The Best Homemade Blueberry Jam (3 Ingredients – No Pectin)

There’s something wholesome about spreading fresh homemade jam on your morning toasts.
Makes you feel like a million bucks (at least I know I do!)

When blueberries are in season, it’s time to stock up! But what can you do with so many blueberries you might ask? I got you!

Making homemade blueberry jam is one smart way to preserve and use all your fresh blueberries.

I’ll share with you my favorite jam-making tips and other useful tips to make sure your recipe is a success!

Ingredients For This Homemade Blueberry Jam

I love this recipe because it calls for 3 ingredients you already have at home!

✦✧ Blueberries: Fresh blueberries are definitely the best option to make sure you have a nice firm consistency to your homemade jam.
Indeed, although frozen blueberries are a convenient option, they will mush the mixture and make a runny jam. No bueno.

✦✧ Granulated Sugar This recipe calls for 1 cup of granulated white sugar. Although homemade jam is way healthier than store-bought ones, you will need sugar.

✦✧ Lemon Juice: Secret weapon to this recipe. Secret because you won’t even taste the lemon in the final result. But why important then? Well, lemon juice lowers the pH of the jam, which neutralizes pectin and helps your jam set faster.

How to Make Blueberry Jam from Scratch

✦✧ Crush the Blueberries: I like to use a good old potato smasher to crush my blueberries because it allows me to judge the exact amount of texture I leave in my mixture.
Alternatively, you can pulse a couple of times with a food processor as it’s easier, as long as you make sure you don’t puree the whole thing!

✦✧ Combine the lemon juice in the blueberries: Mix completely the lemon juice with the crushed blueberries to make sure it’s an even mix in a large enough saucepan.

✦✧ Bring to a boil: You have to have your focus on the jam 100% while it’s cooking since it needs to be stirred constantly.

✦✧ Add sugar: You want to add your sugar as soon as the mixture gets to a boil. making sure to stir constantly while doing so.

✦✧ Fill your jars Don’t waste time and fill your jars with the jam still hot from the stove. Add the lids and rings

✦✧ Seal the jars: Submerge the jars in boiling water for 10 minutes to seal them.

✦✧ Let it rest overnight

Jam Making Tips

✦✧ Don’t fill the jar too much! You want to leave about ¼-inch of headspace in each jar.
The jam may expand as it settles and bubble out when air is being forced out during sealing.

✦✧ The cool-down period is important because the jam will not set immediately. Rest your jars overnight at room temperature before opening them.

✦✧ Can you freeze homemade blueberry jam? Although you technically can freeze it, it’s not recommended you do so with this recipe. There are recipes adapted if you want to freeze your jam.

What’s The Storage Life of Homemade Blueberry Jam?

Your unsealed jars of homemade blueberry jam should be stored in the fridge and used within 2 weeks. (it usually doesn’t last 2 weeks 😋)

For your sealed jars of blueberry jam, you can expect to last 1 year or more since the sugar acts as a preservative. Jars should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place in your home for longer lasting.

Ideas To Enjoy Your Homemade Blueberry Jam

What I love about this homemade blueberry jam is that it can be used in many different ways.

Of course, you can enjoy it on your toast for a delicious breakfast, but here are a couple more ideas to inspire you!

✦✧ On top of waffles or pancakes

✦✧ Bring your yogurt and oatmeal to the next level with a spoon of this homemade blueberry jam.

✦✧ Add it to your ice cream for a tasty summer treat.

✦✧ This blueberry jam is great with biscuits or cornbread too!

Your family and friends will definitely appreciate some homemade blueberry jam as a gift!
Add a ribbon to your jar and voilà!

Can You Use Frozen Blueberries For This Homemade Jam Recipe?

I don’t recommend using frozen blueberries for this recipe.
Indeed, the water from the frozen blueberries will make your jam mushy and runny.

I suggest buying blueberries in bulk during summer and making sealed jars to store for the dark and gray days of winter.
It’s a taste of summer all year long!

What is Pectin and Should You Use It?

What is Pectin?

Pectin is naturally found in fruits and acts as a thickener and stabilizer making jams and jellies firm instead of mushy.

That being said, some fruits contain a higher level of pectin than others.
Indeed, fruits like apples, cranberries, grapes, and citrus are high in pectin.

On the other hand, jams made with strawberries, peaches, sour cherries, rhubarb, and pears will need artificial pectin to preserve their set.

Should You Use Pectin In This Blueberry Jam?

Blueberries naturally have moderate levels of pectin making which means they don’t need pectin to keep their jelly form.

That being said, pectin will shorten the cooking time of your jam. Cooking jam doesn’t take hours therefore I don’t see why add pectin to this recipe.

Aside, pectin gives a stiff texture to the jam and I’m not a fan.