This Best Ever Black Currant Jam is made with only 3 simple ingredients and it’s the perfect homemade jam for summer! Learn how to make jam with NO pectin in 15 minutes!
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Have you ever made homemade jam? I love making my own jam in the summertime with fresh berries and fruits that I pick up at roadside stands and farmers markets. Last week a friend gifted me some freshly picked black currants from her garden and I just knew I needed to make this Best Ever Black Currant Jam with it!
The only thing is, I didn’t have any pectin in the house and if I’m really honest I hate the whole canning process. Don’t get me wrong, some of my dearest memories are of making batch after batch of jam with my mom and grandma in the summer when I was a child but unless I’m going to go all out and make enough jars of jam to last us a whole year, I always forgo the canning process and make some good old freezer jam instead. It’s really just as good and it’s SO quick to make, especially in small batches – even without pectin!!
If you’ve never made pectin-free jam before, this Best Ever Black Currant Jam recipe is a great one to start with.
Here are all my best tips for making your own no-pectin jam at home:
- Use sugar. I know, I know, everyone’s on the I-hate-sugar bandwagon (including us!), but even if you use high pectin fruit like berries or Black Currants, unless you use sugar the jam just won’t set. Trust me, I’ve tried.
- Use an instant-read thermometer. Boiling for a certain period of time is a good way to ensure the jam sets but measuring the temperature as it boils is truly a no-fail way to ensure you get that thick, jam-like texture every time. Go for 220 degrees Fahrenheit at low altitudes and 218 degrees at high altitudes. Get my instant-read thermometer HERE (affiliate link).
- Let it cool in the jars. Heat up your jars before adding the boiled jam into them (I soak them in hot water and dry them well first) and let them cool, covered, on the counter until they reach room temperature before adding them to the fridge.
- Use high-pectin fruit. Fruits like apples, peaches, berries, and currants all contain naturally-occurring pectin which helps the jam set up all on its own.
Looking for more jam recipes? Before you grab the recipe for this Best Ever Black Currant Jam below, check out my 3-Ingredient Chia Seed Strawberry Jam made with NO refined sugar! Watch the video below to see how I make it or CLICK HERE for the full recipe!
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I hope you love this Best Ever Black Currant Jam recipe as much as we do! Let me know in the comments below, what other jam recipes would you like to see on thebusybaker.ca? I’d love to know!
Kitchen Products I recommend:
Looking for even more summer recipes like this? You’ll LOVE these:
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3-Ingredient Chia Seed Jam
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Best Ever Healthy Lemonade
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Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad
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Easy 5-Minute Greek Salad
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Homemade Crusty Artisan Bread
Best Ever Black Currant Jam
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh black currants, washed, dried and stems removed
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar (add an additional 1/2 cup if desired)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Add the black currants to a deep pot along with the sugar and lemon juice.
- Stir to combine and turn the heat to high, stirring every now and then until the mixture starts to bubble and become hot.
- Use a potato masher to mash the currants until they begin to fall apart.
- When the mixture begins to boil, continue to stir every 30 seconds or so.
- Use an instant-read thermometer - here's a link to mine (affiliate link) - to measure the temperature of the jam as it boils. Be sure the thermometer is measuring at the middle of the jam and not touching the bottom of the pot.
- Continue boiling as the temperature climbs and don't let it stop boiling until it reaches 220 degrees Fahrenheit (for low altitudes) or 210 degrees Fahrenheit (for high altitudes). This should take about 8 minutes or so.
- Once the correct temperature is reached, remove the pot from the heat and carefully spoon the jam into 2 mason jars. The jam might seem a little bit liquid at this stage - don't worry! It will thicken as it cools.
- Add the lids to the jars and allow to cool at room temperature until completely cool.
- Store in the fridge and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
*This recipe was adapted from Preparedness Mama’s post all about making pectin-free jam. Check it out HERE.
Roxana says
Hello, I’m very new to making jams. Actually this was my first time. The black currants turned very chewy in the jam. I wonder if there is any secrets for this?
Thank you,
Roxana.
Chrissie says
Thanks for your comment Roxana. I’m not sure why yours turned chewy…mine have never done this. Perhaps mash them up with a fork or a potato masher a little bit as the jam cooks, to help break them up?
Mary Ogilvie says
Roxana, your black currants probably had a high pectin content resulting in a chewier result. Also I find if I keep the jam on the heat for even a few seconds too long, it gets too thick.
Rosie Read says
Have made black currant jam for many years without pectin but was looking to use less sugar . Your recipe was perfect & my jam this year is the best tasting ever . Thanks Rosie
Chrissie says
I’m SO glad you liked it!! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
Diana says
Can you use the honey and chi seed recipe with this and Mario berries? Both are favorites. Love your blueberry and strawberry jam!
Thank you, Diana Dickerson
Eva says
How do you prepare the black currants? Do you take the brown ends off? If yes, how do you remove the ends? I’m looking at at basket of black currants right now and not sure how to proceed! Thanks.
Chrissie says
Hi! I flake as much of the brown ends off as I can and then use them as they are. 🙂
Nancy says
Where do get fresh currents? Can I use dried currents from a box?
Chrissie says
Dried currants won’t work for this recipe. Fresh currants in season can be found at farmer’s markets and sometimes at your local grocery stores in early fall/late summer.
Mary Ogilvie says
Hi Nancy, Dried currants like the ones in scones etc are actually a variety of raisin and not the same thing as black currants. Not sure why they ended up with the same name!
Phyllis says
I love black currant jam, I noticed no water added.
Could I use a little water ?
Phyllis
Chrissie says
You could, although no water intensifies the flavour 🙂
Karen Arnett says
To the person who said the blackcurrants became chewy, I’d suggest cooking the currants to soften them before adding sugar.. The sugar will draw liquid out of the fruit and can result in a chewy, shriveled up fruit. That was at least my experience when I tried making jam a while back. Now I always start by cooking them a bit first before adding the sugar
Mary says
This recipe was probably fine; I think my berries were the problem…very small and exceedingly bitter. My neighbor asked me if I would like to pick her currants and mentioned that she never watered them…I could tell by the size that they could use more water. I’ve used red currants before and they were plump and juicy…but these came out disappointingly bitter even after adding extra sugar. Be sure your berries are good and plump, or it will be a waste of time.
Pamela Sharman says
Wow, this recipe is mega easy with great results, unfortunately I only have two black currant bushes, thank you for this recipe
The Busy Baker says
You’re welcome Pamela!😊
Kurt L. says
Currant bushes are very easy to propagate – just make some cuttings of green shoots from a parent plant during the dormant season, before the plants bud out (here in Oregon that would be January to early February). Put the shoots in moist soil in pots. Keep soil most, and by late spring you will have many more new currant bush starts.
Bonnie says
I plan to make this recipe but want to confirm the size of the mason jars. Half pint?
The Busy Baker says
No, it makes two 1 pint jars. Happy cooking!
Krista says
This is my first time making jam- we have two currant bushes on our property and thought I should do something with the fruit. This was easy and I think turned out pretty good- haven’t tried the final product yet , but looking forward to it! Thx for sharing this recipe.
The Busy Baker says
You’re welcome Krista!🙂
M says
Would this recipe work as a freezer jam?
The Busy Baker says
It sure would!:)
Wanda says
Omg this is the best jam. I do wonder how long it is good for in the fridge?
Chrissie says
It lasts for about 2 weeks in the fridge 🙂
Jane gray north says
I’ve made your jam and it’s indeed delicious, but a little tart, but was wondering if I left out the lemon juice if that would help?
Chrissie says
I’d recommend halving the lemon juice, and making sure your currants are very ripe. That seems to help with tartness.
The Busy Baker says
The tartness of the jam depends a lot on the black currants. If yours are more tart than sweet you could just use less lemon juice.
Daniela says
Hi there,
My jam came out hard and with an unspredable consistency. I have a candy thermometer and it didn’t get close to 220 …. I think waiting for the jam to hit 220 degrees is what lead me to overcook it.
Any suggestions for next time?
The Busy Baker says
Food safety regulations state that jams need to be boiled to 220 degrees Fahrenheit or slightly lower depending on elevation. Is there a chance you used Celsius?
Mary Ogilvie says
Probably a high pectin content made it that way. Sometimes it’s like wine gums! Don’t cook as long, store in the fridge and eat up quickly.
Sam says
So easy to make! Turns out perfectly, will definitely make it again 🙂
Chrissie says
So glad you loved it!