Quick Bramble Blackberry Jelly Recipes

SEEDLESS BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• The night before you make your jam, layer the blackberries and sugar together in a large bowl, then cover and set aside at room temperature.
• Place the berry mixture, lemon juice and thyme in a large saucepan and heat the contents slowly until the sugar has dissolved.
• Remove the thyme sprig, if you used it.
• Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Preferably, use a sugar thermometer. Your aim is for the mixture to reach 105°C/221°F, which is the setting temperature.
• Remove from the heat and let a small dollop cool off on the cold saucer. Push it with your finger. You want it to go wrinkly. If it doesn't, return the saucepan to the heat and boil for another 2 minutes before removing from the heat again and testing it. Repeat until you get the desired result.
• Once the jam is ready, leave to cool for 15 minutes.
• Sieve the jam and place in a sterilised jar. Store in a cool dry place and refrigerate once opened. Enjoy!

BLACKBERRY JELLY

Steps:

• Put two small, sterilised saucers in the freezer - you will use these to test the setting point of the jam. You can sterilise the saucers by washing them in hot soapy liquid, rinsing and placing in an oven at 180C/160C fan/gas 4 for 5 mins. Remove carefully and allow to cool.
• Wash and drain the fruit, cut the apple into 2-inch pieces and tip into a large, heavy-based saucepan with 200ml water and the lemon juice. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer with a lid on for 10-15 mins until the fruit is soft. Stir occasionally using the back of a wooden spoon to help break down the fruit.
• Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little. Place the fruit in a muslin lined sieve over a large mixing bowl and allow the juice to drip through. Discard the contents of your sieve, retaining your muslin to use another time.
• Weigh the remaining liquid and return to the saucepan. Weigh three quarters of sugar to your total liquid amount (for example, if you have 400g of liquid, add 300g of sugar). Add the sugar to the berry liquid and stir over a low medium heat until completely dissolved.
• Turn up the heat and bring the fruit to the boil, stirring occasionally, and allow to boil hard for about 8 mins. If using a thermometer, you're looking to reach 105C. If not, check the setting point of the liquid after 8 mins by removing a saucer from the freezer and adding a teaspoon of the berry liquid to the plate. Allow to sit for a minute. Push your finger through the liquid - if it starts to wrinkle the jelly is ready. If not, return to the boil and try again after another minute.
• Pour into sterilised jars and allow to cool completely. Store in a cool dark place.

BLACKBERRY JELLY

Steps:

• FOR JUICE: Lightly mash berries and cook in water on top of stove for about 20 mins over medium/med high heat.
• FOR JELLY: Strain berries through cheesecloth, wire mesh strainer or sieve. SAVE JUICE! Discard berries and seeds.
• Measure sugar exactly. (do not reduce or use sugar substitute) Set aside.
• Measure juice exactly. Place juice and pectin in a 6 to 8 quart sauce pot. Add butter now (if using) to reduce foaming.
• Bring mixture to FULL ROLLING BOIL (a boil that does not stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, STIRRING CONSTANTLY!
• Stir in all of sugar. Return to rolling boil and boil exactly one minute, Stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and skim off any foam.
• Quickly ladle into prepared jars, within 1/8 inch of top. Wipe jar rims and threads with damp cloth. Cover with two piece lids. Screw on tightly.
• Process in a hot water bath for 5 mins or use the inversion method.
• NOTE: All instructions are included with pectin.
• Save any left over juice for a second batch! Can add up to 1/2 cup of water to juice if needed to make exact measurement.
• Have fun and enjoy!

BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• The night before you make your jam, layer the blackberries and sugar together in a very large bowl, then cover and set aside at room temperature. This helps the sugar to start dissolving so you don't run the risk of over-cooking the fruit when you actually begin to make the jam. The next morning, give everything a quick stir, then set aside again until you are ready to start cooking.
• Before you start, put a small saucer in the freezer. Take a preserving pan or a large, wide-based pan (the wider and more open the pan, the faster the jam will be ready, so a preserving pan is really ideal) and tip the berries in, scraping out all the juices and any undissolved sugar. Stir in the lemon juice, then collect all the pips and secure them inside a tea-leaf strainer or piece of muslin before adding them to the pan (cooking the pips along with the fruit extracts the pectin they contain, helping your jam to set).
• Start the blackberries over a low heat until all the sugar is completely dissolved, then bring to the boil and simmer for 5 mins. Turn off the heat and spoon a little hot syrupy jam onto the chilled saucer. Once it's cool, push it with your finger. If it wrinkles a little, it's ready and has reached setting point. If it's too runny to wrinkle, return the pan to the heat and boil in 2 or 3-minute stages, removing the pan from the heat each time you do the saucer check, until the jam wrinkles.
• Skim off any excess scum, then stir in the knob of butter, if you want - this will help to dissolve any remaining scum. Leave the jam for 15 mins before ladling into sterilised jars - this allows the fruit to settle so it doesn't sink to the bottom. The jam will keep in a cool, dark place for at least 6 months. Refrigerate jars once opened.

APPLE & BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Put two small plates in the freezer ready to test the set of the jam. Put the apples in a heavy pan or preserving pan with the lemon juice and 250ml water. Bring up to the boil, then simmer for 5-8 mins until soft.
• Add the blackberries and sugar and stir to combine. Stir over a low heat until the sugar his dissolved, then turn the heat up to medium and simmer for 30-35 mins until the jam is at setting stage.
• To test the jam, take one of the plates out of the freezer and place a little bit of jam on it, if it sets and when you run your finger over it and it wrinkles, it means it's ready.
• Using a funnel, transfer the jam to a sterilised jar. Make sure you seal the lids once it's cold. Will keep in the fridge for six months in a sealed, sterilised jar.