Small Batch Mixed Berry Jam Recipes

SMALL BATCH MIXED BERRY JAM

Steps:

• Toss the berries and sugar together in a large, heavy-bottomed pot such as a Dutch Oven. Let sit for at least 15 minutes, periodically tossing to coat and to dissolve the sugar (this process helps coax the juices out of the fruit). Place a small plate in the refrigerator to chill (you'll use this later to test the consistency of the jam).
• Bring the fruit to a strong simmer over medium heat until the berries burst and the juices start to boil, about 15 minutes. 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 - 50 minutes. How much it breaks down will depend on the fruit's 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, tar-like 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 / lime / orange juice and continue to cook, stirring constantly until the jam returns to its previous consistency (before you added the juice), 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 other fruit, like raspberries. This means the jam will never be quite as thick or gelled, but it will still be delicious).
• Once jam has reached the right consistency, remove from the heat. Add jam to an 8-ounce canning jar, mason jar or two 4 ounce jars and store in the refrigerator.

MIXED BERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a large pan, combine berries with sugar.
• Crush berries with a potato masher.
• Add lemon juice and lemon rind.
• Bring to a boil, skimming off any foam that forms.
• Cook at a full boil until jam thickens, approximately 30 minutes (jelling point is 221F).
• While the berries are cooking, sterilize your jars and heat the seals in a pan of hot water.
• Pour jam into hot jars; wipe rims, place seals and screw on bands fingertip-tight.
• Process in a boiling water bath for five minutes; remove to a protected countertop and let cool, undisturbed for 24 hours.
• If any of the lids have not sealed, either re-process or store in the refrigerator and use those jars first.

EASIEST MIXED BERRY JAM

Steps:

• Chop the frozen fruit from each bag into pea-sized chunks (you can mash the thawed fruit with a potato masher if you prefer larger fruit chunks in your jam - I don't, I like jam that has a chunky texture, but spreads easily).
• In a large pot, combine fruit and sugar.
• Bring mixture quickly over high heat to the gelling point (it actually takes quite a while, in excess of ten minutes - and stir constantly, or fruit will stick to the bottom and burn).
• After fruit has reached the gelling point (thick enough to slide, as one 'flake', from a cold spoon), remove from heat.
• Ladle into sterilized jars, apply seals and rings, and process for 15 minutes, with whole jars submerged at least 1-2 inches under boiling water.
• That's it! Six bags, six cups. Chop, mix, boil to the gelling point, fill jars, process, DONE, all in less than an hour.
• NOTE: the Ball Blue Book calls for 9 cups of "berries" (i.e., blackberries, young berries, dew berries, etc.,) - six 12 oz. bags of mixed berries yields slightly less, but approximately that much.

MIXED BERRY JAM FROM FROZEN BERRIES - SMALL BATCH

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients in a large saucepan, and let stand for at least one hour as the fruit defrosts. This can be overnight.
• If using the wrinkle test for the setting point, place a couple of side plates in the freezer.
• Heat the mixture on a very low heat to allow the sugar to dissolve and the fruit to release its juice. Stir gently occasionally.
• Heat jam jars in a low oven to sterilize at 100°C/220°F/Gas Mark 1.
• Once all the sugar has dissolved, turn up the hob and heat the jam quickly to a rolling boil. After a couple of minutes, start testing the jam's set using your favourite method.

MIXED BERRY JAM

Steps:

• Add the fruit, vanilla & sugar into a saucepan. Scrunch up using your fingers to begin pulling the juice from the fruit.
• Place the saucepan onto a high heat and bring to a boil. Clean the froth off the liquid for a few minutes, then reduce the heat to simmer for 30mins.
• Decant into a dish and allow to cool down fully before using.

MIXED-BERRY JAM

Steps:

• Combine fruit, sugar, and lemon juice in large bowl. Let stand at room temperature 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Put 2 saucers in freezer.
• In bottom of heavy large stockpot at least 3 inches deeper than height of jars, place metal rack or extra screw bands from canning jars to protect jars from direct heat. Fill pot with water, cover, and bring water to boil. Reduce heat to low. Wash jars, lids, and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse well. Set screw bands on clean towel to dry. Place lids in small saucepan; cover with cold water and bring to simmer; turn off heat. Fill jars with very hot water.
• Transfer fruit mixture to large saucepan and bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Mash to thick puree with potato masher. Reduce heat to medium and boil gently until mixture begins to thicken, stirring often, about 18 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat to test jam for gelling point. Drop 1 teaspoonful jam on chilled saucer and return to freezer 1 minute. Remove saucer and push edge of jam with fingertip. If jam has properly gelled, surface will gently wrinkle. If not, return saucepan to heat and cook jam a few minutes longer; repeat test.
• Drain hot water from jars and shake out excess water. Place jars on cutting board. Ladle hot jam into each jar, leaving 3/4-inch space at top. Slide flat plastic spatula between jam and jar to eliminate air bubbles. Clean rim of each jar with damp cloth. Using tongs, lift hot lids from saucepan, 1 at a time, shake dry, and place atop jars. Seal each with screw band, twisting to close but not too tightly. Return filled jars to pot of hot water.
• Add water to pot, if necessary, to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Cover pot and bring to boil; reduce heat and boil gently 10 minutes. Turn off heat. Wait 5 minutes; use tongs to remove jars without tilting. Place upright on towel; cool completely at room temperature. Jam will thicken as it cools.
• Check lids for seal by pressing each lightly. Lids of sealed jars will be concave and show no movement when pressed.

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.