Low Sugar Blackberry Jam

This recipe for Low Sugar Blackberry Jam is easy and delicious. It tastes of fresh sun-ripened fruit and late summer days.
Jam making was not on my list of to-do’s last week but it definitely got the number one spot in my bullet journal when one of my dearest friends (Jeri) called and asked if I’d like some blackberries from her bushes.

The bushes were amazing. They lined the fence in her side-yard and were loaded with beautiful, ripe, black fruit. My friend assured me they were thornless bushes. I was in heaven. The last time I’d picked blackberries I was in Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona, Arizona.

That day I’d shredded my shirt sleeves on thorns in 105 degree weather to gather blackberries — I swore never again!) The idea of blackberry bushes without thorns seemed almost magical.

After I’d gathered a little over 3 pounds of berries, we wandered up to the house for lunch. I pondered aloud the idea of making black berry jam and my friend smiled widely.

“I have the easiest berry jam recipe I was given at a cooking class in France earlier this summer. Here, I’ll text it to you.” She tapped it out on her phone as sent it:

The French Style Jam-making Process:

I couldn’t believe how easy this Low Sugar Blackberry Jam Recipe looked. I knew how I’d be spending my afternoon the next day. This jam recipe had a step I’d never seen before, but now I swear by it.

You allow the mashed berries to sit in the sugar in the fridge for at least 12 hours. This step allows the sugar to truly dissolve and for the mashed berry mixture to combine and mellow a bit before preserving. A little patience is needed, but then – perfection.

Aside from using a lot less sugar and allowing to marinate for 12 hours the other thing that is different is that you absolutely don’t add any more sugar when you add the pectin when you are about to cook the jam.  Some pectin packet instructions suggest that you stir sugar into the pectin before you add it to the berries.  Don’t do it.  It can make the jam gritty and it may not ‘gel up’ nicely.

See how the berry mixture in the picture above has beautifully liquefied overnight?

So the next day I prepped my bottles and seals per the ‘Ball jar’ site’s instructions.  (They have a great ‘canning 101 section’ if you’ve never tried home canning.) One important note is that you shouldn’t boil the new sealing lids. (It can ruin them.) Just get them clean and warm.

Isn’t the color amazing?  I really want a dress or scarf or shoes this color!!!

After stirring in the pectin and boiling for 5 minutes, I carefully ladled the hot mixture into clean, warm jam jars, made certain there was no spilled jam on the jar-rims and topped them off with the seals and finger-tightened screw-on lids.

Steam Canner 

As you can see, I use an amazingly easy and efficient steam canner for canning.  I highly recommend the ‘Back to Basics’ brand steam canner.  It’s the one I use.

I popped the lid on the steam canner and turned up the heat and waited to see a small stream of steam blowing through the hole on the side to begin the timer for processing.  Ten minutes later I turned off the heat and carefully removed the lid.  

Now, usually you may have to wait for several hours to hear that amazing little ‘ping’ the lids make as they seal, but as soon as I set aside the canner top, I heard ‘ping, ping, pingity, ping’!

All eight jars sealed before I placed them on the towel to cool.  I was so happy, I bragged about it on Instagram. 🙂 Is that wrong?  😛

I’m very pleased with the thickness of the jam and how well the taste of the fresh fruit won through the light sweetness.  I’ll definitely be using this recipe in the future.

About Raising Thornless Blackberries

Now, every year I go out to a local farm and pick the berries for this jam. My darling friend who gave me this recipe and used to have thornless blackberry bushes lining the fence in her sideyard has moved away. She taught me a bit about caring for them, so here is a little information incase you’ve thought about planting your own.

Thornless blackberries offer a way to enjoy homegrown berries without the scratchy challenges. These variants of the classic blackberry have smooth stems, making growing and harvesting a breeze.

I once shredded my shirt sleeves on wild-thornfilled blackberry bushes in Sedona Canyon, AZ. I thought it would be the only time I made blackberry jam.

You’ll need a sunny site. Unfortunatley most of my yard is in the shade for much of the day.

Plant them in early spring or fall so that the plants have enough time to take root. From what I understand you won’t get many berries the first year.

Regular watering and mulching are essential for moisture retention and weed control. Pruning encourages sturdy canes and abundant fruiting. My friend said they were more like pets than plants because they needed grooming every year. Support like a fence or sturdy trellis is essential.

With proper care, your thornless blackberries will reward you with sweet, juicy berries that are easy to pick and a joy to eat (and make jam). Good luck if you decide to try. I wish I could.

Incidentally, the jam makes a charming little gift.  Oh and what could be better than some fantastic 1 hour bread with it?  The Low Sugar Blackberry Jam recipe is below. Enjoy! — Laura

Nutrition Info Low Sugar Blackberry Jam per teaspoon:

Here is a soothing little video I made for you so you could view the jam-making process: