Wild blackberry season is a favorite time of year in our rural home. Deep, rich hues of plum and burgundy dot our property begging to stain our fingers and delight our taste buds!
There’s no shortage of ways to store the excess berries. From pie filling to homemade syrups, we put each one to good use. Wild blackberry jam is a must as well as a secondary favorite, wild blackberry bourbon jam. This sophisticated update to standard jam makes a fabulous topping for cheesecakes, ice cream, and even a nice slice of whole wheat toast. Both steeped in Kentucky traditions, wild blackberries and bourbon are simply a match made in southern culinary heaven.
This year I had a bit of welcome help with my blackberry jam efforts from the FreshTECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker. This nifty little ditty takes all the guess-work and the actual physical work out of jam making. If you’ve ever made blackberry jam on the stove top, you’ll marvel at the hands-free process and results the FreshTECH offers. At this point, I’m wondering how I ever got along before this beauty landed in our rural kitchen…
Wild Blackberry Bourbon Jam (reduced sugar version)
Yield: 6 1/2 pint jelly jars
3 and 1/2 cups Wild Blackberries
3 tbsps Ball RealFruit Classic Pectin
1/2 tsp Butter
1/2 ounce Bourbon (reserve label or top shelf- use the good stuff!)
2 cups Sugar
Clean dirt from berries using preferred method (rinse, towel, etc.) making certain to drain berries, if needed.
Using a potato masher, crush berries and set aside.
Prepare FreshTECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker for use according to manufacturers instructions.
Evenly spread pectin over the bottom of the FreshTECH pot.
Spread crushed berries evenly over the pectin in the FreshTECH pot.
Cut butter into small chunks and place evenly around FreshTECH pot.
Press the JAM button on the FreshTECH unit and follow instructions for cook time according the manufacturers guide.
Add sugar to FreshTECH unit as directed in manufacturers guide.
When the sugar has fully dissolved add bourbon.
Cook jam in FreshTECH according to manufacturers guide.
When jam cooking process is complete, shut down unit according to manufacturers guide.
Skim foam from the top of the jam, if needed, and dispose of.
Use a ladle and funnel to fill clean jam jars, freezer containers or other preferred storage containers.
Continue to preserve jam using your preferred method of pressure canning, freezer canning or simple refrigeration.
That’s it! Easy-peasy delicious jam in under 30 minutes.
No more guess work trying to figure out what went wrong in the process of your jam and why it didn’t set properly.
No more sweating over the stove constantly stirring to make sure the jam doesn’t overheat or stick to the bottom of the pan.
You know what I did while my wild blackberry jam cooked? I finished the laundry and started a novel I’ve been itching to read.
Clean up is a breeze, too. The jam residue rinses away from the FreshTECH pot and stirrer with just a little bit hot water.
Whether you are a pro jam and jelly maker or a newbie to the world of preserves,
Want to learn more about canning? Check through the archives of Rural Mom and visit http://www.freshpreserving.com.
Ingredients
- 3 and 1/2 cups Wild Blackberries
- 3 tbsps Ball RealFruit Classic Pectin
- 1/2 tsp Butter
- 1/2 ounce Bourbon (reserve label or top shelf- use the good stuff!)
- 2 cups Sugar
Instructions
- NOTE: This recipe is designed for use with the FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker. You can easily adapt to stove top following normal jam making procedures.
- Clean dirt from berries using preferred method (rinse, towel, etc.) making certain to drain berries, if needed.
- Using a potato masher, crush berries and set aside.
- Prepare FreshTECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker for use according to manufacturers instructions.
- Evenly spread pectin over the bottom of the FreshTECH pot.
- Spread crushed berries evenly over the pectin in the FreshTECH pot.
- Cut butter into small chunks and place evenly around FreshTECH pot.
- Press the JAM button on the FreshTECH unit and follow instructions for cook time according the manufacturers guide.
- Add sugar to FreshTECH unit as directed in manufacturers guide.
- When the sugar has fully dissolved add bourbon.
- Cook jam in FreshTECH according to manufacturers guide.
- When jam cooking process is complete, shut down unit according to manufacturers guide.
- Skim foam from the top of the jam, if needed, and dispose of.
- Use a ladle and funnel to fill clean jam jars, freezer containers or other preferred storage containers.
- Continue to preserve jam using your preferred method of pressure canning, freezer canning or simple refrigeration.
- That’s it! Easy-peasy delicious jam in under 30 minutes.
Special thanks to Ball for providing sample product and information to help facilitate this post. All thoughts and opinions are solely that of Rural Mom.
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We planted a blackberry plant here at our new house and hope that it takes off so that we are able to make this jam!
Given a little time, I’m sure you’ll have a great crop, enjoy!
That is so cool, I would love to make my own jellies and jams. Apparently I just need to add it to my “To Do” list, this looks like it might make it easier.
This looks amazing… I love the Jam you made.. wish I could try it..looks delicious… love the FreshTech Automatic Jam maker.. sooo cool.. I think I will add it to my Christmas list… LOVE it
Wow, this jelly looks delicious. I think having this would motivate me to make more fresh jelly at home.
mmm that jam looks delicious! i need to get that jam and jelly maker
Are there any adjustments that need to be made if using the stove top?
Hi Lynn! There will be no variation in ingredients, but a few in processing. If you have processed jam via stove top before, then it should be easy to adjust but if you haven’t my best advice is to consult the Ball Canning Guide or visit the website, you’ll find plenty of recipe help. Just be sure to look for the reduced sugar recipe methods. Enjoy the jam!
This looks so good, Barb! Move closer to me and help me with my blackberries.
Can this be preserved using the water bath method? Thanks so much for the recipe.
Hi Terrie, Absolutely! You can follow the standard boiling water/ water bath method. I process for 10 minutes. Not what altitude you are, but if you have a Ball Canning guide it will help you make the conversions. Hope this helps! Best, Barb
How many pints does this make?.
Yield is about 6 half pint jelly jars. If you are using pint jars, then approximately 3.
Just finished making this, Barb, using my fresh tech! I’ve already sampled the dregs on an English muffin and the flavor is fantastic! Thanks for a new twist on a standby must-have (and the reduced sugar option!)
For those reading later, I’ve obtained 5 half pint jars, with just enough left over for that English muffin! ????
The dewberries used were fresh from the field, one big patch! The remaining two cups I’ve got will go in the freezer for smoothies. Blackberries are set, they’ll be ripening in the next 30 days. I’ll be back to repeat the process! Thank you!
I made this last year, and it was one of my very favorites (I’ve made over 80 different types of jams in that last few years.) I rarely make the same flavor twice, but I will be making two batches of this one this year. Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! I’m so glad to hear that you are enjoying the recipe!! 80 jams, that’s amazing! Sounds like lots of farm fresh goodness going on there!