Old Fashioned Blackberry Jam For Canning

Name: Old Fashioned Blackberry Jam
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 2½ pounds fresh blackberries ((about 6-7 cups)); 4 cups granulated sugar; 1 tablespoon powdered pectin; ¼ cup bottled lemon juice

Make this classic old fashioned blackberry jam that’s quick and easy. It’s one of the best canning recipes for beginners because there are so few ingredients, and the results are just so good. And this recipe is a small batch. You’ll only need four half-pint jars, so it’s perfect if you’re new to canning or don’t want to make a big batch.

Skip to the Recipe Save to Pinterest

Everyone, at least once in their life, should go blackberry picking and come home and make jam with it. Kids will love it, and you’ll remember it forever.

But even though jam-making is easy, a day of canning is hard. Make sure you start in the morning, with a clean kitchen, and plan an easy dinner.

4 jars of finished jam on wooden counter

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

Of course, we want to use fresh blackberries when they are in season for the best flavor. BUT you can do this in winter with frozen berries. However, you must use bottled, not fresh, lemon juice for safety.

Heart’s Content Farmhouse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This means that when you click on certain links on this site and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely believe in and would use in my own kitchen. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment

Water Bath Canner
4-5 half-pint mason jars
4-5 rings
4-5 lids new
large saucepan
Small saucepan
potato masher

Ingredients

2½ pounds fresh blackberries (about 6-7 cups) (you can also use frozen)
4 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon powdered pectin
¼ cup bottled lemon juice (it has to be bottled for the safe acid levels. Sorry, no fresh lemon juice.)

If you’d like to double or triple this recipe, you can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make Old Fashioned Blackberry Jam

Step One: Mix The Fruit And Sugar

Place the blackberries and sugar into the saucepan and mix well. Let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes while you prepare your canning supplies.

large saucepan full of fruit and blackberries

Step Two: Prep Your Equipment

Fill the canner ¾ full of tap water and start to heat on the stovetop. Place the rings and lids in a small saucepan of water and bring to a simmer. Heat the clean mason jars in hot water in the canner, the dishwasher, or the oven set to 200℉.

large canner on stove and small pan of water with lids

Step Three: Mash The Fruit And Add The Remaining Ingredients

Mash the blackberries with a potato masher. Add the pectin and lemon juice and mix well.

mashed fruit with pectin and sugar in pot

Step Four: Boil The Jam And Skim The Foam

Bring the mixture to a boil and let it boil for five minutes. Stir it constantly so it doesn’t scorch. Remove any foam with a spoon or offset spatula when it is done.

Step Five: Put Jam In Jars

With a canning funnel, pour the finished jam into your hot, clean mason jars. Run a clean, hot butter knife around the inside to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims clean. Place the lids and rings on top and twist them fingertip tight.

jars being filled with funnel, rims wiped clean, and lids pressed on.

Step Six: Process In Canner

Lower the jars into a boiling canner using the rack. Once the water has come back to a boil, start the timer. Do 10 minutes for half pints, and 15 minutes for full pints. When the time is up, carefully lift the rack and remove the jars with a jar remover. Place them on a clean dish towel and cool for 24 hours.

jars in boiled water and one jar lifted out.

Storage Instructions

Heat can cause the homemade jam to spoil, so it’s important to store it in a cool, dark place like a pantry or cupboard.

Home-canned food will stay fresh for at least 1 year, and some newer lids will keep food fresh for 2 years. After that, it is typically still safe to eat, but it may lose flavor and quality.

What to Serve with Old Fashioned Blackberry Jam

There’s nothing like biscuits and homemade jam.
Or try homemade white bread, toasted.
And I LOVE grilled cheese with fresh jalapeno and a thin layer of jam!

Questions and Troubleshooting

Can I use frozen blackberries to make jam?

Yes! Absolutely. If you want to can in winter, try freezing all your fruit and putting it off for colder weather.

Can I make blackberry jam from wild blackberries?

Yes. I do it all the time. If they’re very tart, add an additional half cup of sugar in step one. Or embrace the tartness!

Can you use freshly squeezed lemon juice in canning?

No. We’re adding lemon juice for the acidity, not the flavor. Bottled lemon juice has stable acid levels, so that’s why we need to stick with bottled.

Why did my blackberry jam turn out runny?

You undercooked it and it didn’t set. Properly set jam will coat a wooden spoon or form a solid blob on a cold plate. You can use it as ice cream topping, which is absolutely delicious.

Use this jam for the center of jam jam cookies.
This recipe for canned strawberry lemonade is great for using up strawberries when you don’t want to make jam.
If you still have blackberries, make this fresh summertime blackberry lemonade.