This mouthwatering Raspberry Freezer Jam recipe is the best way to preserve your favorite summer berries! This delicious, homemade jam is quick and easy to prepare, and the flavor is so fresh tasting!
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Do you have a favorite jam flavor? Mine is definitely raspberry ... no other compares, as far as I'm concerned!
This Raspberry Freezer Jam is the best way to best way to show off the berry's sweet flavor, and it couldn't be simpler to make. If you can mash the raspberries and stir in a couple other ingredients, then you can make these homemade preserves!
You are going to love this homemade jam recipe! You only need three ingredients to prepare it, and apart from heating the pectin (a natural ingredients that helps thicken the jelly), there's no cooking required. And the fresh flavor is unforgettable ... it tastes just like your favorite berries, only better!
Freezer Jam is a great way to preserve summer fruit, and it doesn't take much time or effort either. Make a batch yourself, or gather your kids to create some happy summer memories you'll cherish later!
Ready to start making jam? Then keep reading for the easy recipe, tons of helpful tips and photos, and a free printable label!
Ingredients
You'll need three simple ingredients to make this tasty treat:
- Raspberries - You'll use about six cups of raspberries to make this recipe. Fresh berries always works the best of course, but frozen can be used, too (just make sure thaw them first).
- Sugar - Granulated sugar sweetens the berries and helps the jam set (thicken). Make sure to use the exact amount of sugar called for in the recipe. If you use less (or a sugar substitute), your jam will end up runny.
- Pectin - This naturally occurring thickener / stabilizer works with the berries and sugar to help set your homemade jam. You'll need Sure Jell Original Premium Fruit Pectin for this recipe, which is easy to find in most grocery stores. While there are a few different brands out there (Ball is another popular one), they are not interchangeable. If you do happen to purchase another brand, use this recipe as a guide, but follow the directions on the box.
This Freezer Jam recipe is naturally vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free, so you can share it with everyone at your table!
You'll Also Need
You'll need to gather a few supplies before getting started:
- Two large bowls - One to mash the berries and one to mix the jam ingredients together.
- Potato Masher - I prefer to use a potato masher to crush the berries, but a spoon can also be used.
- Measuring Cups - Make sure to measure your ingredients precisely for this frozen jam. You'll need one-cup and quarter-cup dry measuring cups to measure the berries and sugar, and a liquid measuring cup for the water.
- Large Spoon - To mix the everything together.
- Small Pot - To cook the pectin.
- Ladle + Funnel - While not 100% required, using a funnel makes transferring the jam to the jars much easier and less messy. I used this canning funnel, which fits perfectly on the edge of a mason jar. It's not just for making jam either ... I find it helpful for other recipes, like Overnight Oats, too.
- Containers - To store the jam ... check out my tips below!
Best Freezer Jam Containers
You can use any small, freezer-safe container to store the jam, but some work better than others. Here are a few that I recommend:
- Jam Jars - These half pint mason jars hold the perfect amount of jam (about one cup). They outside also has a pretty quilted pattern that makes them perfect for gifting.
- Pint-Sized Mason Jars - If you go through lots of jam, then these larger pint-sized jar will work great.
- Plastic Containers - I've never had a glass mason jar break when making jam, but if you'd prefer to use plastic, these reusable plastic containers are a good option. Each one is equivalent to a half pint.
Tip: This recipe makes about three-and-a-half pints (seven cups). So you will need seven half-pint jars, or one half-pint jar and three pint-sized jars to store it. Unless you eat tons of jam, the smaller jars work better, because the jam only last three weeks in the refrigerator.
How to Make Raspberry Freezer Jam
While you need to follow the directions closely, this homemade Freezer Jam couldn't be easier to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Mash raspberries. Use a potato masher (or the back of a spoon) to lightly crush the raspberries. Tip: Do not mash the berries too much. You want to have some chunky pieces, and the berries will continue to break down as you mix in the sugar.
- Mix berries and sugar. Next, add the sugar to the berries, then mix well. Once you've done that, set the raspberries aside for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Tip: Don't forget to stir the berries a few times during the 10 minute period. This helps the sugar dissolve better.
- Combine pectin and water. Add the water to a small pot, then stir in the pectin. It's normal for it to look a bit lumpy. The lumps will dissolve as the mixture heats.
- Heat pectin mixture. Bring the pectin mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Continue boiling for one minute, stirring constantly, then remove from heat.
- Stir pectin and raspberries together. Add the hot pectin to your raspberry mixture, then stir for three minutes, or until the sugar is dissolved. Tip: While a few tiny sugar crystals are okay, it's important to keep stirring until the mixture is no longer grainy. I've found that this usually takes closer to five minutes.
- Transfer jam to jars. Once the sugar has dissolved, transfer the jam to clean jars, making sure to leave ½-inch of headspace at the top. Cover the jars with lids, then let the jam sit at room temperate for 24 hours (or until set). After the 24 hours is up, refrigerate the jam for three weeks or freeze it for up to one year.
Time for the best part ... your homemade Raspberry Freezer Jam is ready to eat. You are going to LOVE the fresh berry flavor!
Tip: Do you prefer jam with less seeds? Press half of the crushed berries through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds.
Storage
Once your jam has set, you can either store it in your refrigerator for up to three weeks, or you can freeze it for up to one year.
Freezer Jam Tips
This Frozen Raspberry Jam is practically fool proof to make, provided you follow the direction carefully. Keep these tips to keep in mind for best results:
- Wash and dry your jars before you start. Unlike with canned jam, there's no need to boil the jars, but you do need to clean them thoroughly (either by hand or in your dishwasher). The lids may also be reused, if you're using mason jars.
- Start with ripe fruit. If your berries aren't ripe, the jam's flavor will be flat and there won't be liquid enough to dissolve the sugar. If your fruit is over-ripe and mushy, the texture will be off, and there may be too much liquid for your jam to set up properly.
- Wash and dry your fruit before beginning. You do not want to add any excess liquid to the jam, so make sure to dry the fruit after washing it.
- Use Sure Jell Pectin. Make sure to use Sure Jell Original Premium Fruit Pectin for this recipe. While there are different varieties and brands of pectin, they are not interchangeable. If you happen to purchase another brand, use this recipe as a guide, and follow the directions on the box.
- Be exact when measuring the ingredients. For best results, it's important to measure everything carefully. To measure the fruit and sugar, use a dry measuring cup (the fruit / sugar should be even with the top of the cup). To measure the water, use a liquid measuring cup. Tip: If you have leftover fruit after measuring, save it for another use. Otherwise, your jam may not set.
- Follow the directions exactly as written. This recipe relies on science for success (similar to baking), so precise timing and accurate proportions are important. Be exact when measuring, and follow at times closely. Tip: Set the timer on your microwave (or phone) to make sure your not skimping on any times.
- Do not reduce the sugar or use a sugar substitute. Yes, this recipe has a lot of sugar, but you need to use all of it for this Raspberry Jelly recipe to work. Tip: If you'd like to use less sugar, use Sure Jell Less Sugar Premium Fruit Pectin instead, and follow the directions inside the box.
- Don't make a double batch in one bowl. For best results when making a double batch, prepare each batch in its own bowl and heat the pectin separately.
Variations
This fresh, no cook Raspberry Jam is super delicious as-is, but if you feel like experimenting, try making this recipe with other fruits, or combine the raspberries with other ingredients for a different flavor. Here are some recipes to try next:
- Strawberry Freezer Jam - Crowd pleasing strawberry is a classic for a reason ... you'll love its scrumptious flavor!
- Peach Freezer Jam - This frozen jam is the best way to preserve fresh summer peaches.
- Raspberry-Peach - Combine 2 cups crushed raspberries (about 3 cups whole berries) and 1 ½ cups finely chopped peaches (about 1 ¼ pounds whole peaches) in a large bowl. Stir in 7 cups sugar, then let stand 10 minutes (stirring occasionally). Prepare as otherwise directed.
