Easy Homemade Blackberry Jam Recipe My Frugal Adventures from myfrugaladventures.com
Introduction
Making homemade jam is a great way to enjoy the fruits of the season all year round. It's also a fun and easy way to impress your friends and family. Making jam is a simple process that requires only a few ingredients and some patience. In this article, we will be sharing a basic recipe for making homemade jam that you can customize to your liking.
Ingredients
To make jam, you will need fruit, sugar, and pectin. You can use fresh or frozen fruit depending on the season. Here are the ingredients for a basic jam recipe:
2 pounds of fruit
4 cups of sugar
1 package of pectin
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
Fruit
You can use any fruit for making jam, but some fruits work better than others. Berries like strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are great for making jam because they have a lot of natural pectin. Pectin is a natural thickener that helps the jam set. Other fruits like peaches, apricots, and plums have less pectin, so you will need to add more pectin to help the jam set.
Sugar
Sugar is an important ingredient in jam because it helps to preserve the fruit and gives the jam its sweetness. You can use regular granulated sugar or a sugar substitute like honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar. Keep in mind that using a sugar substitute may affect the texture and flavor of the jam.
Pectin
Pectin is a natural thickener that helps the jam set. You can buy pectin at your local grocery store or online. There are two types of pectin: regular and low-sugar. Regular pectin requires a lot of sugar to help the jam set, while low-sugar pectin requires less sugar.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is added to the jam to help balance the sweetness and acidity of the fruit. It also helps to activate the pectin and helps the jam set.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Fruit
Wash the fruit and remove any stems, leaves, or pits. If you are using larger fruits like peaches or apricots, you may want to chop them into smaller pieces.
Step 2: Cook the Fruit
Place the fruit in a large pot and add 1/4 cup of water. Bring the fruit to a boil over medium heat and then reduce the heat to low. Let the fruit simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is soft and starting to break down.
Step 3: Add the Sugar and Pectin
Add the sugar and pectin to the pot and stir to combine. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil the mixture for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Step 4: Finish the Jam
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Let the jam cool for a few minutes, then pour it into clean, sterilized jars. Leave about 1/4 inch of space at the top of each jar. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean towel and then screw on the lids.
Step 5: Process the Jars
If you plan to store the jam for more than a week, you'll need to process the jars in a boiling water bath. Place the jars in a large pot and cover them with water. Bring the water to a boil and let the jars process for 10 minutes. Remove the jars from the water and let them cool on a towel.
Nutrition
Jam is a sweet treat that should be enjoyed in moderation. Here are the nutritional facts for a serving of jam:
Calories: 70
Total fat: 0g
Sodium: 0mg
Total carbohydrates: 18g
Sugars: 18g
Protein: 0g
Customizations
You can customize your jam recipe to your liking by adding different fruits, spices, or herbs. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Strawberry-basil jam
Peach-ginger jam
Raspberry-jalapeno jam
Blueberry-lavender jam
Conclusion
Making homemade jam is a fun and easy way to enjoy the flavors of the season all year round. With this basic recipe, you can customize your jam to your liking and impress your friends and family with your culinary skills. Remember to enjoy your jam in moderation and store it properly to keep it fresh.
