each lid with the type of jam and the date it was made. Remove bands when storing, and be sure to never stack jars on top of each other. Always inspect lids to ensure the seals are good before using. When ready to use, transfer a jar to your refrigerator, and use within 1 month. ENJOY!

BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Mash blackberries in a saucepan with a potato masher. Stir in sugar until juices form; place about 1 tablespoon blackberry juice in a small bowl and stir in cornstarch. Pour cornstarch mixture into saucepan.
• Bring berries to a boil, stirring often, until jam is thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in cinnamon and allspice. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Transfer jam to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until chilled. Stir in lemon juice.

EASY BLACKBERRY JAM (NO PECTIN)

Steps:

• Put 2 or 3 small plates/saucers in a freezer for "wrinkle test" (checking whether your jam has reached setting point).
• Wash and sort your blackberries, getting rid of any mushy ones or those that have seen better days.
• Put blackberries in a large pan or preserving pan if you own one and mash them up a bit using simple potato masher. This will release the juices and make them cook quicker too.
• Add sugar and lemon juice and stir well.
• Simmer blackberry jam over low-medium heat stirring from time to time until all the sugar has dissolved. It took me approximately 10 minutes.
• Slowly bring your jam mixture to rolling boil for approx. 15 minutes.
• When 15 minutes is up, take the pan off the heat and test if your jam has reached its setting point by placing a small amount of jam on the saucer straight out of the freezer. Put that plate to the fridge for 1-2 minutes, take it out and push the jam gently with your finger. If it wrinkles and stays in place it's ready, if it doesn't then continue boiling your mixture and checking it every 5 minutes until you get the set. It took me approximately 25 minutes.
• If you are using jam thermometer continue boiling your jam until temperature reaches 105C/221F at which point your jam is ready.
• Skim off any scum that might have formed on top of the jam and transfer it into hot, sterilised jars, cover with the lids and leave to cool. You will hear the clicking noise as your jars seal and there will be no bubble in the lid as you press it which is as it should be. It may take some time for it to happen from the moment you put the lids on so don't worry if it doesn't happen straight away.
• Let the jars cool completely at which point you can apply your labels.

SMALL BATCH BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a non-reactive pan, mash the blackberries with a potato masher. Add the sugar and heat the contents over medium heat, stirring gently, until the sugar is dissolved. Raise the heat to medium-high and boil the mixture until a drop mounds in a chilled dish (this took around 10 minutes for me).
• Pour the jam into a jar and cap the jar tightly. Store in refrigerator. This jam should keep for several weeks.

BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, combine blackberries and sugar. Let stand for 15 minutes.
• Use a potato masher to mash the berries in the pot, releasing the juices.
• Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Once the mixture boils, add the lemon juice; cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 15-20 minutes.
• For a thicker jam, whisk together pectin and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Sprinkle the pectin mixture over the jam and stir to combine. Cook for exactly 1 more minute, then remove from the heat.
• Divide the jam between 2 sterilized 8-ounce glass jars, leaving ¼-inch of headspace at the top of each jar. Wipe the rims clean with a damp cloth, then secure the lids and bands.
• Process in a water bath for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the jars to a towel on the counter. Let stand, undisturbed, for 12 hours at room temperature. Check the seals after 12 hours by pressing the center of the lids. If the lid gives or the center button remains popped up, store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. Properly sealed jars will keep in a cool, dark place for up to 8 months. Refrigerate after opening.

SIMPLE, SMALL BATCH BLACK & BLUEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Add your berries and lemon juice to an enamel or stainless steel sauce pan and cook them over a medium flame.
• Just as you begin cooking, mash them with your potato masher, making sure to leave some berries chunkily mashed. Allow to cook for about 3 minutes until bubbling.
• Add the sugar, stir and increase to a high flame. Bring to a bubbling boil. Once the berries are boiling, reduce to a medium simmer for about 5 minutes. Continue to stir.
• If the jam still appears to be very liquidy after that 5 minutes of simmering and stirring, add cornstarch. The sourness of your berries will be a factor in the consistency of your jam. If they're sour, it may not require cornstarch, if they're sweet, they may require up to 2 tsp. If you've added cornstarch, give it a nice stir and let it cook for another two minutes on a simmer. Once the consistency is a syrupy thickness, it's done.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool in a container to room temperature. Then cover and refrigerate.

BLACKBERRY JAM WITHOUT PECTIN

Steps:

• Sterilize the jar and lid you'll be using for storing jam with boiling water, or run a hot cycle into the dishwasher.
• In a large bowl, place blackberries and sugar, macerating the ingredients until all berries are crushed and juices released. Let it rest for 30 minutes.
• Place a small plate in the freezer just before start cooking your jam for the wrinkle test.
• Transfer berries and sugar mixture to a heavy-bottom pan and add lemon or lime juice.
• Cook over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes before checking for doneness for the first time using the spoon test (check notes for how to perform both wrinkle and spoon test).
• After 20 minutes, jam should be close to set, if not ready. Check with the wrinkle test. If it passes, jam is done. Remove from heat.
• Transfer jam to sterilized jar and close the lid. Wait for it to cool before storing in the refrigerator.

BLACKBERRY FREEZER JAM (SMALL BATCH)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, wash your fruit and remove any small branches or leaves. Drain well.
• In a large pot, pour your blackberries, sugar, and lemon. Stir the mixture to coat all the fruit with sugar.
• Stir the mixture to coat all the fruit with sugar. Cook covered on medium-low for about 10 minutes, reduce heat to low, and cook another 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. You can test to see if the jam is thickening by using a very cold plate from the freezer and testing a small amount as you cook.
• In the meantime, clean your jars with hot water and soap or run them through the dishwasher.
• Allow the jam to cool down completely before transferring into the jars.
• Pour the jam and store it in the freezer for up to a year or in the fridge for a couple of weeks.