Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Blackberry Freezer Jam--No Cooking Necessary!

Last year I wrote about the delicious fresh blackberries my husband picked for us from the bushes in the woods around his job site--and it's that time of year again! When I got back to Georgia last week, I had several quarts of berries waiting for me in the fridge that he'd just picked over the weekend.


We've all been trying to cut out or at least down on sugar, so I haven't been baking much, but I did take the opportunity to while I had these delicious fresh (and free, too!) berries to put up a batch of blackberry freezer jam.


I used the Ball pectin to make this batch--it requires no cooking or heat processing, and uses less sugar than some brands.

Ingredients:
  • 4 cups crushed blackberries
  • 1 1/2 c sugar
  • 1 pkg Ball Freezer Jam Fruit Pectin
Notice that the measurments is for crushed fruit--I used a potato masher to smush 1-2 cups at a time, pouring the crushed berries into the measuring cup. (Don't use a food processor for this, you don't want puree, you need some 'body' left to the fruit you use.)

Mix the sugar and fruit pectin in a bowl; stir until blended.

Add the crushed fruit, and stir well, until all of the sugar and pectin is incorporated into the fruit.


Ladle into jars or other containers--a jar funnel makes it easier.


I just happened to have some half-pint jelly jars, but because this is not heat processed and "sealed" you can use plastic containers or "re-purposed" jars.

Allow the containers to set for about 30 minutes, then refrigerate (if you're going to use it right away) or freeze (for later use.)

This makes a soft-set jam that's delicious and fresh-tasting on biscuits or toast, or makes really really good peanut-butter and jam sandwiches.

What have you been cooking this week your garden or from nature's bounty?

This post is linked to:

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
at Blessed with Grace
Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Tuesday Tastes at Crazy Daisy
Tuesdays at the Table All the Small Stuff
Delicious Dishes at It's a Blogparty
What's on the Menu? at Dinning With Debbie
Recipe Swap at the Grocery Cart Challenge
Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom

Until next time, good (un-)cooking, and good eating...

20 comments:

  1. You got me at NO COOKING NECESSARY!!! It's been so HOT!!! and I LOVE!!! making jam and blackberry sound WONDERFUL!!! This is a must try.
    Geri

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  2. I love doing this. I make strawberry, blackberry and peach freezer jam every year. It's always so delicious on warm rolls and biscuits. Such a great reminder of summer during those cold winter months. Come join me for What's On the Menu Wednesday. I would love to see you there.

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  3. You know it's funny. I grow blackberries and I have experience with the strawberry freezer jam, but I never thought of doing this. thank you. Blackberry Jam is my favorite!

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    Replies
    1. I tried the one with splenda and I don't like it as good.

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  4. well first let me say hello and thank you for becoming a follower on my blog and then let me say I must make this great looking jam!
    I just printed the instructions so I could make it!
    Thank you,
    Terry

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  5. I have only seen this for strawberries -thanks for sharing a fresh new variation! Thanks for bringing your dish over to Tuesday Tastes! The People's Choice Polls are open so come by and cast your vote when you get a chance!

    Happy Day,
    Jasey @ Crazy Daisy

    http://crazyjayzplace.blogspot.com/2010/06/tuesday-tastes-12.html

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  6. I just announced that you are a Tuesday Tastes People's Choice winner! Here's a link! Grab an award button! I will email your recipe kit to you!

    Happy Day,
    Jasey @ Crazy Daisy

    http://crazyjayzplace.blogspot.com/2010/05/introducing-new-tuesday-taste-peoples.html

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  7. Have you tried it out of the jar yet?

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  8. Love your recipe and title of your blog. Please join me today for Tasty Traditions, a recipe meme. Thanks and have a great weekend.

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  9. I was looking for a blackberry freezer jam recipe and found your blog entry. Thanks for the easy instructions (with pictures!) and a tablespoon of confidence to make my first jam.

    I linked your post/blog in my blog post:
    http://craftsparklepop.blogspot.com/2010/09/blackberry-freezer-jam-labels.html

    Thanks again! Have a wonderful day!
    Ashlee

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  10. Makes me think of my mother's blackberry jam she used to can. It was so good it would melt in your mouth on homemade warm biscuits with butter YUM!!!! Going to give it a try,,,

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  11. Can you use sugar substitute for this, at least in part? My DH is diabetic, but he loves blackberry jam. We buy the Smuckers with Splenda, but I would much rather make it for him. Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. I tried it with splenda and it is not as good.

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    2. I've been tempted to try some of liquid no-sugar sweeteners, like agave nectar or something similar, but I'm not sure how that would affect the thickening OR the taste.

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  12. There are pectin mixes made especially for making sugar-free jams and jellies. I haven't tried them, but plan on doing so this year.

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  13. Went berry picking near my house in Washington State today- ended up with several pounds of blackberries. Thanks for this recipe, I've got a batch of jam ready to put in the freezer and a cobbler in the oven. I loved how easy this was. :)

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    Replies
    1. So glad you liked it! My blackberries didn't make this year--we've had too much drought and heat for the last two years, they are barely hanging on. I bought some from a friend who has cultivated blackberries, but she didn't let them completely ripen before picking and they are TART, so I've been eating them instead of making jam this year. Keeping my fingers crossed for next year!

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  14. What size package is that of pectin? I have the bigger container so I was wondering what the measurment for that was, but I can't tell the size of that packet from the pictures.

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    Replies
    1. Nevermind, I found it 1.59oz. (45g)

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    2. Hope your jam turned out delicious!

      Charlene

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