Description

Jumbleberry jam is a delightful homemade preserve combining a variety of summer berries with lemon juice and pectin-infused jam sugar. This easy-to-make recipe involves gently cooking berries and sugar to create a flavorful, thick jam perfect for spreading on toast or gifting. The natural sweetness of strawberries, blackberries, and currants melds beautifully, offering a vibrant and tangy jam that captures the essence of summer.

Ingredients

Scale

Jam Ingredients

1 kg strawberries, halved
500 g blackberries
500 g mixed currants
Juice of 2 lemons
2 x 1 kg packs jam sugar with pectin

Instructions

Sterilise Jars: Before starting the jam-making process, sterilise your jars thoroughly to ensure the jam will keep well. Place a plate in the freezer to chill for testing the jam’s set later.
Combine Ingredients: Place the mixed berries, lemon juice, and jam sugar into a large preserving pan. Gently heat the mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon until the sugar has fully dissolved and the fruits release their juices.
Boil the Jam: Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a rapid boil. Maintain a rolling boil for 5 minutes, ensuring you stir frequently to prevent burning.
Test for Setting: Remove the pan from heat. Drop a small amount of the hot jam onto the chilled plate from the freezer. Allow it to cool briefly, then push your finger through it; it should wrinkle and hold its shape like jam. If it has not set, return the pan to boil for another 2 minutes and repeat the test. Continue boiling and testing until the jam reaches the desired consistency.
Cool and Stir: Although the jam’s surface may appear to have sediment, stir it well as it cools to dissolve any residue.
Jar the Jam: Allow the jam to cool and settle for 10-15 minutes. Then, carefully ladle it into the sterilised jars and seal tightly.
Storage: Store unopened jars in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year. Once opened, keep the jam refrigerated and consume within a reasonable time for best quality.

Notes

Sterilising jars properly is essential to preserve the jam and prevent spoilage.
Using jam sugar with pectin helps the jam set without additional thickeners.
Testing the jam’s set with a chilled plate is a simple and effective method.
Store opened jam in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
Printable labels are available for personalising jars as gifts or keepsakes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Preserves
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: British

Keywords: Jumbleberry jam, summer berry jam, homemade jam, fruit preserves, berry preserves, jam recipe, stovetop jam