Homemade Black Currant Jam (Printable format)

Tangy-sweet spread from fresh blackcurrants, sugar, and lemon juice. Perfect for toast or yogurt.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Fruit

01 - 2.2 lb fresh blackcurrants, cleaned and stems removed

→ Sweetener

02 - 2 lb granulated sugar

→ Acid

03 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

# Directions:

01 - Place a small plate in the freezer for testing jam set point.
02 - In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine blackcurrants and lemon juice. Gently crush some berries with a potato masher to release juices.
03 - Add sugar to the fruit mixture and stir to combine. Let sit for 10 minutes to draw out natural juices.
04 - Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until sugar dissolves completely.
05 - Increase heat to high and bring the mixture to a rapid rolling boil. Stir frequently to prevent sticking and burning.
06 - Boil vigorously for 10 to 15 minutes, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface. To test setting point, place a drop of jam on the chilled plate. Wait 1 minute, then push gently with your finger—if it wrinkles and does not flow back, the jam is ready.
07 - Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to disperse fruit evenly throughout the mixture.
08 - Ladle hot jam into sterilized jars, leaving 0.2 inch headspace. Seal immediately with lids.
09 - Let cool at room temperature, then label and store in a cool, dark place.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Simple ingredients – just blackcurrants, sugar and lemon juice
  • No special equipment needed beyond basic kitchen tools
  • Captures the unique, bold flavor of blackcurrants
  • Beautiful deep purple color that brightens any breakfast spread
  • Makes a thoughtful homemade gift
02 -
  • Slightly underripe blackcurrants contain more pectin and will help your jam set better
  • Warming the sugar in the oven before adding it to the fruit helps it dissolve faster
  • Always use a heavy-bottomed pan to prevent scorching
  • Properly sterilized jars are essential for long-term storage
  • For gift-giving, decorate jar tops with fabric squares and ribbons
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