Best Homemade Jam

posted by Ashton July 2, 2014

So homemade jam. It’s basically the best thing ever, right?!

It doesn’t matter the season, time of day, or what you’re eating it with– jam GOOOOOOOOD!

…did you read that part in a Joey Tribbiani voice? Well, you were supposed to.

It would have been funnier if you did. Trust me.

Anyway.

Want to know THE secret to getting the very best batch of jam? Hold on to your seat, ’cause it’s a doozy…

Live within a 10 minute drive of your mom, who happens to make the very best jam of all time.

Yep.

That’s the best tip I’ve got for you today. Because I know only two sure things about making jam:
1) My mom’s is the very best.
2) Now that I live so close to her, I don’t plan to every buy jam again. …or make any, for that matter.

I will give you one solid piece of jam-making advice (although, keep in mind, this is from the eater’s perspective, not the maker’s): peaches make all jam exponentially better. I especially favor Strawberry Peach jam– I think it tastes like caramel (I know, that’s completely weird of me). It has this really deep, rich flavor that most light, fruity jams don’t have.

And, of course, my favorite way to eat my favorite jam is on my mom’s homemade bread (toasted, with lots of melted butter)!

All of the delicious food pictured here is courtesy of my truly fantastic mom (freshly baked and delivered to my door this morning)! If we’re all very lucky, I’ll be posting more and more of her recipes in the upcoming year! (thanks, mom).

Best Homemade Jam

Ingredients

2.5 cups crushed* strawberries
2.5 cups crushed peaches**
1/4 cup lemon juice
6 Tbsp pectin
7 cups granulated sugar
Equipment: 8 (8 oz) glass preserving jars with lids and bands or freezer safe canning jars

Instructions

**If preserving: prepared boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.**

Mix strawberries, peaches and lemon juice in a 6- or 8-quart saucepan. Sprinkle the pectin over the fuit and stir.
Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that can not be stirred down, over high heat, stirring constantly.
Add the sugar, stirring to dissolve. Return mixture to a full rolling boil. Continue boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
Ladle hot jam into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band.

**If preserving: process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.**

Otherwise, store in the refrigerator (plan to give some away!) or store in freezer (in freezer safe canning jars).

Notes

*Crush fruit by hand using a potato masher. **I love the taste of half berries, half peaches. But feel free to change it up and use whatever combination of berries, peaches, or other fruit you'd like!

https://www.somethingswanky.com/best-homemade-jam/

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About the author

Ashton Swank

Ashton is the owner and author of Something Swanky. Although first and foremost a wife and mother, she considers herself an online entrepreneur, freelance writer and photographer, and brand ambassador. Her focus is in food styling, food photography and recipe development.

More by Ashton »

posted in All Recipes, Breakfast, Strawberries

July 2, 2014

9 comments on “Best Homemade Jam”

Averie @ Averie Cooks — July 2, 2014 @ 10:08 pm

I love that there is a 7:5 ratio of sugar:fruit in cups. YES. All homemade jam needs to at least have a 1:1 ratio and I love that there’s more sugar than fruit in yours. Good, good job. Homemade jam is not the time to skimp. That’s what cardio is for :) Pinned!
Emma — July 2, 2014 @ 11:24 pm

Looks divine!

Way to go mama and lucky you Ashton :)

Strawberry peach jam, can not wait to try! Thanks for sharing
Charlotte Moore — July 3, 2014 @ 5:49 am

Why you spoiled thing!!! HAHAHA!!! That is what I say to our daughter in law sometimes. We have a good laugh about it. So nice to be close enough to your mom to have these wonderful benefits I think.
aux fourneaux — July 3, 2014 @ 5:54 am

These look and sound absolutely amazing! this is just beautiful!!!
Manuella
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust — July 3, 2014 @ 9:47 am

So, on our girls weekend we’re going to (1) eat all the things, obvi (2) talk until we lose our voices and (3) watch friends until we can’t keep our eyes open anymore, mmkay?

This jam. Ohh em geee.
Rachel Cooks — July 3, 2014 @ 2:46 pm

Love the peaches in this jam — looks so wonderful!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets — July 6, 2014 @ 12:28 am

I wish I lived near your mom, having moved closer to my mom, this has not showed up on my doorstep. Boo.
Guess I’ll have to make my own :)
Jocelyn@Brucrewlife — July 11, 2014 @ 2:51 am

This jam is the bomb diggity :) Can you just have your mom make me some too?! Pinned!
Kristyn — July 12, 2014 @ 10:13 am

YUMMY!! LOVE Homemade Jam but have yet to make it all by myself… pinned!!