Sunday, July 22, 2012

Raspberry Freezer Jam...so easy!

Gone are the days when one slaves over a hot stove in a sweltering kitchen to make jam for the winter months. Freezer jam is simple and even the most challenged in the art of domestication can produce a batch to brag about. One of the main reasons I love freezer jam--the fruit still tastes as fresh as the day you picked it. There is no cooking involved, so the fruit doesn't lose its flavor or nutrients! We grow our own raspberries, and they are producing fast and furious this time of year. We cannot possibly keep up with consuming all the berries fresh, so jam is a good alternative. If you do not have access to raspberry bushes, it is a great time of year to pick up fresh fruit at your local farmer's market. 


To make raspberry freezer jam all you need are three simple ingredients; 
raspberries, sugar, and fruit pectin (all grocery stores carry this). 


It is best to purchase small 8 oz plastic containers with lids
or small glass jars with canning lids. 
I prefer using Bell plastic containers made specifically for freezer jam.


I like this particular recipe for freezer jam because it calls for less sugar (only 1 1/2 cups). 
Some recipes call for as much as 5 1/2 cups of sugar to 3 cups of fruit!  



What you will need:

4 cups of fresh raspberries, crushed (do not place in blender)
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 freezer jam pectin package (1.59 oz)

Combine sugar and freezer jam pectin into a large bowl and mix until well blended. Add crushed raspberries and stir until well combined (for 3 minutes).


 Pour jam into freezer containers, leaving a 1/2" head space. 


Let stand until thickened, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately, refrigerate 
up to three weeks, or freeze up to 1 year. See how easy that was!


Spread on a slice of toasted gluten-free bread...jam never tasted so good!



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