Summer is the best time to make a mixed berry jam when blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries are in abundance. Low in sugar, and made without any pectin or artificial flavoring, this jam takes only 30 minutes to make. It is also commonly known as bumbleberry jam. A must-try jam if you love berries.
Table of Content
I grew up calling this jam a mixed berry jam because that's what it is - a jam made with mixed berries. A few years ago, an American friend mentioned to me that this is called a bumbleberry jam.
I always thought bumbleberry is a berry on its own. So, what is a bumbleberry? Actually, bumbleberry is a mixture of at least three different berries mostly raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries because they are in season all at the same time
Why make this jam?
- No-fail method - This recipe is simple and easy. And if you've never made homemade jam you will definitely start now.
- No- canning - This homemade recipe is without the fuss of canning. Just pour the jam into sterilized jars and save them in the fridge or freezer. However, for those of you that want a big batch to can, I have also given you the detailed process for canning.
- No pectin - Ideally, you can make jam with just two ingredients: berries and sugar. Because berries have natural acidity and pectin in abundance. And yet, adding lemon juice helps break down on the skin and prevents crystalization.
- Low-sugar - Fresh berries are naturally soft and sweet. Therefore, you don't need to add a lot of sugar to this jam.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Mixed berries - Use fresh plump sweet berries in season or frozen berries. Both work beautifully with this recipe. You can also use a variety of three, and yet I have used four: raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries, and all in equal proportions.
You can use different proportions and it will reflect in the taste and color of the jam. For example, more blueberries and blackberries will give a darker shade of blue and a little more tart. While more raspberries or strawberries will give a lighter share of blue and a little sweeter. - Sugar - Unlike commercial jams, I like to use less sugar, which is usually half the quantity of fruit. For example, if I have 1 kg of fruit I usually add 500 grams of sugar. So, my jam is more fruity rather than just sugary sweet. But if you like it sweet you can add more. Most commercial jams are made with ¾ amount of sugar in this case 750 grams.
- Lemon Juice - Mixed berries are naturally sweet, so the lemon really helps bring out and enhance their sweetness. It also helps prevent crystallization. Lemons also have a lot of natural pectins.
Step by step instructions
- Place two small ceramic plates in the freezer so we can use these to test the jam later. Alternatively, you can use a candy thermometer to check the doneness of the jam.
- Check the berries and remove any bad, discolored, or bruised ones. Give them a quick wash and drain in a colander. Chop large berries like strawberries to make them similar in size
Pro tip - Soft berries can be used but discolored and bruised ones will ruin the jam. Also, don't soak berries in water for too long as they do soak up moisture. - In a heavy bottom pan, combine the berries, sugar, salt, and lemon juice.
Pro tip - If you are using frozen berries, let the berries macerate in sugar and lemon juice for a few hours before cooking. This softens the berry skin considerably. - Cook on medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Then, turn the heat up and let the mixture come to a boil. Let it boil for two minutes on medium-high.
Pro tip - Boiling the jam is important as it releases pectin from the skin and seed in fruits. - Then, turn the heat to medium-low. The jam should still be simmering but at a low simmer, not bubbling. Use a vegetable masher to mash the fruit – so you have a smoother jam-like consistency.
Pro tip - Mashing the fruit is optional, as the fruit will break down into smaller chunks similar to preserve as it cooks. However, mashing will give smoother consistency like jam. - Continue to simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes more stirring often so it does not stick to the bottom of the pan. The jam will continue to thicken as well as deepen in color as it cools.
Pro tip - The cooking time will depend on the quantity of the jam as well as the heat applied to it. It's ok to cook a little longer but there must be a simmer for the fruit to release pectin.
Testing the jam
- Remove one of the ceramic plates from the freezer. Place a teaspoon of jam on the cold plate.
Pro tip - The cold plate will help cool the jam almost instantly and give you a good indication if the jam is ready. - Set aside for 2 to 3 minutes. Then, test with your finger. Simply move/push the jam with your finger. If it wrinkles/crinkles it means the jam is ready. And if not, let the jam cook a couple of minutes more and test again.
