I’ve been wanting to make homemade jam for a few years, but was intimidated by the intense process of preparing the jars, boiling the liquid, timing everything just right.
But last weekend my Aunt Laura eased my fears and clued me in to the quick and easy way to make berry jam : freezer jam. Since raspberries are perfectly in season, I decided to give it a try. If you have never made jam before, let me encourage you : it is super easy.
Here’s what you’ll need:
:: 6 cups of fresh raspberries {about 5 6oz baskets}
:: 5 1/4 cups sugar
:: 3/4 cup water
:: 1 box of Sure Jell Fruit Pectin
::8 half pint mason jars
The actual recipe I used is right here, but I’ll walk you though the steps below.
STEP ONE: rinse jars in boiling water and dry thoroughly
STEP TWO: measure 6 cups of ripe raspberries and mash
STEP THREE: strain seeds
I didn’t have much patience for the straining process, so I gave up after a few sieve-fulls, but you can remove as many seeds as you wish.
STEP FOUR: add sugar to berries
It is a lot of sugar, but from what I read, the sugar acts as a preservative for the berries so you can’t skimp. If you’d like a sugar free version, Sure Jell sells a no-sugar-needed pectin.
While the sugar is dissolving in the berries :
STEP FIVE: add the fruit pectin to water and bring to a boil
Stir constantly and allow to boil for one minute.
STEP SIX: Add pectin to berry mixture and stir for three minutes
STEP SEVEN: pour jam into prepared jars and seal tightly
Allow the jam to sit out for 24 hours, then it is ready to eat. You can store an opened container in the refrigerator for up to three weeks and in the freezer for one year.
I had a fun time decorating my jars of jam using scraps of fabric, bakers twine {from here}, flax colored yarn, houndstooth & dotted papers from my printable paper collection, and a faux raspberry from the craft store.
What special gifts these will make {maybe with some fisher scone mix? Yum}.
I created two different labels that you are welcome to download and print:
And just in case you are making strawberry jam, here are labels for that:
Just to show you behind the scenes while I’m doing craft projects, here is what my office looked like while I was embellishing my jam jars. What a mess!
Hi There! LOVE your labels! I was wondering if you would be able to send me some that say Cherry Jelly? I am using the strawberry and raspberry labels, and would love to have them all match. Thank you!
Pingback: Mason Jar Labels: 100+ Free Printable Files to Download
Hi there! Love your labels, but can’t download them for some reason…any suggestions? I made strawberry-rhubarb jam most recently…(I’ll have to write ‘rhubarb’ in!)
Thanks!
Julie
What a lovely blog!
thank you!
Okay, so I have a question for you. My girls picked raspberries, but mashed them up as they were picking them. Do you know how many cups the mashed raspberries end up making?
I bet you could just estimate depending on how smashed the raspberries are. I’m sure it’s not a perfect science :)
what font did you use for the labels?? I love your labels!!!
question: did the glass jars do ok in the freezer? I just made raspberry freezer jam for the first time and my MIL and another friend said to you plastic. The jars are SO much cuter. Thanks for any feedback!! :)
ps love your site <3 just moved to WA from so Cali and love having something fun to read, do during the transition.
The jars did just fine! They were only in there a short time as we ate through it quickly, but they made it!
I make seedless berry jams all the time, and also hated the de-seeding process, until I got smart and placed all my fresh berries in the blender and whizzed them, then poured the berry juice thru a wire sieve. The juice went right through but the seeds all stayed in the sieve! Just look at the seeds your berries contain and gauge your sieve size accordingly. For blackberries, i can use a pretty good sized mesh as the seeds are so big usually. Try it next time and see what you think. This trick allowed me to take the fancy and expensive food mill I bought for the task back to the store!
Hello, I was looking at this recipe for later use, and on the first picture, you have a jar of the raspberry jam with some string, a raspberry embellishment, and a label. I was wondering where you found this gorgeous raspberry embellishment that you put on the outside of that jar. Thank you!
I bought it years ago at a craft store. They always have a section near the floral/ribbon with these floral picks – I grab a few for gift toppers or other embellishments.
Can you tell me where to get the flag label at? It’s the long skinny one with the little raspberry on it? I’m actually doing strawberry jam as party favors for a bridal shower. Thanks sheri
I there!!! You’ve made lovely labels, don’t you have them for customization?
Have a lovely day :)
I want to make these as a thank you gift for my friends. What kind of paper do you print it on? Just regular paper? And how do you get it to stick on the jar? Glue?
You can print on cardstock and attach with glue or sticky dots. Or full sheet sticker paper is great because then you can stick it directly on the jar.
