Learn how to make this exquisitely delicious huckleberry jam recipe from your freshly picked wild huckleberries!
It’s huckleberry season.Ā And that means fresh huckleberry jam!
We enjoyed red huckleberries a few weeks ago and now the black huckleberries are ripening.Ā Huckleberries are found in the wild throughout North America.Ā Europe has very similar berries that go by a variety of names such as bilberries, whortleberries, wimberries and fraughans.Ā They all share a lot in common with the blueberry and have a similar taste but slightly more tart and sometimes with larger seeds.
Huckleberries are terrific in drinks, jams, candies, pies, muffins, pancakes, teas, syrups and more.
Today we’re making huckleberry jam!
Picking huckleberries is pretty tedious work and it takes a while to gather a good amount because they’re so small.Ā Fortunately for huckleberry jam you don’t need a lot of them if you’re just making a small batch.Ā This recipe calls for just a cup of them but if you have some extra pairs of hands to help you pick, feel free to double or triple the recipe!
However many you choose to pick, once you’ve tasted this jam I’m sure you’ll agree that your berry-picking efforts paid off!
Let’s get started!
Place the washed and rinsed huckleberries in a pot with an equal amount of sugar (1 cup per 1 cup of berries).Ā Add a little water (approx 2 tablespoons per cup of huckleberries).Ā Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the berries are softened.
Mash the berries.
At this point you can go two different routes for thickening the jam:Ā Use pectin or slow simmer the jam after adding about 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice per cup of huckleberries.
For the pectin route:Ā Stir about 2 teaspoons of powdered pectin into the boiling jam and boil for another minute.Ā Remove from heat and let cool until set.
For the non-pectin route:Ā Stir in about 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice for every cup of huckleberries and simmer the jam over low heat for about an hour or until an instant read thermometer shows 220 degrees F.Ā For canning follow the same instructions as with the pectin route.
Note:Ā If you’re making jam with less than 2 cups of huckleberries, I find it’s usually best to go the pectin route to thicken it because smaller quantities are more susceptible to burning.
How to Can Huckleberry Jam
If you’d like to can this for long-term storage make sure the jars are sterilized and the lids are washed, screw on the rims, ladle the hot jam into the hot jars and process them in a water bath for 5 minutes then carefully remove and let sit undisturbed for 24 hours before removing the rings and storing.
Enjoy!
Be sure to also try our fabulous homemade:
- Black Currant Jam
- Blackberry Jam
- Plum Jam
- Plum Butter
- Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
- Blueberry Lemon Apricot Jam
- Peach Bacon Jam
- Lemon Lime Marmalade
Wild Huckleberry Jam
Ingredients
- 1 cup wild huckleberries, stems removed, washed and drained
- 1 cup cane sugar
- 2 teaspoons Fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon classic powdered pectin (if using, see instructions)
Instructions
- Place the washed and rinsed huckleberries in a pot with the sugar and about 2 tablespoons of water. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the berries are softened. Mash the berries.
- At this point you can go two different routes for thickening the jam: Use pectin or slow simmer the jam after adding about 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice per cup of huckleberries.For the pectin route: Stir about 2 teaspoons of powdered pectin into the boiling jam and boil for another minute. Remove from heat and let cool until set. For the non-pectin route: Stir in about 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice for every cup of huckleberries and simmer the jam over low heat for about an hour or until an instant read thermometer shows 220 degrees F. For canning follow the same instructions as with the pectin route.Makes a little over a cup.
- Canning: If you'd like to can this for long-term storage make sure the jars are sterilized and the lids are washed, screw on the rims, ladle the hot jam into the hot jars and process them in a water bath for 5 minutes then carefully remove and let sit undisturbed for 24 hours before removing the rings and storing.
Rhonda LaJean says
I was able to get 5 lbs of huckleberries here in Idaho. I just used your recipe. It looks and smells delicious. Of course I had to taste a few spoon fulls as it cooked. Yummy š So far I used 8 cups and got 10 1/2 8oz jars. I held back 4 cups to make huckleberry pie in the morning. I feel so blessed to have got so many in one day! I hit the jackpot! But I did leave some for the mamma bear and her two cubs.
Rhonda
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Congrats on that jackpot, Rhonda! Huckleberry pie sounds heavenly.
Kay says
How long does it usually take to set?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Kay, it should be set within 24 hours. How set it is will depend on what temperature it reached during cooking. 220 F is the jam point.
Karla says
Can you freeze the jam?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Karla, if you’re not using pectin in it then yes, you can freeze it.
Alanna Patterson says
Doing 24 cups of berries right now! This is the first time Iāve tried this recipe I have done freezer jam. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
24 cups??! Alanna, do you pick them in the wild or do you cultivate the bushes on your property?
Alanna Patterson says
In the wild. And it turned out delicious
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so glad, Alanna, and that is incredible that you were able to find and pick so many!
Alanna Patterson says
It was 3 days of hiking and searching to find them. And your recipe is delicious! Thank you for sharing.
Tamra Wood says
Gonna try this with the 8 cups I picked Tuesday. Can’t wait to try it.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Wow, you’re living in Huckleberry Heaven, Tamra!
mabel riebalkin says
Hi,Im going to try your jam today want to ask if you could triple the receipe and use reg.sugar,because I have 6 cups of berrys and no cane sugar?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Mabel, yes to both questions. And that’s amazing that you were able to find and pick 6 cups, congrats!
Katerina @ diethood .com says
This looks amazing!! I have to give it try!!
Erin says
Gotta make this jam! Great when I am craving something sweet!
Aimee Shugarman says
I wish I had huckleberries to make this! Sounds amazing!
Alli says
I have never had huckleberries before. But this looks so fun to make, in going to have to give it a go!
Delaney | Melanie Makes says
I want to try making this!
Brandy @ Nutmeg Nanny says
Sounds perfect! Now I want to put this on some toast!
Sara says
This needs to be on hand at all times, it looks that good!
Julie says
I want to smother it on everything!
Meghan says
Oh WOW I want to put this on ice cream IMMEDIATELY!