Pro tip - You may need to test the jam on a ceramic plate more than once or a couple of times depending on how early you start checking. - Alternatively, you can use a candy thermometer - the jam should reach 105 C / 221 F.
Pro tip - I find the thermometer to be the easiest and fool-proof method to check for doneness. - Optional - Just when you are ready to take the jam off the heat add a teaspoon of butter and stir well. Butter helps dissolve foam that accumulates on top of the jam.
Pro tip - You don't need more than 1 teaspoon of butter to help with the foam. It will also give you that glossy shine. - Pour the jam into warm sterilized jars leaving ¼ inch space from the top. Use a clean sterilized knife or spatula to move the jam a bit – this will remove any air pockets.
- Place a piece of wax paper on the top before you place the lid on tightly. Clean the rim of the jar with a clean paper towel. Top the lid.
Alternatively, use the lid with screw-on rings that come with the canning jars.
The canning process (if you plan to can the jam)
Sterilizing the jars
- Sterilize 4 x 8 oz (250 g) jars by washing them in hot soapy water or cleaning them in the dishwasher with a gentle cycle. Then, place them in the oven for 20 minutes at a low 284 F / 140 C
Pro tip - I find the dishwasher does a good job of cleaning and the oven dries any excess moisture in the bottles. - Note - Leave them in the oven until you are ready to use them (you can turn the oven off). Don’t forget to wash and sterilize the bottle lids as well.
Canning
- Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot. Fill half the pot with water. Bring the water in the pot to a boil on high heat.
- Lower the jars over the rack leaving enough space between the jars.
Pro tip - The level of water should be at least an inch above the top of the jars. So if necessary pour more boiling water. - Bring the water to a boil again. Cover the pot and process/simmer for 15 minutes.
- Then, carefully remove the jars from the stockpot and place them on a kitchen towel to absorb any excess moisture. Cool completely.
Pro tip - The hot jars are very delicate so make sure to use tongs when taking them out and place them on soft towels to prevent them from breaking. - Press the top of the lid to ensure the seal is tight – the lid should not move at all. Store in a cool dry place.
Mixed-berry jam without sugar
Sugar helps the creation of pectin which makes our jam. But what if you can't have sugar? Or you don't want to eat sugar? You can still make a mixed berry jam. Here's how.
First, pick the naturally sweetest berries you can find from the market. Use fewer tart berries like blueberries and more sweeter berries like strawberries.
Forget everything you read about pectin and buy a box of natural pectin. These are available in most supermarkets. And also grab some fresh lemon juice.
- The formula is pretty simple and it belongs to my mom -Â For every one cup of fruit, you will need 1 tbsp pectin and 1 tbsp lemon juice.
- For example in this case - 3 cups berries + 3 tbsp pectin + 3 tbsp lemon juice.
Alternatively, you can add honey or agave syrup if you want a little more sweetness. I prefer to add these halfway through the process. - Bring it to a boil and slow cook just as we do below for our regular jam.
- Pour into sterilized jars and store away. You can even freeze it or store longer using the canning process.
Storage
- If canning, the canned jam will stay in a cool dry place in the pantry for up to a year or even longer.
- When not canned, the jam will stay at room temperature for a month or more in good weather.
- You can also keep the jam in the fridge for 3 to 6 months.
- Label the jar with the name and date so you know what is in and when you made it.
Frequently asked questions
What is pectin?
Pectin is an essential ingredient for jams, jellies, and preserves. Without pectin, our jams and jellies will not set. Pectin is naturally found in many fruit seeds and skins but can also be produced artificially.
Commercial pectin is usually made from the fruit rind. Using artificial pectin can reduce the jam cooking time and give you a high yield but it lacks that intense flavor produced through longer-slower cooking by the natural production of pectin in jam.
How can I thicken jam without pectin?
All fruits have pectin. Some fruits have more pectin than others, like berries, apples, and other fruits. Especially in a berry jam, you don't really need any more pectin.
Our grandmothers did not use any artificial pectin either. And yet, they've made us some amazing jams. Low-heat, slow cooking is the key to making a good jam because that's when the pectin is naturally released.
Why is my jam crystalized? How do you prevent crystallization? How do you fix crystallized jam?
