Easy Raspberry Freezer Jam

Jump to Recipe

When fresh berries are in season, I just want to preserve their fresh flavor any way I can! And even though my mom was a master at pickling and canning just about anything, I never really got into that.

Which is where freezer jam comes in. All the delicious fresh taste of homemade raspberry jam, stored in the freezer instead of using a pressure cooking (canning) to preserve.

I used raspberries (a favorite in this house) to make my freezer jam but you can follow these same principles to make jam from other fruits or berries.

spoon of raspberry freezer jam held above a full jar of jam.

Why I love this Jam

Let’s start with the all-important word: easy. With only 3 ingredients and very few steps, you can make homemade jam that you will love!

My mom used to make jam, mostly strawberry. She always used Sure-Jell, like I do here. But she cooked the jam and preserved it by layering some paraffin wax over the top of the jam, then pressure cooking the jars to seal the lids. I’d rather just freeze. 😀

To me, the fresh taste of this jam really stands out. When traditional jam is cooked, the berries lose some of their fresh taste. Since we are not cooking the berries for this jam, the fresh flavor is still there! It’s a whole different experience from the stuff in the stores!

Ingredients

How to make Raspberry Freezer Jam

Prep the jars

You’ll want to clean your jars before making the jam. In theory, this recipe makes about 7 cups of jam, but I always seem to need more than 7 jam jars, so be sure to have extras all set to go.

I like to wash the jars and lids, preferably in the dishwasher if I’ve managed to plan ahead. Unlike for traditional jam, it is not strictly necessary to go through a full sterilization of the jars. Even so, I like to do a quick dip of the jars in boiling water just to feel confident that they are really clean.

Make the raspberry jam

Start with 6 cups (3 pints) of fresh raspberries. Place the berries in a large bowl and mash them with a potato masher. As an alternative, you can use a food processor but do not puree completely. Just pulse a few times to break up the berries. You should end up with about 3 cups of crushed berries.

Now, add sugar. 5½ cups of sugar. Yes, it seems like a lot. It’s important to note that Sure-Jell has 2 different versions. I used the original kind, in the yellow box. They also have a lower sugar formula, which comes in a pink box. You cannot reduce the sugar and use the stuff in the yellow box, because the jam will not set properly.

Stir the sugar into the crushed berries. You need to let this stand for 10 minutes. Give it an occasional stir during this time.

In a small saucepan, add the (1.75 oz) package of Sure-Jell to ¾ cup of water. Stir this while bringing to a boil, then boil and stir for one full minute.

Now, pour the pectin solution over the raspberry mixture and mix to combine. Stir this for a full 3 minutes. I like to set a timer for this step, just to be sure I am completely dissolving the sugar. Nobody wants grainy freezer jam!

Fill the Jars

You can now spoon the mixture into the jars. Leave at least ½ inch of space at the top of each jar to allow the jam to expand as it freezes. Wipe the rims (trust me, you’ll always need to do this) and then cover each jar with a lid.

The jars need to sit at room temperature for 24 hours. This will allow the jam to cool and to “set” – i.e. form a slightly gelatinous "jammy" mixture rather than a runny liquid. At this point, you can label the jars and place the raspberry jam on a shelf in your freezer.

You might want to put one in the fridge for immediate enjoyment. 😃

raspberry jam on a small piece of pastry.

Speaking of labels, I found some on Amazon that I really like. They are oval shaped and easy to adhere to the jars. Most importantly, they are easy to REMOVE when washing. They completely peel away with just hot water. No sticky glue residue!

Buy on Amazon

Expert Tips/FAQ

What’s the main difference between regular jam and freezer jam?

In traditional jam, the fruit is cooked first by simmering with sugar and possibly lemon juice and/or pectin. For freezer jam, the fruit is not cooked, or barely cooked. This helps retain the fresh taste of the fruit or berries used.

Do the jars seal with freezer jam?

No, the jars do not seal. Sealing is necessary when storing preserves at room temperature, but not for freezing.

How long does freezer jam last?

Once frozen, the jam can be kept for up to a year. Frozen jam should be thawed in the fridge before using. In the refrigerator, the jam is good for 3-4 weeks, after which it will start to lose some of its fresh flavor.

Can I use this recipe for other fruits and berries?

The techniques and materials are the same, but the amount of sugar will probably vary according to what kind of fruit you have. Also, some fruits need a little lemon juice added to the mix, so be sure to refer to your package insert for those specifics.

Love Raspberries? You might enjoy some of these recipes:

📖 Recipe

jar of raspberry freezer jam with a spoon holding some above it.

5 from 53 votes

Print Pin it!