Sugar Free Blackberry jam Recipe (and no pectin)

Get your spoon ready…

Or maybe 4. You won’t be able to stop eating this jam. Just ask Jax (age 4).

Once upon a time, on a cold winter’s night, a lady had just canned 6 pints of this awesome blackberry jam recipe to give out as Christmas gifts. And by lady- I mean me. I carefully set the jars on the counter, listening to the satisfying ping of the lids sealing, a sound that always filled me with pride. After cleaning up the sticky remnants of jam-making, I treated myself to some leftovers from dinner—extra crispy bbq leg quarters, which paired surprisingly well with a spoonful of the warm, tangy blackberry jam. It was one of those moments that felt simple yet absolutely perfect, the kind you wish you could bottle up just like that jam.

There I was- wrapping up each jar, tying the twine around them, and attaching my handmade tags. All the jars were lookin’ so perfect and crafty (which is a HUGE feat for this crafty-in-my-head-but-not-on-paper type lady).

One. Two. Three. Four. Four jars decorated- 2 to go. I picked up my 5th jar, 5th piece of twine, and 5th handmade tag. Done and done!

I was in the homestretch! I grabbed my 6th piece of twine, 6th handmade tag, and….

I frantically started looking around- left. right. left. right. My 6th and final jar of this amazing blackberry jam recipe was…well- gone.

Just gone.

I called out to Beau “Honey- do you have the last jar of jam?” He didn’t. He immediately came into the dining room to help me look- because we all know that missing a jar of this homemade blackberry jam recipe is nothing short of a huge crisis.

After a couple minutes of searching we found it. In the hands of a sweet-bright-eyed  little boy that was hiding behind mamma’s and daddy’s bed. No spoon. No utensils. Just the two amazing little hands that God gave him.

And those hands were doin’ some work. Those little hands had opened the sealed jar of jam and were now covered in the jam itself.

Covered.

He looked up and said “MMMMM… this is the best blackberry jam recipe, ever.”

We couldn’t argue with that…

…and the best part is this blackberry jam recipe contains no sugar or pectin.

How to Make Homemade Blackberry Jam 

Makes roughly 2 pints (see below for printable recipe)

You Will Need:

• 2lbs Blackberries (we use frozen if it is out of season-if frozen thaw first) {you can replace with strawberries, raspberries, etc)
• 1 Cup Raw Honey
• 1/2 of an Organic Apple- Unpeeled and Grated {we use gala apples- but any will work}
• 1.5 teaspoons of lemon juice

1. Start by adding your blackberries and grated apple into a stockpot.

2. Add honey and lemon juice to pot.

3. Bring to a light boil (this is usually a 3 on my electric stove).  Cook for 20 min to 1 hour or until soft (it’s usually about an hour for me). Stir occasionally and scrape down sides to prevent sticking. The berries will start to lightly pop.

4. Mash the berries with a potato masher- like a mad woman (or man)!

5. When it is finished, transfer the jam into mason jars and cover with lids. Can them OR you can just wait until they cool to room temperature and stick them in the fridge. They will keep up to 2 months in the fridge (unsealed). 

To can them: Leave 1/4 inch headspace at the top of each jar and process in a water bath canner for 10 min. Ensure the lids are secured tightly before placing the jars in the canner. Once processed, carefully remove the jars and let them cool on a towel, listening for the satisfying “pop” that indicates a proper seal. While waiting, why not take a moment to organize your cleaning supplies or try out a new homemade powdered laundry detergent recipe to keep your household running smoothly?

Kitchen Notes:* Cooking time will vary depending on weather, stove pot, and fruit used (start checking to see if it is done around 20 min or so)* An easy way to see if the jam has “set” (meaning it is done) is to put a small amount of jam on a cold plate (put one in the freezer when you start cooking) and see if it “sets”

Happy Cooking the Best Blackberry Jam Recipe Ever!