I am a berry loving girl so I usually find every way possible to add fruit to the meals I make.
While we were on vacation in Idaho we stayed with friends and they introduced us to homemade biscuits and homemade strawberry jam… I WAS IN HEAVEN! It was at that moment that I realized that homemade jam… is my JAM! The day after we got home from Idaho I bought all of the needed ingredients and started making my own jam… and ever since we put jam on just about everything. I will even go so far as to plan our meals around ways to serve it. Obsessed much? Sorry not sorry!
Here is a simple recipe for making jam and believe me it is well worth it! Surprise your loved ones with homemade jam and they will be so impressed that they may even offer to do the dishes!? The amazing taste will make them believe you slaved away in the kitchen all day, when little do they know, it only took you 20 minutes to make and it didn’t even require stove top cooking! Now that is my kinda jam!
Mason Jar Strawberry Jam
Ingredients:
Splenda – or sugar
Ball Real Fruit Instant Pectin – I purchase my Instant Pectin online from Amazon … Click HERE for easy ordering! (Other easy-to-make jam recipes are on located on the label!)
Strawberries
Mason Jars with Lids
DIRECTIONS:
1.Start by washing 4lbs of strawberries, followed by cutting the greens off of each strawberry and cutting each strawberry into smaller pieces. FYI: 4lbs is about 2 packages of Strawberries at Costco. (I love to use kitchen shearing scissors for this process, the are much quicker and cleaner.) Once you have done this, place all of your strawberries in a large mixing bowl.
2. Begin the fun part – crushing the strawberries! I found a potato smasher to be the easiest utensil to use. This step releases all of the strawberry juices and natural sugar’s and creates the thick strawberry jam consistency. (I like to keep some larger strawberry chunks, but feel free to make it as thin or as thick as you would like.) Once you have your perfect consistency, set it to the side.
3. In another mixing bowl place 2 tbsp of instant pectin and 2/3 cup of splenda (or sugar, whichever you prefer). Stir this sugar mixture together.
4. Then add in 1 2/3 cups of your prepared strawberries. Mix this together well, stir for about 3 minutes to make sure the sugar mixture is evenly distributed.
5.Clean and sanitize your mason jars, because it is time to can it!
6. With a large spoon or ladle, fill up your mason jars. Remember to leave a little space at the top allowing it to expand, especially if you are planning to freeze your jam. Let each jar sit for 30 minutes before you enjoy. I usually keep one jar in my fridge and freeze the other jars for a later time.
This recipe yields approximately four 8 oz mason jars of jam. Be prepared for a little more or a little less depending on the ripeness and juiciness of the strawberries you are working with.
That is it! Super simple and the end result is AHH-mazing homemade strawberry jam!
You are my JAM…
If you would like to gift your fabulous strawberry jams, here is an easy and cute way to decorate your jars before gifting. I paint the mason jar lid saucer with chalkboard paint, let it dry and then write a cute label on it with a chalkboard pen, and wrap the jar with a decorative ribbon! There you have it, the perfect gift!
My favorite way to serve and enjoy this homemade jam is on a belgian waffle! It looks good and tastes even better! MMMM!
I hope you enjoy this recipe and remember you are my JAM!
Happy Jam-making!*I have added a few of my own personal touches and tweaks to make this jam recipe extra special. Find more adaptations from Ball at freshpreserving.com. This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase through my link, I will make a small commission for it. This doesn’t cost you anything additional. These commissions help to keep the rest of my content free. Thank you!
- Splenda - or sugar
- Ball Real Fruit Instant Pectin
- Strawberries
- Sanitized Mason Jars with Lids
- Start by washing 4lbs of strawberries, followed by cutting the greens off of each strawberry and cutting each strawberry into smaller pieces. FYI: 4lbs is 2 packages of Strawberries at Costco. (I love to use kitchen shearing scissors for this process, the are much quicker and cleaner.) Once you have done this, place all of your strawberries in a large mixing bowl.
- Begin the fun part - crushing the strawberries! I found a potato smasher to be the easiest utensil to use. This step releases all of the strawberry juices and natural sugar's and creates the thick strawberry jam consistency. (I like to keep some larger strawberry chunks, but feel free to make it as thin or as thick as you would like.) Once you have your perfect consistency, set it to the side.
- In another mixing bowl place 2 tbsp of instant pectin and ⅔ cup of splenda (or sugar, whichever you prefer). Stir this sugar mixture together.
- Then add in 1⅔ cups of your prepared strawberries. Mix this together well, stir for about 3 minutes to make sure the sugar mixture is evenly distributed.
- Clean and sanitize your mason jars, because it is time to can it!
- With a large spoon or ladle, fill up your mason jars. Remember to leave a little space at the top allowing it to expand, especially if you are planning to freeze your jam. Let each jar sit for 30 minutes before you enjoy. I usually keep one jar in my fridge and freeze the other jars for a later time.
- This recipe yields approximately four 8 oz mason jars of jam.
- ++If you would like to gift your fabulous strawberry jams, here is an easy and cute way to decorate your jars before gifting. I paint the mason jar lid saucer with chalkboard paint, let it dry and then write a cute label on it with a chalkboard pen, and wrap the jar with a decorative ribbon! There you have it, the perfect gift!++
4 Comments
You know we love our homemade biscuits; thanks for the Jam recipe!! We’re gonna try this. So easy, even I can do it. ha ha ha!
Yes Terri – Even you can do it! Super easy and will be delicious with biscuits!
Yum!!! This sounds fantastic!!! I adore homemade jam! <3
Hi Susannah – Homemade Jam is so yummy!