Blackberry Jam
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Bursting with concentrated blackberry flavor, this homemade blackberry jam is easy to make, thickens up beautifully without the addition of pectin, and can be used in SO many delicious ways!
Enjoy this jam spread on our homemade English Crumpets or Sourdough English Muffins!
Nothing beats homemade jam; store-bought just can’t compare in the freshness and intensity of flavor. This homemade blackberry jam without pectin is like blackberry flavor on steroids – it’s SO good!
Ways to Use Blackberry Jam
I make a variety of jams every year from different fruits and usually end up with far more than I need so inevitably I give several jars away. Can you relate? But if you’re struggling to figure out how to use up all that jam on at home, there are far more ways to enjoy jam than simply spread on toast. Here are a few:
- Spread on bread, toast, Crumpets, and English Muffins
- Filling for layered cakes, muffins, cupcakes, pastries, jelly rolls, pop tarts, Victoria Sponge Cakes, and fruit squares
- Use in British trifles
- Topping for cheesecake, like our German Cheesecake
- For dipping Danish Aebleskiver
- Ice cream topping
- Mixed in Greek yogurt
- Filling for crepes
- Flavor cake frostings
- Use in thumbprint cookies or Linzer Kekse
Do You Have to Remove the Blackberry Seeds?
No, you don’t have to, but you’ll definitely want to. I don’t mind seeds in raspberry jam because they soften, but blackberries not only have a TON of seeds they’re very hard, gritty seeds. If you don’t mind that go ahead and leave them in. Otherwise you’ll want to invest in a food mill. That’s the easiest and most effective way to get rid of the vast majority of seeds.
I got my food mill at a thrift shop for $5. That’s a good place to look for them, I see them there fairly often. You can also buy your food mill online.
Can This Be Made Without Pectin?
Yes! In fact this blackberry jam recipe is made without pectin because there’s really no need for it whatsoever. Blackberries thicken up beautifully on their own and the jam retains its jam-like texture. All you need are blackberries, sugar and lemon juice and you’re all set.
Blackberry Jam Recipe
Let’s get started!
Wash and drain the blackberries. Run them through a food mill to remove the seeds. Reserve the blackberry puree (you should have about 5 cups) and discard the seeds (I give them to our chickens and they go crazy over them!).
Place the blackberry puree in a large pot and add the sugar and lemon juice.
Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring regularly, until the jam reaches 220 degrees F. I use an instant read thermometer. Skim off and discard the foam that has collected on the surface.
Ladle the jam into sterilized jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace and wipe the rims clean before sealing.
If you’re not canning the jars you can store the jam will keep in the fridge for at least a couple of months.
If you’re using the water bath canning method process the jars for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the jars, let them sit undisturbed for 24 hours, then store in a dark cool place. Jam will keep for up to a year.
Enjoy!
See above for lots of delicious ways to use this blackberry jam!
For more homemade jams and more be sure to try our:
- Blackberry Syrup
- Black Currant Jam
- Huckleberry Jam
- Gooseberry Jam
- Plum Jam
- Plum Butter
- Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
- Red Currant Jelly
- Blueberry Lemon Apricot Jam
- Peach Bacon Jam
- Lemon Lime Marmalade
Blackberry Jam
Ingredients
- 9 cups blackberries (fresh or frozen)
- 5 cups granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Wash and drain the blackberries. Run them through a food mill to remove the seeds. Reserve the blackberry puree (you should have about 5 cups) and discard the seeds.Place the blackberry puree in a large pot and add the sugar and lemon juice.Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring regularly, until the jam reaches 220 degrees F. I use an instant read thermometer.Ladle the jam into sterilized jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace and wipe the rims clean before sealing.If you're not sealing the jars the jam will keep in the fridge for several months.If you're using the water bath canning method process the jars for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the jars, let them sit undisturbed for 24 hours, then store in a dark cool place. Jam will keep for up to a year. Makes about 6 half pint jars.
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet September 2, 2019
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
