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by Whitney //July 11, 2022
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This Freezer Raspberry Jam takes 30 minutes to make and only requires 4 ingredients: water, sugar, pectin and fresh or frozen raspberries! This homemade raspberry jam is perfectly sweet, slightly chunky and oh so delicious!
Raspberry jam has and always will be my favorite! After running out of some homemade jam from my mother and mother-in-law, I knew it was time to make my own raspberry freezer jam! It’s so much better than regular jam from the grocery store! This delicious homemade jam is perfect on my Homemade Rolls and Flaky Brioche!
Why This Recipe Works
- Raspberry jam from frozen raspberries or fresh. This raspberry freezer jam recipe is perfect because you don’t need fresh raspberries to make it! If you have raspberries that you grow, feel free to use the fresh! However, frozen fruit is often much cheaper — hence, frozen raspberries.
- No need to seal. No special canning equipment needed! This freezer raspberry jam is an easy recipe because you don’t have to worry about sealing the lids! Since you are storing the jam in the freezer, you don’t need any special equipment.
- Delicious every time! This recipe is not only a simple process but it is super delicious! There are only 4 ingredients: water, sugar, pectin, and raspberries! The simplicity of this raspberry freezer jam recipe makes it easy to make and super delicious every time!
Ingredient Notes
- Raspberries: You can use fresh raspberries or frozen raspberries that have been fully or partially thawed. If using fresh raspberries make sure they are ripe, you’ll need about 6 cups worth of fresh raspberries. If using frozen raspberries you’ll need 28 oz or so.
- Granulated Sugar: This is the sweetener for the freezer raspberry jam. It’s also an important component to help thicken the jam mixture.
- Sure Jell Fruit Pectin: Pectin is a starch that is found in the cell walls of fruit and vegetables. It’s commonly used in jams and jellies to help gel and thicken foods.I used the Sure Jell brand of pectin.
- Water: Combing the water with the pectin causes the thickening process. The pectin absorbs the water, causing the pectin to hydrate, resulting in a thicker mixture (oftentimes in clumps which is why you want to stir the pectin and water mixture!).
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mash the raspberries. Place the thawed or fresh raspberries in a large bowl (with the juices if using thawed frozen berries) and mash with a potato masher. A few chunks are good!
- Add the sugar. Take 3 cups of the crushed berries and transfer to a separate bowl. Add the sugar to the 3 cups of raspberries. (The remaining mashed berries won’t be needed for the recipe. Freeze or store in the fridge for separate use.) Let the sugar and berries sit for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Prepare the pectin. Add the pectin and water to a saucepan and bring to a full boil over medium high heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute.
- Add the raspberry sugar mixture. Add the sugar and raspberry mixture to the pan. Reduce to medium low heat and stir for 3 minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Fill the jars. Pour the raspberry jam into the jars, leaving 1/2 inch at the top to allow room to expand when frozen. Place the lids on the jars and let the batch of jam sit at room temperature for 24 hours. Transfer to the freezer to store. Serve this delicious raspberry freezer jam on your favorite breads!
Recipe Tips
If you’re in a bind, you can keep the raspberries semi-frozen. The berries can be cold, but should be defrosted enough that you can mash them with a potato masher. Note: you can make this recipe with fresh berries too!
Rub the mixture between your fingers to make sure the sugar has completely dissolved.
This is a raspberry jam with seeds. However, you can easily make it a seedless raspberry jam! Just strain out the seeds using cheesecloth or a strainer after mashing the fruit and before adding the sugar. If you are using frozen berries, you’ll want them to be completely thawed to make it easier to get the seeds out.
Keep in mind that if you are removing the seeds, that will make the texture of the jam smooth and not chunky. This could have an effect on the thickness of the jam once finished.
Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing
You’ll want to make this freezer raspberry jam ahead of time since the mixture needs to sit in the jars at room temperature for 24 hours.
Store the homemade freezer jam in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
This homemade raspberry freezer jam will keep in the freezer for up to 1 year.
Recipe FAQs
Can I use a sugar substitute or artificial sweetener to make jam?
For the jam to set properly, it’s important you don’t alter the amount or type of sugar used. You can follow a Sugar Free recipe if you want to make jam using Low Sugar Sure Jell Pectin.
What containers are best for storing freezer raspberry jam?
You can use glass jars (my personal favorite) or any other freezer friendly container. Amazon sells small freezer jars that work great for this!
How long does freezer jam last?
This freezer raspberry jam will last for 1 year in the freezer and 3-4 weeks in the fridge.
Can raspberry jam go bad?
Yes it can! This isn’t a shelf stable jam so it needs to be stored in the freezer for fridge and used within the appropriate time frame (up to 1 year if stored in the freezer and up to 3 weeks in the fridge).
Does this raspberry jam have seeds?
Yes it does. However, you can remove the seeds using cheesecloth or a strainer. I would strain the seeds out after mashing the fruit and before adding the sugar. Note that this raspberry jam recipe notes that some unwashed raspberries are good! So that means the jam will have a chunkier texture. If you are wanting to remove the seeds, you will need to fully mash the jam, which can affect the thickness/runny-ness of your jam.
How to thicken raspberry jam?
There are two things in this recipe that encourage the thickening process: pectin and sugar. The sugar will not only sweeten the jam but help it thicken. The pectin, when combined with the water and sugar, will help thicken the mixture.
How long does raspberry jam take to set?
This homemade freezer raspberry jam needs to sit at room temperature for 24 hours. This will help it set up. Also note, this is a freezer jam. It isn’t to be stored at room temperature. Freezing the jam will also help it set up a bit so keep that in mind.
