You will love this homemade strawberry jam recipe way better than any store-bought jelly recipe! Spread this strawberry jam on sandwiches, top it on shortcakes, cheesecake or spooned into yogurt bowls!
This is a sponsored post by Ball® Fresh Preserving. All opinions and words are written by me.
Making strawberry jam is simple to do, especially with these easy water bath cooking techniques that preserve summers delicious red berry for months!
If you have loads of fresh fruit on your hands, making fresh homemade jams and jellies is the best way to make them last. And canning and preserving produce turns them into great gifts to yourself and others that warms everyone’s heart!
Don’t you feel PRIDE holding a jar of homemade jam? It’s like a treat to know there is something good and homemade inside.
When the word “strawberry” comes to mind the thoughts of summertime, strawberry shortcakes, popsicles, red white and blue platters and events, strawberry pie, fresh berry mixtures, barbecues, Fourth of July, beach days, and all the juiciness summer has to offer comes to mind!
But what happens when the season ends? And you want to enjoy the summer fruits that are at their peak flavor and preserve them for the fall and winter months?
You start canning! I’m talking PROUDLY canning!
Canning, my friends is the way to go and simple to do with the right tools. Ramp up those culinary skills and start canning this homemade strawberry jam recipe to preserve seasonal strawberries!
Once you’re done, you can spread the jam over toast or use it in a recipe like this strawberry granola crumble, which makes a highly favorable dessert/snack/breakfast treat anytime of the year!
For this jam, I’m using the beautiful Ball® Aqua Vintage Jars, which Ball® Fresh Preserving recently released to celebrate the 135th anniversary of the Ball® Jar These Collector’s Edition jars feature a vintage design, color, and logo originally produced 1910-1923, and they’re available in three sizes (Quart, Pint, and Half Pint)!
Before we get started with the recipe, let me convince you about canning.
Ya’ll, canning is like eating a bag of potato chips… once you start it is hard to stop! Seriously, I used to think it was too hard and time consuming with tedious steps. I was afraid I would break the glass or that it would take too long or the lid won’t seal right.
Boy was that wrong!
What I love more than anything is to crank up some music in the kitchen on the Sonos speaker, get out the fresh strawberries and start jam’n 😊 while water bath canning!
It is like cheap therapy. You just kind of get into a happy vibe with a great appreciate and valuable love for the food you are about to enjoy. When canning, you make and prepare healthy food in a way that can be enjoyed for months out!
No fruit needs to ever be wasted again! And fresh homemade canned produce makes great gifts that everyone loves! Have you ever heard someone complain about a homemade gift?
Let’s just say when Christmas rolls around everyone is getting a jar filled with delicious homemade canning goodies in a beautiful aqua jar😊.
How adorable are these beautiful Aqua Vintage Jars from Ball®?! After canning or storing my homemade foods, I just love to use them to decorate my home with flowers. It adds stunning pops of color with a sensation so tranquil.
I’ll save that decorating time for later. For now, let’s make our homemade jam😊!
How to Make Homemade Strawberry Jam
This homemade strawberry jam recipe calls for only 4 ingredients.
Let’s keep those teeth in so you can make some dill pickles with me another time!
First rinse 3-lbs. of strawberries and remove the green stems. Crush them (can use a mashed potato masher) then add them to an 8-quart saucepan. Add the lemon juice and gradually stir in the pectin. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil that can not be stirred down, heating over high heat, and stirring constantly.
Next stir in the sugar and mix to dissolve. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and skim off any foam from the top.
Transfer to a glass jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator or use the Water Bath Canning method above (also in the printable recipe).
How to Can Strawberry Jam
Before making the jam, bring water to a simmer in your water canner. You can also use a large pot with a rack on the bottom that holds the jars in place as they heat in the water. It allows the jars to not touch the base of the pot directly or bump into other jars.
Heat your jars in the simmering water until ready to use. Do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set bands aside. Adding the jars to the heated water before the canning process helps the jars not to crack when the hot jam is poured inside them. Wash lids and bands in warm soapy water and set aside.
When the jam finishes cooking, use a jar lifter to grab one canning jar, place it on a towe or wooden cutting board, then ladle the hot jam into the hot jars leaving ¼ inch headspace ( using a headspace tool makes this easy!). Wipe the rim. Center lid on jar. Then, place the jar back into the simmering water and repeat until all jars have been filled.
Bring your water to a boil and process for 10 minutes (adjusting for altitude). After 10 minutes remove the lid of the canner or pot and let the jars remain in the water for 5 minutes. This helps them adjust to the outside air temperature. Remove the jars and place on a flat towel on the counter. The towel also helps the jars adjust to the air to prevent any cracking. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.
Now that you are all ready to proudly create homemade strawberry jam, click here to order your Aqua Vintage Ball® Mason Jars and also visit Ball® at www.BallHomeCanning.com for additional recipes and promotional offers (all of June you can get a free Ball® Real Fruit Classic Pectin when you buy a pack of Ball® Aqua Vintage Jars and upload your receipt)! Upload receipt here.
Grab some music and lets get to making and canning some homemade strawberry jam together!
Jar up the freshness of summer with Ball®’s Homemade Strawberry Jam. This timeless treat is delicious as a spread on a freshly baked biscuit, paired with peanut butter, or spooned into some yogurt! You can even spread some of your jam into a grilled cheese for a sweet surprise for the kids!
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Homemade Strawberry Jam Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 8 oz half pints jars
- 5 cups crushed strawberries (about 3 lbs.)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 6 tablespoons Ball® RealFruit™ Classic Pectin
- 6 cups granulated sugar (I use Xylitol, a natural sugar that is is known to strengthen teeth and is low glycemic)
- A Ball® Utensil Kit is helpful
Instructions
- Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set bands aside.
- Combine strawberries and lemon juice in a 6- or 8-quart saucepan. Gradually stir in pectin. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that can not be stirred down, over high heat, stirring constantly.
- Add entire measure of sugar, stirring to dissolve. Return mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
- Ladle hot jam into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip tight.
- Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.
- Vanilla Strawberry Jam:Add half a vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise, to the crushed strawberries. Cook as directed and remove vanilla bean before ladling jam into jars. The resulting jam will be enhanced with subtle yet distinct vanilla overtones.Strawberry Balsamic Jam:Reduce the lemon juice to 1 tbsp. and add 3 tbsp. good-quality balsamic vinegar. Balsamic vinegar accents the strawberry flavor and gives the jam a robust taste.Lemony Strawberry Jam:Add the grated zest of 1 large lemon to the crushed strawberries.Peppered Strawberry Jam:Stir 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper into the cooked jam just before ladling it into the jars. Pepper accents and compliments strawberries' sweet flavor. Be sure to use freshly ground pepper, which delivers a fresher-quality flavor.
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