- Raspberry-Blueberry - Combine 1 ½ cups crushed raspberries (about 3 cups whole berries) and 1 ½ cups crushed blueberries (about 3 cups whole berries) in a large bowl. Stir in 5 cups sugar, then let stand 10 minutes (stirring occasionally). Prepare as otherwise directed.
- Mixed Berry - Combine 1 ½ cups crushed strawberries (about 1 quart / 3 cups whole berries), ½ cup crushed blueberries (about 1 cup whole berries), and ½ cup crushed raspberries (about 1 cup whole berries) in a large bowl. Stir in 4 ½ cups sugar, then let stand 10 minutes (stirring occasionally). Prepare as otherwise directed.
Related Recipes
Looking for more fresh raspberry ideas? Check out one of these recipes next:
- Raspberry Overnight Oats
- Berry Compote
- Raspberry Bread Pudding
- Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie
- Green Berry Smoothie
- Berry Yogurt Parfait
- Raspberry French 75
Printable Label
Check out these adorable Raspberry Freezer Jam label I created for you! These cute labels are perfect for gifting jam to friends and for keeping track of flavors in your freezer. Here are a few ways to use them:
- Attach the label to the jar using decorative twine, string, or ribbon. (Print on white cardstock for best results.)
- Put the labels on top of the lid, under the ring. (Print on white cardstock for best results.)
- Print the labels on sticker paper, then cut them out, and stick them to the front of the jar (or lid).
To download the free printable labels, click here or anywhere on the image of the labels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Freezer jam is a homemade jam that's made with fresh fruit, sugar, and pectin. It's made without cooking the jam and can be stored in your refrigerator or freezer.
Freezer jam is an uncooked jam that's made with fresh fruit, sugar, and pectin. It must be refrigerated or frozen. Regular jam is made by cooking fresh fruit with sugar (and other ingredients, like lemon juice and pectin) until thickened. It is then canned using a hot water bath, which makes it shelf stable (before opening).
If your freezer jam didn't set up properly, it's possible that you didn't measure your ingredients correctly (the ratio of sugar to fruit was off), the sugar may not have been dissolved completely, or your pectin may be expired. You can always add more pectin to thicken it later (try following these remake instructions).
Pectin is a naturally occurring ingredient (it's a soluble fiber found in fruits and vegetables) that's used to thicken and stabilize jams and jellies. When combined with sugar and fruit, pectin works to create that thick jelly-like texture you expect in jam. Learn more about how pectin works.
Freezer jam can be stored in your refrigerator for up to three weeks or frozen for up to one year.
You do not need to boil jars when making freezing jam, however you should clean them thoroughly (either with your dishwasher or by hand).
Raspberry Freezer Jam
Ingredients
- 6 cups red raspberries
- 5 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 (1.75 ounce / 49 gram) box Sure Jell Original Fruit Pectin
Equipment
- Mason Jars (seven ½-pint jars OR one ½-pint jar and three pint jars), or other freezer safe containers
Instructions
- Place raspberries in a large bowl, then use a potato masher (or the back of a spoon) to crush them.
- Use a dry measuring cup to measure out exactly 3 cups crushed raspberries. (If you have extra berries, reserve for another use.)
- Stir sugar into raspberries, mixing well. Let stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- After 10 minutes is up, combine pectin and ¾ cup water in a small pot. Bring mixture to a boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly, then remove from heat.
- Mix hot pectin into raspberry mixture, then continue stirring for 3 minutes, or until the sugar is totally dissolved. (This may take longer than 3 minutes.)
- Transfer jam to jars, leaving ½-inch of headspace at top. Cover with lids.
- Let jam sit at room temperature for 24 hours, or until set.
- Once jam is set, refrigerate for up to 3 weeks, or freeze for up to 1 year. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Hi Ginnie, I love the ease of this recipe. It took me about an hour, my first time. The raspberries I got were a later raspberry, and they were huge. I yielded approx 8 half pints and a little Tupperware, about 1/2 full. It set up beautifully. I had a lot of raspberries left over, so I might try another batch tomorrow. I don't think you can ever have too much homemade raspberry jam. I sure appreciate your exact measurements, and your helpful tips. I watched my grandmother use the cook method, and it always took so much time. I… Read more »