An acid like lemon juice is necessary to keep the sugar from crystallizing which is why all jam recipes have lemon juice. To fix crystallization, simply heat the jam in a microwave or clean saucepan over medium heat. Add lemon juice and cook until the sugar has melted again. This should fix it.
Do I need a candy thermometer to make jam?
NO! you don't. But if you do have a candy thermometer on hand you can use it and take the guesswork out. I have always used the old-school jam testing method but trust me the thermometer makes life so much easier.
What can you do with homemade jam?
No matter what jam you make there is so much you can do with it other than just spread it on toast. I often use jam in my macarons for a quick fruit filling. My kids love to help me make shortbread cookies so they can stick their thumb in the center and add jam. Also, nothing beats fresh homemade fried donuts filled with a jam that just melts in the mouth. These classic Linzer cookies are made every year for gifts.
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Printable Recipe
Mixed Berry Jam No Pectin (Low Sugar)
Print Pin Rate Share by Email Share on FB Save Grow Difficulty: Medium
Diet : GF, NF, Eggless, Vegetarian
Calories: 123kcal
Adjust Servings Here: 4 jars
Description
Summer is the best time to make a mixed berry jam when blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries are in abundance. Low in sugar, and made without any pectin or artificial flavoring, this jam takes only 30 minutes to make. It is also commonly known as bumbleberry jam. A must-try jam if you love berries.
Video
Ingredients
Make 4 x 250 g jars
- 2 lb (1 kg) Mixed berries raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries
- 1 lb (500 g) Sugar
- 4 tbsp Lemon juice
Instructions
- Place two small ceramic plates in the freezer so we can use these to test the jam later. Alternatively, you can use a candy thermometer to check the doneness of the jam.
- Check the berries and remove any bad, discolored, or bruised ones. Give them a quick wash and drain in a colander. Chop large berries like strawberries to make them similar in size.Pro tip - Soft berries can be used but discolored and bruised ones will ruin the jam. Also, don't soak berries in water for too long as they do soak up moisture.
- In a heavy bottom pan, combine the berries, sugar, salt, and lemon juice.Pro tip - If you are using frozen berries, let the berries macerate in sugar and lemon juice for a few hours before cooking. This softens the berry skin considerably.
- Cook on medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Then, turn the heat up and let the mixture come to a boil. Let it boil for two minutes on medium-high. Pro tip - Boiling the jam is important as it releases pectin from the skin and seed in fruits.
- Then, turn the heat to medium-low. The jam should still be simmering but at a low simmer, not bubbling. Use a vegetable masher to mash the fruit – so you have a smoother jam-like consistency.Pro tip - Mashing the fruit is optional, as the fruit will break down into smaller chunks similar to preserve as it cooks. However, mashing will give smoother consistency like jam.
- Continue to simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes more stirring often so it does not stick to the bottom of the pan. The jam will continue to thicken as well as deepen in color as it cooks.Pro tip - The cooking time will depend on the quantity of the jam as well as the heat applied to it. It's ok to cook a little longer but there must be a simmer for the fruit to release pectin.
Testing the jam
- Remove one of the ceramic plates from the freezer. Place a teaspoon of jam on the cold plate. Pro tip - The cold plate will help cool the jam almost instantly and give you a good indication if the jam is ready.
- Set aside for 2 to 3 minutes. Then, test with your finger. Simply move/push the jam with your finger. If it wrinkles/crinkles it means the jam is ready. And if not, let the jam cook a couple of minutes more and test again.Pro tip - You may need to test the jam on a ceramic plate more than once or a couple of times depending on how early you start checking.
- Alternatively, you can use a candy thermometer - the jam should reach 105 C / 221 F.Pro tip - I find the thermometer to be the easiest and fool-proof method to check for doneness.
- Optional - Just when you are ready to take the jam off the heat add a teaspoon of butter and stir well. Butter helps dissolve foam that accumulates on top of the jam. Pro tip - You don't need more than 1 teaspoon of butter to help with the foam. It will also give you that glossy shine.
- Pour the jam into warm sterilized jars leaving ¼ inch space from the top. Use a clean sterilized knife or spatula to move the jam a bit – this will remove any air pockets.