Oops! Just realized you’re making freezer jam, so you don’t need to worry about popping! Sorry about that! If you ever do try making that kind, though, it’s not much more work than this, and the popping noise is adorable! :)
So glad you’re spreading the love of canning! I got into it a couple years ago and fell madly in love! To make sure your jam is safe, listen for the “pop” noise as they seal. If the jam is hot enough, they should do it on their own. Any that don’t pop just need to be stored in the fridge and eaten in a couple weeks. That shouldn’t be too taxing, considering how gorgeous and yummy your jam looks! :)
Thanks for the labels. They are darling! Can you tell me what font you used for the “Homemade” part on the circle labels? I’ve been searching for a font or stamp like that for months for a scrapbook page I’m doing. It’s driving me crazy!
These are beautiful! Can’t wait for raspberry season!
FYI: The raspberry jam circle label page is missing. Just thought I would let you know. Love your labels. I made jams for Christmas last year and they were a BIG hit. Thanks for the creative labels.
S. Caulder
I LOVE your round labels….they are too cute!! Just made my first batch of strawberry cranberry jam and would love to use your labels. Is is possible to customize the download that you posted?
You are very creative….thank you!
Love this! I’ve been looking for an idea for jam/labels for my Mom’s bridal shower next April. I’m having a tea party and wanted to give out homemade jam as favors. This is perfect! Thank you!
I love your labels! I have some blackberry jam that I wish to give as Christmas gifts. Is there any way of downloading some Blackberry Jam labels?
This is such an easy recipe! And the step-by-step instructions are great. My girls and I tried it this morning. What a great time we had. Thank you very much for posting this tutorial. It is almost as good as having you with me in the kitchen.
Blackberry jam is delicious too!!
Thanks for the printables! I included your cute mason jars on my round up today!
http://thisnestisbest.com/2011/07/13/for-the-love-of-mason-jars/
Like you, I’ve never attempted making jam because it seemed too complicated. But this recipe sounds easy, and what great Christmas gifts homemade raspberry jam would make!! I think I’ll give it a try. If all turns out well, I’ll have to post the results on my blog and give you credit for getting me over the “fear” of making jam. Thanks for the inspiration, the recipe and the adorable packaging ideas.
My mom and aunts get together every year and make blackberry jam. It is AMAZING. Someday, when we actually have bushes of something, I’d like to make my own. :)
I like to think I’m a decent cook. But have also intimated to try making jam. But I’m feeling more optimisic now! But what I loved most about this post is all of your craft stuff strewn about on the floor. I feel better now about my messy craft room floor!
Mmmm…. sounds sooo yummy! I really want to try this. Thanks for the printables, very nice!
Many Blessings!
~Kristiana
Thanks for this! I’ve always been scared of the canning process too. I’m also so relieved that my workspace isn’t the only one that looks this way!!
Emily! I love that you let us use the labels! That is the first thing I noticed. I too gave up on making jam, but think I need to give it another try. It was great to see you guys last weekend!
Thank you for the adorable printables!!! Can’t wait to make some jam and use them!
Love the printables! Have you considered making a printable label for peach freezer jam?
beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!! and yum.
I’ve been making freezer jam for years and it’s so easy! I used Pomona Pectin this year which has no perservatives and allows you to use far less sugar. I picked 30 lbs of berries and made jam and it came out great. Thanks for the cute labels!
Yummy!!!
I love making freezer jam, such a great idea to post the tutorial! I make blueberry freezer jam every summer and have posted the recipe on my blog in the past. Raspberry is my favorite, but it’s an expensive jam to make! My parents grow their own raspberries because they eat through a jar of raspberry jam a week and it has to last all year long :) Thanks for the gorgeous labels!!
The jam looks so delicious and I LOVE the labels, thank you for sharing……….
Loved seeing your studio floor, mine looks much the same – and far too often lately. I’m heading home to clean it up so I can make a new mess. Love raspberry freezer jam.
hi emily, real simple magazine has a “secretly simple blueberry jam” recipe this month on page 183 that is made without canning equipment or pectin… i havent tried it yet but it may be worth checking out too… (of course their jars do not have your fabulous labels)!
These look so yummy! Thanks for the detailed tutorial!
that looks so yummy! i have wanted to try making jam too and haven’t yet. that amount of sugar is a lot!! great labels and covers – so cute.
my recent post: when life takes us by surprise
Thanks for the cute labels! I LOVE freezer jam, just made strawberry last week. I agree with Bri above, Pomona’s Universal Pectin is awesome. You can use WAY LESS sugar and any type, honey etc. You usually have to buy it at a health food, natural food store rather than a regular grocery store though.
Ah! So cute!! Thanks for the labels! I go to my Grandmas and pick her berries and make her recipe. Its almost exactly like this one. She always used a food mill to get out the extra seeds. Much easier than pressing them through a sieve.
much better idea!
