Raspberry Jam – Low Sugar Version

DON’T POST UNTIL END OCTOBER! My favorite jam, as a child and now, is raspberry jam! This is a low sugar alternative to the brands with high fructose corn syrup, that you buy in the grocery store.

Honestly, is there ANYTHING better on the entire planet than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with homemade raspberry jam? I think not! Seriously,…. I think not. 🙂

This raspberry jam has such a fresh flavor. It’s just like biting into a raspberry in the summer.

Canning gets a bad rap. It is so much easier than people are led to believe and the rewards are innumerable! Namely, homemade preserves all winter long!!

Can You Make Jam with Fresh and/ or Frozen Fruit?

Yes. Raspberry jam can be made with fresh or frozen berries.

What to do with raspberries, after picking

Raspberries are one of the fruits that have an extremely short shelf life, when fresh. In fact, they probably have the shortest shelf life of any! If you are not making jam the day after the raspberries are picked, it is advisable to freeze them. Even if there is only a few days between picking and canning.

Freezing raspberries to extend shelf life

1. Rinse raspberries in a colander and then allow to drain, for a few minutes.
2. Place freezer paper, parchment, or waxed paper on a cookie sheet that has sides. Sprinkle raspberries on paper, separating them, so that they are not crowded. Freeze for a few hours, or overnight.

Remove from cookie sheets to freezer bags, and proceed with making jam when it’s convenient!

It is helpful to measure and label how many cups of berries you place in each bag, so that you have the proper amount for your batch of jam.

Don’t miss our complete step by step guide to canning.

What you need

• raspberries – fresh or frozen raspberries both work fine for this recipe
• water or fruit juice – use mild juice like apple or white grape
• sugar
• low sugar pectin

Preparing to make jam

Wash jars

If you have a dishwasher, that is the easiest way to clean jars. If not, wash in hot, soapy water and rinse well, with very hot water.

UPDATE; According to new recommendations, jars do not need to be sterilized if processing time is ten minutes or longer. Jars should still be hot before adding the hot jam.

I just add clean jars to the canning pot when bringing the water up to temperature before processing. This can take up to 45 minutes so start heating the water in your pot first!

How to sterilize jars for canning

Sterilizing jars in the dishwasher

Some sites, like Spruce Eats, suggest the dishwasher is enough to sterilize the jars. The jars must still be very hot from the dishwasher’s drying process when filled. I also feel that it solely depends on your hot water heaters’ settings and if you have a dishwasher with a temperature booster. Some places have hot water heaters turned down, especially those homes with small children. It is worth the extra effort, to keep your family safe, and use an alternate sterilization technique!

Sterilizing jars in water bath canning pot

If you have the canning pot out anyway, that is the easiest way to sterilize the jars. Take jars directly from the dishwasher, or hand washed, to a water bath canning pot. Fill pot to 1-2 inches above the top of jars. If you use hot water to fill the pot, it will take less time to come to a boil.

New canning pots are available from local and online retailers. (Link below) Used canning pots are readily available at garage sales and on Craigslist for peanuts.

Bring the canning pot to a boil on your biggest burner and boil jars for about 10-15 minutes to sterilize.

Sterilizing jars in microwave

Jars can be sterilzed in the microwave, as well. After washing and rinsing jar, (leave the jar wet), place in microwave on high power for 1 minute. Fill immediatelly, before jar has a chance to cool.

**IMPORTANT!!** DO NOT use the microwave method for sterilizing jars with any metal on them, or with metal lids or bands screwed on to jar!

Sterilizing jars in the oven

Jars can be sterilized in the oven for 20 minutes at 275°F. I have personally only used this method once. If you are doing small batches, why heat the house up with the oven? You already have to have the canning pot going. It makes no sense to me.

How to prepare jars and lids

1. Add lids to small bowl or pot. Pour boiling over lids. Allow to sit in hot water, until ready to use.
2. Place jars in water bath canning pot, cover with water. Start the water to get it hot for processing.

How to make raspberry jam

If not using frozen raspberries, sort and rinse raspberries in a colander.

1. Place raspberries and water in large pot.
2. Mash with potato masher. If you want seedless jam, squeeze juice through sieve or cheesecloth. You can also use a commercial juicer or an attachment for your Kitchenaid.
3. Measure sugar and pectin and put in bowl. Mix well. (This steps helps keep the pectin from clumping.) I make low sugar jams, if you choose to make low sugar, use low sugar pectin!
4. Measure additional sugar.
5. Bring raspberries to a full rolling boil, one that can’t be stirred down. Add pectin/ sugar mixture.
6. Bring that mixture to a full rolling boil, then add the rest of the sugar, all at once.
7. Don’t worry if it foams up. If there is foam left, you can skim it off but most of the time, the foam disappears after the cooking process is complete. You can add 1 Tbsp. butter or margarine to deter the mixture from foaming but read on to avoid the extra fat and calories. Bring back to boil. Boil for one full minute. Turn off heat and keep stirring for a minute, or so. (This will stir the foam down.)
8. Pour jam into hot jars, leaving 1/2″ headspace, using a jar funnel, if you have one.
9. Wipe edges with a damp paper towel to remove any residue.
10. Place lids on jars. Tighten band to fingertip tight.

Place the jars in a water bath canning pot and process (low boil) for 10 minutes. Increase processing time if you are over 1000 feet elevation. Turn off heat and let the jars sit in the hot water for another 5 minutes.

Remove jars to counter. You will hear the jars pop. This means they are sealed. Let them sit for 24 hours without disturbing to ensure the jam jells. After 24 hours check for seal. (Lid does not flex up and down when center is pressed.) If lid flexes the jam should be stored in the refrigerator.

For more information on canning practices, see our Canning Made Easy article. Step by step photos and lots of additional information.

Homemade jams should be stored in a cool dark place, like a basement. They last for approximately one year, before they are opened.

Once opened, store in refrigerator. Jams are best if used within a couple months, after opening. Mine never have lasted that long, so it’s hard to give an exact time.

How to use this raspberry jam

Serve jam on toast, French toast, pancakes, English muffins, and the like. Jams are also great for a topping for ice cream, yogurt and pudding.

Other delicious homemade jams

• Blueberry Jam
• Strawberry Jam
• Peach Jam
• Plum Jam
• Rhubarb Jam
• Blackberry Jam

Love Gardening? If you love growing your own produce, these posts are packed full of information about how to get that big harvest by the end of the season! Don’t miss How to Start a Garden Series! The first part is Planning Your Garden!

Second is Preparing the Garden Site.

The third is Choosing Plants and Planting Your Garden.

The fourth is Garden Maintenance, and the last is Harvesting a Garden and Preserving the Harvest, this post has over 100 FREE recipes for preserving your harvest!

Tools I use

Contains affiliate links, for full disclosure, see FTC Disclosure, here.

• Canning Pot
• canning tools
• low sugar pectin
• jelly jars

This Low Sugar Raspberry Jam is easy and delicious. Make your own today!

Connect with us through our social media pages! Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter.

If you have any questions or comments, please ask in comment section below. We’d love to hear from you!

I hope you enjoyed the recipe today!

Enjoy. And have fun cooking!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you click the link and purchase something. See FTC Disclosure, here.

Originally Published 8/1/2016