- Place a piece of wax paper on the top before you place the lid on tightly. Clean the rim of the jar with a clean paper towel. Top the lid. Alternatively, use the lid with screw-on rings that come with the canning jars.
The canning process (if you plan to can the jam)
Sterilizing the jars
- Sterilize 4 x 8 oz (250 g) jars by washing them in hot soapy water or cleaning them in the dishwasher with a gentle cycle. Then, place them in the oven for 20 minutes at a low 284 F / 140 C.Pro tip- I find the dishwasher does a good job of cleaning and the oven dries any excess moisture in the bottles.
- Note - Leave them in the oven until you are ready to use them (you can turn the oven off). Don’t forget to wash and sterilize the bottle lids as well.
Canning
- Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot. Fill half the pot with water. Bring the water in the pot to a boil on high heat.
- Lower the jars over the rack leaving enough space between the jars.Pro tip - The level of water should be at least an inch above the top of the jars. So if necessary pour more boiling water.
- Bring the water to a boil again. Cover the pot and process/simmer for 15 minutes.
- Then, carefully remove the jars from the stockpot and place them on a kitchen towel to absorb any excess moisture. Cool completely. Pro tip - The hot jars are very delicate so make sure to use tongs when taking them out and place them on soft towels to prevent them from breaking.
- Press the top of the lid to ensure the seal is tight – the lid should not move at all. Store in a cool dry place.
Recipe Notes
- Shelf life - Homemade jams made with sugar and fresh fruit can have a long shelf life. If processed with the canning method, and stored properly in a cool dark place, a jam can last for up to 2 years. Once opened it can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 months
- Do you need lemon juice? Almost all jams use lemon juice. Lemon is a great way to cut down on that sweetness with a citrus edge. It also prevents the sugar from crystallizing. Most importantly the lemon helps prevent any growth of bacteria when canning the jam.
- How long do you cook jam? We often say low-heat slow cooking is what makes a good jam. This does not mean it takes a long time. Usually, a good 20 minutes is all it needs for about 1 kg / 2 lbs of fruit jam to reach a set point. You can start checking the jam after it has been cooking for 18 to 20 minutes.
- Jam no setting - Often the reason jam does not set though reduced to half is that it has not been boiled enough. The low-heat slow cooking is what makes jam reach its setting point. If cooked too fast the liquid is reduced but without going thru the natural process of setting. So, low-heat slow cooking is the key to a perfect jam.
- Over-cooked jam - It is possible to overcook jam. It is better to undercook rather than overcook a jam. Because undercooked can be cooked again, but once overcooked you have to add water to thin the jam. Note, once you add water you reduce the shelf life of the jam as well. Best to get it right the first time.
- Jam done test - getting the jam off the heat is critical and often we take it off too soon or too late resulting in a runny or too thick jam. So here is an old mom's method that works great to test any fruit jam.
- Place two ceramic plates in the freezer or fridge. These cool while the jam is cooking. When you are ready to test - bring the cold plate out. Put a spoonful of jam on the plate. The cold plate will instantly cool the jam giving you an indication of how much it has set. Simply put the jam on the plate from the corner towards the center. If it wrinkles it is set. Time to take the jam off the heat. If not, continue with a few more tests - every 3 to 5 minutes.Â
- If you do have a candy thermometer on hand you can use it and take the guesswork out. I used mine for instructional videos to show the process for those who would like to use a candy thermometer.Â
Storage
- If canning, the canned jam will stay in a cool dry place in the pantry for up to a year or even longer.
- When not canned, the jam will stay at room temperature for a month or more in good weather.
- You can also keep the jam in the fridge for 3 to 6 months.
- Label the jar with the name and date so you know what is in and when you made it.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 123- kcalCarbohydrates: 31- gProtein: 1- gFat: 1- gSaturated Fat: 1- gSodium: 1- mgPotassium: 79- mgFiber: 3- gSugar: 27- gVitamin A: 15- IUVitamin C: 14.3- mgCalcium: 13- mgIron: 0.4- mg
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
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LS
True bumbleberry also contains apples. For example a bumbleberry pie contains the mixed berries and apples.
Robert F Rutschman
Only comment is that the temp should be 321F.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Robert - jam sets at 220 F