Why didn’t my jam set?
If you find your jam didn’t set, it could be for a few reasons: the sugar wasn’t fully melted or your raspberries were extra juicy and that extra liquid affected the setting process. Make sure to give the jam the full 24 hours. If it still hasn’t set, stick it in the freezer and then let it thaw the next day. If it still hasn’t set, you can make another batch of the pectin and water and add the jam back into it and stir until everything is fully dissolved.
More Raspberry Recipes
- Raspberry Ice Cream
- Raspberry Sorbet
- Raspberry Sauce
- Raspberry Mojito Mocktail
Freezer Raspberry Jam
This homemade freezer jam is so easy to make! Bonus: you can use fresh, or frozen raspberries!
Prep Time: 20 minutes mins
Cook Time: 5 minutes mins
Total Time: 25 minutes mins
Servings: 7 cups
Ingredients
- 28 oz frozen raspberries - thawed to room temperature or slightly thawed, see note #1. OR 6 cups fresh, ripe raspberries
- 5 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1.75 oz box Pectin
- 3/4 cup water
Instructions
Place the thawed raspberries (or fresh raspberries) in a large bowl (including the juices if using frozen/thawed berries). See note #1
Use a potato masher to mash the raspberries. A few berry chunks here and there are good. Measure out 3 cups of the mashed berries and place them in a separate large bowl. If you have any remaining mashed berries, place them in an airtight container and store in the fridge to use however you’d like.
Pour the sugar over the 3 cups of mashed berries and stir to combine. Let mixture sit for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally during the 10 minutes.
Meanwhile add ¾ cup water and pectin to a medium saucepan (I used a 4 qt). Place over medium high heat and stir. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute.
Add the mashed berries to the saucepan, reduce the heat to medium-low and stir for 3 minutes or until the sugar has completely dissolved
Fill the jars leaving ½” at the top of the jar so that the jam can expand in the freezer. Place the lids on the jars and let sit at room temperature for 24 hours. Store in the freezer for 1 year. Store jam in the fridge for 3 weeks.
Notes
- If you’re in a bind, you can keep the raspberries semi-frozen. The berries can be cold, but should be defrosted enough that you can mash them with a potato masher. Note: you can make this recipe with fresh berries too!
If you want seedless, just strain out the seeds using cheesecloth or a strainer after mashing the fruit and before adding the sugar. If you are removing the seeds, that will make the texture of the jam smooth and not chunky. This could have an effect on the thickness of the jam once finished.
Nutrition
Calories: 640kcal (32%)Carbohydrates: 164g (55%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 1g (2%)Saturated Fat: 1g (5%)Sodium: 4mgPotassium: 171mg (5%)Fiber: 7g (28%)Sugar: 155g (172%)Vitamin A: 37IU (1%)Vitamin C: 30mg (36%)Calcium: 30mg (3%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
author: Whitney Wright
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating and review on the blog post letting me know how you liked this recipe! Take a picture and tag @saltandbaker on Tik Tok, Instagram, and Facebook so I can see what you’re making!
published on July 11, 2022 // 16 Comments
Posted in: , Recipes, Summer
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Dottie Tysinger — Reply
Can the jars of jam be processed in a water bath so they won’t have to be in the freezer, and can be preserved at room temperature?
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Carley - Salt & Baker — Reply
Dottie, we have not tested this so we cannot be sure. The biggest concern of course is bacteria. It sounds like you are an experienced jam maker, so if you know how to successfully and safely process jars of jam that way, I think this recipe should work for you.
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Jasmine Warner — Reply
I’ve made this like 4 times for family and friends and friends of friends and everyone LOVES it. It’s pretty easy to make and super delicious!! I am wondering however, since I am trying to transition to less-to-no sugar recipes, if this recipe would have the same measurements for a no-sugar version. Of course it would require the low/no sugar pectin, but would everything else be the same? I wasn’t sure if anyone has tried this yet and am curious if it would work!
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Salt & Baker — Reply
Hi Jasmine! I’m so glad you love this recipe. I haven’t tried it with the no sugar pectin, but you could give it a try and report back. Thanks for the great review!
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Vivian Perry — Reply
Why does the recipe call for 6 cups of raspberries, but states to only use 3 cups of mashed berries?
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Whitney — Reply
Because that’s just how it is.
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Richard Schega — Reply
Can you use the same amount of strawberries or peaches?
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Whitney — Reply
Sure!
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Deb — Reply
Do you leave all the seeds in or can you use cheesecloth for less seeds?
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Whitney — Reply
I leave the seeds in, but yes you can use cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve to filter out some of the seeds.
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Bonnie — Reply
The taste is great however my jam did not set up very well. It is still very loose and unfortunately I made it for my son and grandkids who were begging for it! Now they think gramma’s a failure at jam! What did I do wrong?
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Amanda Buchmuller — Reply
Thank you for this great idea! I’ve been craving real raspberry freezer jam (I hate store-bought jam!), but didn’t want to pay the high price for fresh berries. I used frozen berries and followed your recipe and it worked perfectly! I’m so excited!
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Mickie — Reply
Have you ever tried adding jalapeños to this? Curious
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Whitney — Reply
I haven’t.
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Judy Jones — Reply
Hi Whitney. THANK YOU for sharing this recipe. I made it today with frozen raspberries and it turned out perfectly! Hope this will work for strawberry as well. Its almost fresh strawberry season here in Ontario so I’m going to give it a try!
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Mary — Reply
This turned out great! Very delicoius. I liked that i was able to use frozen raspberries to make the jam.
