When I was a kid, I remember my Mom and my Aunt making jams and preserves. As an adult, life got in the way and I always said I was too busy to make homemade jams. In the last 7 or 8 years, I have gotten into making a plethora of jams and preserves. You name it, every fruit imaginable. This Strawberry Jam is a family favorite!
Since I resumed making my own jams, I absolutely can not eat store bought! It is pure sugar! This Low Sugar Strawberry Jam literally tastes like a bit spring, anytime of the year! Just like biting into a fresh, juicy strawberry in June!
Making jam has a bad reputation, as far as the difficulty of the process. With a few specialized tools, Jam making can fun and easy. This set of canning tools is cheap and saves so much time and so many burns! Which, of course, is key!
The only other tool you need is a canning pot, which is cheap, as well.
One great trick that I have found is that you don’t have to make all of the jams in the summer when it is hot and humid!
Just freeze the fresh fruit as soon as you can after picking! Lay them out on a cookie sheet and freeze. Once they are frozen, you can pop them in a freezer bag and freeze. That way the fruit won’t all stick together and you can take out as much as you like, any time of year! I make a new batch of jam when we run out in the fall and winter, and then use up any frozen fruit that I have left in the freezer before the new batch of fruit the next year. That way we always have fresh jam, all year long!
This jam can easily be made with no sugar to make it diabetic friendly! Use a sugar substitute or simply use just fruit!
I hope you enjoyed the recipe for Low Sugar Strawberry Jam today! Give it a try! it’s not as hard as you think! Here is the first post I ever did on BCC which will show you the method (Excuse the pics, I was a newb!) Do you make your own jams and preserves? Let me know in the comments below! Thanks for stopping by and have fun cooking!
This Low Sugar Strawberry Jam tastes like biting into a fresh strawberry all year long.
- 2 cups strawberries, hulled and chopped into pieces
- 1/3 cup fruit juice or water
- 3 tsp bottled lemon juice
- 1.5 Tbsp Ball RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Pectin
- 0- 1/2 cup sugar, sugar substitute, honey
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Prepare waterbath canner. Wash jars ad lids thoroughly in hot, soapy water and rinse well. Add jars to to canner and cover with water 1 inch above the jars. Boil jars for 10 minutes. Let jars sit in hot water until ready to use.
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Pour boiling water over lids and let sit in hot water until ready for use.
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Combine the fruit, juice or water and lemon juice in a large saucepan. Gradually stir in pectin. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil (one that can't be stirred down.), stirring constantly.
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Add sugar, if using. Return mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam, if necessary.
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Ladle hot jam into hot jars. Cool to room temperature, if not canning. Then refrigerate immediately.
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If preserving, ladle hot jam into the hot jars, leaving 1/4" headspace. Wipe rims clean with paper towel.. Center lids on jars. Apply bands and adjust to fingertip tight.
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Place filled jars in canner ensuring jars are covered by over 1" water. Bring to a gentle, steady boil.
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Process jars for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off heat. Let jars rest in hot water for 5 minutes.
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Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down in the center, when pressed. Store jars in a cool place.
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Elaine
Man, oh, man this looks fabulous. I love strawberry jam! It’s so delicious. Can’t wait to make this! Another winning recipe!
Binky
Thank you, Elaine! You are so sweet!
Ellen
Looks super easy to make and sounds so delicious! I would love it on my English muffin.
Binky
Oh, great idea! I’ve been meaning to make English muffins! Better get on that!
Helene D'Souza
I love making jam but pectin free. Gorgeous, the red color of your jam, it pops out!
Binky
I have made several jams without pectin but they really are so much faster to make with the pectin! Thanks for your comment Helene!
Mary
I love strawberry jam! And I love the idea of a low sugar version!
Binky
This is so fresh and tastes just like biting into a strawberry! Thanks, Mary!
Jagruti
This jam would have a lots of health benefits especially for diabetics. Thanks for sharing a sugar free recipe!
Binky
My Mother in Law is diabetic, so I have to make her some! Thank you Jagruti!
