Berry Preserves Recipes

BLUEBERRY PRESERVES

Steps:

• Rinse the blueberries in cold water without soaking them.
• Place blueberries in preserving pan with the sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer.
• Pour simmering mixture into a ceramic (or glass) bowl. Cover with parchment round and transfer to refrigerator. Refrigerate overnight.
• The next day, transfer mixture to a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring gently.
• Continue to cook over high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring and skimming as necessary.
• Check set (mixture should reach 221 degrees).
• Pour the jam into sterilized jars, filling to the fill line. Repeat process with remaining jars. Put lids and rings on jars and tighten; do not overtighten. At this point, jam may be kept refrigerated up to 1 month.

EASY SMALL-BATCH BLUEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Mix blueberries, sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a saucepan; cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until thickened, about 30 minutes.

STRAWBERRY PRESERVES

Steps:

• Put strawberries and lemon juice in a large saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, over low heat until juices are released, about 40 minutes. Stir in sugar.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture registers 210 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely; skim foam from surface with a spoon.

BERRY JAM

Steps:

• Toss berries and sugar together in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Let sit for at least 15 minutes and up to overnight, periodically tossing to coat and to dissolve the sugar. (This will help coax the juices out of the fruit.)
• Place a small plate in the refrigerator to chill. (You'll use this later.)
• Bring the fruit to a strong simmer over medium heat until the berries burst and the juices start to boil, about 15 minutes. If using a vanilla bean as an add-in, put it in the pot at this point.
• Increase the heat to medium-high. Cook the jam, at first stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon or spatula, then more frequently as the juices thicken. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated and the fruit has begun to break down, 40 to 50 minutes. How much it breaks down will depend on its type and ripeness: For example, strawberries are likely to retain more of their shape, while raspberries will break down almost entirely.
• As the jam cooks, the liquid will reduce, the sugars thicken and the natural pectins activate. You'll notice the liquid go from a rapid, rolling boil with smaller bubbles to a slow, thick, tarlike boil with larger bubbles: This is the stage at which it's most important to stir constantly along the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching and sticking. (Sugar is heavier than water and will concentrate there, increasing the chance that the fruit will burn.) It's also the stage at which splattering may occur, so take care in stirring.
• Once the jam reaches a slow, thick boil, add lemon juice and continue to cook, stirring constantly until the jam returns to its earlier consistency, about another 5 minutes. To test the consistency, spoon a bit of jam onto the chilled plate, return it to the refrigerator and chill for 2 minutes. Drag your finger through it: It should hold its shape on either side without appearing watery or runny. If it's not there yet, cook a few minutes more. (Note: Some fruit, like strawberries, contain more water and less natural pectin than say, a raspberry. This means the jam will never be quite as thick or gelled, but it will still be delicious).
• Remove from heat, and incorporate any of the add-ins listed (see notes). Pick out vanilla bean if you added it earlier. Divide jam between several 8-ounce canning jars, leaving 1/4-inch head space, and seal immediately. Can the jams (see our How to Make Jam guide for more instruction), or store in the refrigerator, using them within a couple of weeks.

BERRY PRESERVES

Steps:

• Combine berries and sugar; let stand until juices begin to flow, about 10 minutes.
• Bring slowly to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Add lemon juice, if using.
• Cook rapidly almost to gelling point.
• As mixture thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking.
• Remove from heat.
• Skim foam if necessary.
• Ladle hot preserves into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space.
• Adjust two-piece caps.
• Process 15 minutes in a boiling water canner.
• Yield: about 4 half pints.

WARM BERRY PRESERVES

Steps:

• Mix all frozen berries, jelly, and sugar in large nonstick skillet. Let stand until berries thaw and mixture is juicy, stirring occasionally and breaking strawberries into smaller pieces with spoon, about 2 hours.
• Boil until mixture thickens but is still chunky, stirring frequently, about 7 minutes. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over medium heat, stirring frequently.)

BLUEBERRY PRESERVES

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil; cook 15-18 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently., Remove from heat; skim off foam. Ladle hot mixture into three hot sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight., Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process 5 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

4-BERRY CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Put the cream cheese and preserves in a small bowl and mix until thoroughly combined.
• Lay out the tortillas and place a quarter of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each, spreading the mixture out so there is a 3/4-inch border around the edge. Fold in 2 of the opposite sides of each tortilla and roll to form a small burrito. Set aside.
• Combine the sugar and lime zest on a small plate.
• Heat 1 inch of the vegetable oil in a large skillet to 325 degrees F. Carefully fry the chimichangas until golden, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove from the oil and toss in the lime sugar.
• Serve immediately, topped with the berries and whipped cream. Accompany with some extra preserves on the side.

BLACKBERRY PRESERVES RECIPE

Steps:

• Rinse 7 clean freezer containers and lids with boiling water. Dry thoroughly.
• Cook blackberries and sugar in large saucepan on medium-low heat until sugar dissolves and blackberries release their juices, stirring occasionally while being careful to not crush the berries. Bring to boil on medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Boil 5 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
• Mix water and pectin in small saucepan. Bring to boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Continue boiling and stirring 1 min. Add to blackberry mixture; cook and stir 2 min. or until completely blended.
• Ladle berry mixture immediately into prepared containers, filling to within 1/2 inch of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours or until completely set. (To ensure berries are evenly distributed evenly throughout the preserves, gently turn the containers over every 15 min. for the first hour or until mixture thickens enough to keep the berries in suspension.) Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 1 year. (If frozen, thaw in refrigerator before using.)

STRAWBERRY PRESERVES I

Steps:

• In a stockpot, combine the strawberries, sugar, vinegar and salt. Bring to a rolling boil, and cook stirring frequently for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the temperature of the mixture has reached 220 degrees F (105 degrees C).
• Transfer the mixture to hot sterile jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace, and seal. Process jars for 10 minutes in a water bath. Refrigerate jam once the seal is broken.

BLUEBERRY PRESERVES

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large stainless pot.
• Cook to the jell point or until desired thickness is reached.
• Stir frequently.
• Ladle into clean hot jars leaving 1/4 inch head space.
• Process for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath at altitudes up to 1000 feet.

DOUBLE-BERRY PRESERVES

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in heavy large skillet. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil until preserves are very thick, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Spoon into small bowl. Cover and refrigerate. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Keep refrigerated.)