Description
A vibrant and tangy jumble of summer berries transformed into a delightful homemade jam, perfect for spreading on toast or gifting with personalized labels. This recipe combines strawberries, blackberries, and mixed currants with lemon juice and pectin-rich jam sugar, cooked to a perfect set with simple stovetop boiling and cooling techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits
- 1 kg halved strawberries
- 500 g blackberries
- 500 g mixed currants
Other Ingredients
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 2 x 1 kg packs jam sugar with pectin
Instructions
- Sterilise jars and chill plate: Before starting, sterilise your jars by boiling or washing them in very hot water. Place a plate in the freezer to chill for setting tests during jam making.
- Combine ingredients: Put the mixed summer berries, lemon juice, and jam sugar into a preserving pan. Gently heat the mixture, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon until the sugar dissolves and the fruits release their juices.
- Boil to set: Bring the mixture to a rapid boil and maintain boiling for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and test the jam by dropping a small amount onto the chilled plate. Push your finger through it; if it wrinkles and sets like jam, it is ready. If not, boil for 2 more minutes and repeat the test. Continue until desired set is achieved.
- Cool and stir: Allow the jam to cool and settle for 10-15 minutes. Stir well to dissolve any sediment that may appear on the surface during cooling.
- Jar and seal: Ladle the cooled jam into sterilised jars and seal tightly. Store unopened jars in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year. Once opened, refrigerate to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Sterilising jars thoroughly prevents spoilage and extends jam shelf life.
- Using a chilled plate helps accurately test the jam’s set consistency.
- If sediment appears on the jam’s surface, stirring while cooling will help it disappear.
- Jam sugar contains pectin, which is essential for proper setting of the jam.
- Labels can be downloaded and printed to personalize jars for gifting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Preserves
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: Jumbleberry jam, homemade jam, summer berry jam, preserving berries, stovetop jam recipe, berry preserves, easy jam recipe