Yay! So glad you love making jam! Next year you should do strawberry too, love the wrapping! This is off the subject of the jam, but what do you do with your limes you use to decorate with in your hurricane globe? I see them in your last picture here?
love this tutorial! You said that an opened jar can be kept inthe freezer for up to a year. Do you know how long they will keep unopened at room temperature. I’d love to make some delicious summer berries into jams and give them as gifts for Christmas but not sure if homemade jam will keep that long?? Love the labels too!!
These ones won’t stay at room temperature because the jars are not fully sealed. Just make sure when you give them as a gift that you specify that they need to go in the freezer until ready to use.
Hi Emily! Thank you for the labels :) I have made freezer jam for years, but have never had cute labels to go with…… You’re the BEST!! I’m so glad you tried the raspberry, I think you’ll love it. If you’re up for it you should also try blackberry too with our fresh WA blackberries in August. Delicious!! Strawberry, Raspberry & Blackberry are our staples. xo, kelly
Thank-you! I have loads of raspberries from our little briar patch at home! -can’t wait to make some and adorn the jars with the adorable little labels!
How darling! What great gifts this would make! What font did you use for the words “Raspberry Jam”? I really like it.
Oooh, it is a new one I just bought called LiebeErika.
Thanks!
so cute!! I keep passing the berry stands and telling myself that I need to do it this year despite the crazy mess I always make. thanks for the labels…more motivation to get myself a new printer that works!! :)
I tried to make strawberry jam last summer and failed miserably. I am dying to succeed this year so thanks for the detailed instructions! :-) These would make perfect gifts!!!
Hi, I was wondering how many jars this recipe makes. :) Love Love Love your website. You have such good taste!
Perfect timing, since, as luck would have it, raspberries are on sale this week at my grocer!
The presentation is totally my favorite part of this! Such a perfect gift during the summer months :D
Those jars look so stinkin’ cute! I think I would have a hard time opening them :)
These look super-cute, and super-yummy. And I’m a little disappointed by your “mess,” I must admit. It’s even color-coordinated. ; ) My kitchen looks like a tornado came through every time I do a tutorial!
Beautiful! I grew up in a house that made all of our own jam but I haven’t tried it myself.
I’m happy to see that I’m not the only messy crafter! The jars turned out beautiful….thank you so much for sharing the recipe, the process and the labels!
Congrats on making your first jam!! When you try it again (and you probably will, it’s addicting) try a batch with Pomona Pectin. A super canner friend of mine introduced me to it a couple years ago and I will never go back to regular pectin. This stuff is amazing. You can use apple juice, stevia, agave, etc to sweeten the jam. Plus, you only need a cup or so for an entire batch. Much better than sugar that can be more easily measured by the pound! Enjoy that jam and thanks for the printables, they’re lovely.
Hi Emily, How did you affix the label to the jars? Thanks.
I printed the long labels on full sheet sticker paper {you can get it at any office supply store}. You could also use double sided tape or glue dots {which I used to affix the patterned paper}.
Lovely! What a wonderful accomplishment. And your labels are just the pizzazz needed for THE most special gift!! BTW…the red and white polka dot band with the round label are my favorite. Thanks sharing your labels….you are sooooo kind.
Oh thank you so so much!!!! I made strawberry freezer jam a few weeks ago and I LOVE these labels!! I don’t think I have commented before but I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog! Thanks again. :)
oh my. not only is it a lovely tutorial that I PIN’d on my DIY Board but it even has the labels to print. You are FABULOUS! thank you! xo
Freezer jam also tastes 100 times better than the canned kind. (At least in my humble opinion!) :) Freezer jam tastes so FRESH.
Cute labels!
Thank you so much for showing the craft mess! I always think I am not very good at crafts when I survey my own chaos in the midst of a project! I love the jars, and I LOVE knowing that I am in good company!
Just made strawberry jam last week, so fantastic, gonna do raspberry in the coming weeks. Thanks for the free labels, what a treat!
Sounds delicious, can’t wait to try making some. Thanks for the labels too!
yummy. lets do breakfast … i’ll make crepes, you bring the jam and whipped cream!
Sweet!!! :0)
Thanks so much for the printables – they really turn a finished product in to a lovely gift!
Wow! I think I could do this! With all that sugar I am sure it taste yummy! They are packaged so cute, who cares what it taste like! Hehe! Thanks for sharing!
Stop by for a visit, I just posted some yummy smores on stick!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I too have been wanting to make jam, but hadn’t looked into it enough to know it’s that easy! I will be making some this week!! And I love how you decorated your jars.
It is certain that the best part of canning is having adorable little jars in the end – these are ever so cute.
You are SO generous to share all of this! I am loving all the tutorials. Thanks so much!! your blog is my favorite!
Those have got to be the cutest jam jars I’ve ever seen! I’m sure they taste great too!
Thanks for sharing your crafting mess. Somehow, I always envision everyone else having zero mess when they make things. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one. :)