How To Make Fruit Jam Without Pectin

Did you know you can make no pectin jam without fancy equipment? Today I’m showing you how I make easy 3 Ingredient Berry Jam (in 4 tasty flavors!)

I’ve learned that you can do a lot with berries, citrus, and sweetener. You can go the fruit roll-up route and make a homemade fruit leather. Or use frozen berries and go the smoothie route. Or you can make jam!

We’ve made berry jam using the magical thickening powers of chia seeds, but today we’re simplifying it even more. Naturally occurring pectin in fruit and citrus zest is going to give us a perfectly thick, deliciously easy no pectin jam (in 3 berry tasty flavors!)

And the real beauty of this recipe? You can use frozen fruit! That’s right, homemade jam year round. You’ll essentially just stir everything together and set on the stove to cook down. Mash it up a bit to let the juices cook, then remove from the heat when your jam is thick and delicious (about 20 to 30 minutes).

Ingredients Needed to Make No Pectin Jam

Depending on the type of jam you choose to make, you will need slightly different ingredients. But the concept is the same for each:

• Berries: We will use 2 heaping cups of ripe berries. They bring that fun fruity flavor and naturally occurring pectin, which will help to thicken the jam.
• Sugar: Sugar amount will vary depending on the sweetness of your fruit.
• Citrus: Orange or lemon work well and serve a few purposes. The juice of the citrus adds acidity, helping to bring out the fruity flavors. The zest adds natural pectin, helping to thicken the jam (while also bringing a lot of flavor!)

How to Make Homemade Jam

You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make homemade jam. After creating it yourself, you’ll wonder why you ever chose store-bought jam to begin with! The taste is so much more flavorful, and you know that you’re consuming less gnarly preservatives. Homemade all the way! 

1. Cook the ingredients: Combine the berries, sugar, juice, and zest in a medium saucepan. Set over medium heat and cook uncovered until the berries begin to soften. Use a potato masher or fork to mash the berries a bit, and then increase the heat to medium/high and let them simmer. You’ll need to let cranberries simmer for 10 minutes, and let strawberries and blueberries simmer for 20-30.
2. Cool the mixture: Remove from the heat and allow to cool. The mixture will thicken as the temperature decreases. (Speed this up by setting the pan in a sink full of cold water!)

What is pectin?

Pectin is a starch that occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables, usually in the rinds or seeds. 

However, there is also a processed version that can be used as an additive for making recipes, such as jam. It contributes to the texture and the cooking process, usually acting as a thickening agent that helps achieve a gel-like consistency. When this is used, the resulting jam is able to cook faster, however it usually tastes less flavorful. 

We left added pectin out, instead opting for a natural recipe that takes a few extra minutes but tastes uber delicious! 

Tasty ways to eat jam

• Spooned over Greek yogurt
• On a grilled cheese sandwich (would go well with Gouda)
• Stuffed into French toast
• As a toast topper with almond butter and fresh fruit
• Swirled into oatmeal