Corina
I’ve never made my own jam before but I definitely agree that a lot of the jam you buy is just pure sugar! So much healthier to make your own.
Binky
So much tastier, too! Thanks, Corina!
Jenn
I love homemade jam. Especially made with fresh strawberries. Looks delicious!
Binky
Thanks you for your comment, Jenn! Have a great day!
Monica | Nourish & Fete
I LOVE the idea of making your own to cut down on the sugar – berries are just so perfectly sweet and delicious as-is, why mess with it, I say? 🙂
Binky
I absolutely agree! Thank you Monica!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
This is the time for strawberry jam — the berries are so sweet. They don’t need a lot of added sugar! This would be delish on my homemade sourdough!
Binky
Oh, lordy! I wish I had a piece of your sourdough! i have always wanted to make sourdough! Thanks, Lisa!
Karen Kelly
I have always been afraid to make jam but you make it look easy. I might have to dive in with all these fresh berries I’m swimming in. Thanks for the inspiration!
Binky
It really is super easy, Karen. You don’t have to boil the jars in a canner, if you refrigerate the jam. Make small batches and freeze the berries for use later in the year! Thanks, Karen!
Charla
When I was very young I recall making jam with my mom, definitely brings back memories…thanks!
Binky
Isn’t that fun, how food invokes so many memories! Thanks for your comment, Charla!
Laura
Love this jam and the photos. The blue plate is perfect for the strawberries jam. I will use your idea of freezing the fruit. We love scones in the winter and we are always short of strawberry jam.
Binky
Good, Laura! That is a great tip! It is so hard to get everything done in the summer, when everything is fresh and coming all at once! I hope it works for you too!
Andrea
I’ve never made jam, but you make it sound so easy. I l bet it’s so much better than store-bought. What a healthy alternative!
Binky
It is not even comparable to the stuff with the high fructose corn syrup! Hardly the same food! Thanks for your comment Andrea!
Ellie
Sounds and looks amazing! Tweeted <3
Binky
Thank you Ellie! I appreciate your comment and the tweet!
Jillian
Strawberry jam is the best!
Binky
That it is, although full disclosure, raspberry is my favorite! Soon! Thanks, Jillian!
Roxana
Great idea to use fruit juice to sweeten it up. So yummy.
Binky
If your fruit is ripe enough, you don’t even need it! Thanks for your comment, Roxana!
Sandy - Ginger and Scotch
I love the idea of low-sugar jam as well. And thanks for the links to the canning supplies – I’ve always wanted to preserve stuff but didn’t know how to get started.
Binky
Those are my favorite tools! I use them all of the time! Hope they are of help to you, as well! Thank you Sandy!
Patty
Mmmm! That jam looks so delicious and the color is awesome Beth, like eating fresh strawberries!
Binky
Exactly, Patty! So very tasty! I love it! Thank you so much for your comment my friend!
Tara
Looks delicious! I love the tip to freeze the fruit first. I definitely need to try making my own jam sometime.
Binky
Freezing the fruit is great because you have to make 10 batches in the summer when it’s sweltering hot. You can do it in the winter when you need some heat in the house! Thanks, Tara!
Caroline at Pinch Me, I'm Eating!
I’ve been wanting to try canning sometime but it is a bit intimidating! I’d love to make some homemade strawberry jam though! This looks delicious, and so fresh!
Binky
It’s not as difficult as you think, Caroline! Give it a try sometime! Thanks for your comment!
cookilicious
wow! Strawberry jam is my favorite! An d love the fact that its homemade! Thanks for this recipe.
Binky
Thanks, Priya! I love making my own jams!
Debbie
Hi my strawberry jam is not as thick as it should be. I used one pouch of liquid pectin. Will it thicken with time ?
Binky
No it will not. Liquid pectin is different from powdered pectin. You should always base your pectin amounts on the manufacturer’s instructions. The good news is you can use it as strawberry syrup on pancakes, waffles, ice cream. It’s awesome!