It’s berry season! Time to break out our favorite berry salads, desserts and of course jams and jellies. My family’s favorite jam happens to also be the easiest to make, Strawberry Freezer jam.
This recipe only boast 4 ingredients and is very easy to make. It is a kid friendly activity as they can help by mashing berries or mixing the ingredients. For an even more memorable jam session go out to a u-pick strawberry patch and let the kids pick the berries for the jam.
The ingredients are fairly simple, strawberries, water and sugar are fairly common. The pectin is what makes the magic in jam. Pectin is naturally found in berries and fruit, but you need a higher concentration of it to make the jam “gel”. Some store bought brands that have worked well for me are sure-jell and certo. I have always had better luck with the powder varieties rather than the liquid brands. Here is the recipe to get you started on the easiest, tastiest jam ever.
RECIPE
2 CUPS crushed fresh strawberries
4 CUPS sugar
1 package dry pectin (1.75oz)
¾ cup water
- Mix crushed strawberries with sugar, let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile in a small saucepan, stir the pectin into the water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 1 minute.
- Stir the boiling water/pectin mixture into the strawberries. Allow to stand for 3 minutes before pouring into clean jars/storage containers.
- Place lids on containers and leave for 24 hours. Place into freezer and keep frozen until ready to use.
If your jam is to thick you may have boiled it too long or used too much pectin
If you jam is too runny the pectin may not have boiled long enough or you had to little pectin. Don’t fret; runny jam makes perfect ice cream topping!
