raspberry jam {tutorial + printable labels}
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:
{click on the image to download the pdf}
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!
Sarah
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.
Jess
You are SO generous to share all of this! I am loving all the tutorials. Thanks so much!! your blog is my favorite!
cailan
It is certain that the best part of canning is having adorable little jars in the end – these are ever so cute.
Kim
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.
Julie @ jam-n-jilly
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!
Kim
Sweet!!! :0)
Thanks so much for the printables – they really turn a finished product in to a lovely gift!
KC
yummy. lets do breakfast … i’ll make crepes, you bring the jam and whipped cream!
Kathleen
Sounds delicious, can’t wait to try making some. Thanks for the labels too!
Kirsty
Just made strawberry jam last week, so fantastic, gonna do raspberry in the coming weeks. Thanks for the free labels, what a treat!
Liz
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!
~AnneGirl~
Freezer jam also tastes 100 times better than the canned kind. (At least in my humble opinion!)
Freezer jam tastes so FRESH.
Cute labels!
jeni
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
gboll
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.
Diane @ Longaberger Lifestyle
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.
Julie
Hi Emily, How did you affix the label to the jars? Thanks.
emily
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}.
Bri
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.
Shona
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!
kayce hughes
Beautiful! I grew up in a house that made all of our own jam but I haven’t tried it myself.
Abbie(Five days...5 ways)
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!
Nicole
Those jars look so stinkin’ cute! I think I would have a hard time opening them
Shelley
The presentation is totally my favorite part of this! Such a perfect gift during the summer months
Dina
Perfect timing, since, as luck would have it, raspberries are on sale this week at my grocer!
Courtney
Hi, I was wondering how many jars this recipe makes.
Love Love Love your website. You have such good taste!
mary beth
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!!!
Julie
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!!
Amoreena
How darling! What great gifts this would make! What font did you use for the words “Raspberry Jam”? I really like it.
emily
Oooh, it is a new one I just bought called LiebeErika.
Amoreena
Thanks!
Karie Murray
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!
KellyB
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
kelly
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!!
emily
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.
Liz Cheek
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?
Dolly
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.
emily
much better idea!
Allison
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.
charis
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
Jenny
These look so yummy! Thanks for the detailed tutorial!
mandy
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)!
April
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.
Monika
The jam looks so delicious and I LOVE the labels, thank you for sharing……….
erin
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!!
amy ricklefs
Yummy!!!
Tiffany
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!
{darlene}
beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!! and yum.
Tia
Love the printables! Have you considered making a printable label for peach freezer jam?
Lori Ann
Thank you for the adorable printables!!! Can’t wait to make some jam and use them!
Sue Christianson
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!
Shannon
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!!
Kristiana
Mmmm…. sounds sooo yummy! I really want to try this. Thanks for the printables, very nice!
Many Blessings!
~Kristiana
Deana- soles of a mom {dot} com
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!
Sarah
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.
Claudia
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.
Rebecca @This Nest is Best
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/