The ULTIMATE Guide to Freezer Jam ~ put away the big canning pot, the tongs, and all that pesky canning equipment, freezer jam is so much easier! Get your creative juices flowing with this collection of the world’s best freezer jam recipes ~ I’ve organized them by season, so you’ll never be without something wonderful to spread on your morning toast!
First up, there are a few tips that apply when making a great freezer jam, no matter which of the following recipes you decide to make~
- Freezer and small batch jams are quick, easy, and have better color and flavor than canned jams. They maintain more of the integrity of the fruit and tend to be a healthier alternative to sugar laden preserves.
- You can make freezer jam with any amount of fruit, even just a handful, so experiment with unusual fruits, or get creative and and feel free to mix and match! Combine different berries together, or pair berries with stone fruit.
- You can use fresh or frozen fruit, both will work.
- Even though you will not be canning your jams and jellies, be sure to start with scrupulously clean jars.
- Freezer jam recipes don’t require the large amounts of sugar that canning recipes do, so feel free to use minimal sugar, or none at all for a super healthy product. Note: I find a little bit of sugar can actually serve to intensify the flavor of the fruit, so I will sometimes add a bit for that reason.
- Pectin is optional, you can thicken your jam by cooking it down on the stove until it thickens naturally as the moisture evaporates. Pectin comes in dry or liquid form, and some is specifically made for low sugar recipes… if a recipe calls for pectin, follow the directions carefully and don’t try to substitute one type for another.
- Kick up the flavor of your jam with lemon juice, or even a little bit of liqueur. I like to use a touch of spice, like cinnamon or cardamom with fall jams.
How to Freeze any jam ~
- Did you know that ANY jam recipe can be converted to a freezer jam, just skip the canning stage and send right to the freezer after cooling.
- After ladling your hot jam into clean jars, let it cool completely at room temperature before capping and refrigerating or freezing. You can freeze jam in plastic or glass, and you can even freeze jam in zip lock freezer bags, just be sure to press out any extra air before zipping them up.
- Be sure to leave at least 1/2 inch free space at the top of the jar to allow for expansion in the freezer.
- Jams and jellies will keep for a month in the refrigerator, but up to a year in the freezer.
SUMMER FREEZER JAMS
HABANERO NECTARINE FREEZER JAM | The View from Great Island
EASY BLUEBERRY FREEZER JAM | She Wears Many Hats
SALTED HONEY CANTALOUPE JAM | bon appetit
EASY NECTARINE BLUEBERRY FREEZER JAM | Saving Room for Dessert
HEIRLOOM TOMATO JAM | A Cozy Kitchen
SWEET CHERRY FREEZER JAM | The Cafe Sucre Farine
SIMPLE EUROPEAN STYLE STRAWBERRY JAM| The View from Great Island
SPICED PEACH JAM | Texanerin Baking
RED CURRANT JELLY | woman & home
PEACH PINEAPPLE FREEZER JAM | Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen
BLUEBERRY LIME CHIA JAM | The Hungry Herbavores
BLACKBERRY FREEZER JAM | Garnish & Glaze
MANGO JAM | Masala Herb
3 MINUTE NO SUGAR MICROWAVE JAM | The View from Great Island
PINEAPPLE PASSION FRUIT JAM | The Flexitarian
SUPER EASY HOT PEPPER JELLY | The View from Great Island
RASPBERRY NO COOK REFRIGERATOR JAM | The Pioneer Woman
DRAGON FRUIT JAM | Vegetarian Tastebuds
SPICY SUMMER TOMATO JAM | Saving Room for Dessert
EASY BLUEBERRY JAM | Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
KIWI JALAPENO JAM | Chilipeppermadness
VANILLA MANGO JAM | Rock Recipes
PEACH AND PEPPER JAM | Seasons & Suppers
EASY GUAVA JAM | Garlic and Zest
SMALL BATCH LOW SUGAR APRICOT JAM | Happy Foods Tube
FALL FREEZER JAMS
SPICED PLUM BUTTER| Nutmeg Nanny
FRENCH APPLE JAM | The View from Great Island
PERSIMMON JAM | Ichigo Shortcake
GRAPE JELLY WITH ANISE SEED AND CINNAMON | boxofspice
QUINCE JAM | Simply Recipes
ROSEHIP JAM | East Coast Living
JALAPENO CINNAMON PLUM JAM | Kitchen Gone Rogue
CRAB APPLE JELLY WITH CINNAMON, CLOVES, AND ALLSPICE | Spicelines
HAWTHORN JAM | China Sichuan Food
WINTER FREEZER JAMS
EASY CRANBERRY JAM | Baking Ginger
CLEMENTINE JAM | The View from Great Island
BALSAMIC ROSEMARY ONION JAM | Love & Olive Oil
LEMON JAM | Give Recipe
HOLIDAY JAM| Saving Room for Dessert
CRANBERRY CURD | The View from Great Island
PEAR FREEZER JAM | the balance
LIGNONBERRY JAM | Masala Herb
CARDAMOM FIG JAM | The View from Great Island
‘OLD FASHIONED’ JELLY WITH LEMON, BOURBON AND BITTERS | Jess Pryles
CRANBERRY JAM | Baked by Rachael
MEYER LEMON MICROWAVE CURD | The View from Great Island
SMALL BATCH GRAPEFRUIT JAM | Seasons & Suppers
PINK CHAMPAGNE JELLY | Boulder Locavore
BOURBON BACON JAM ~ Cravings of a Lunatic
BANANA BOURBON BUTTER | The View from Great Island
EASY BLOOD ORANGE MARMALADE | The Cafe Sucre Farine
GRAPEFRUIT CURD | fork vs spoon
BLOOD ORANGE JAM | The View from Great Island
APPLE CRANBERRY BUTTER | The View from Great Island
CARAMELIZED BANANA JAM | The Cafe Sucre Farine
PINK GRAPEFRUIT VANILLA BEAN JAM | The View from Great Island
SPRING FREEZER JAMS
STRAWBERRY CHIA SEED JAM | Downshiftology
LILAC JELLY | Rhulman
RHUBARB BUTTER | The View from Great Island
ELDERFLOWER JELLY | madonna del piatto
RASPBERRY RHUBARB FREEZER JAM | Baking Bytes
HONEYSUCKLE JELLY | Daily Dish Recipes
STRAWBERRY RHUBARB LEMON FREEZER JAM | Lord Byron’s Kitchen
Whether I’m actually canning jam or making a small batch refrigerator version, I love to store it in my Weck jars. These gorgeous glass jars from Germany come in all sorts of shapes and sizes ~ I want one of each! Click on the photos for more info…
31 Comments
Mike from Chili Pepper Madness
August 23, 2018 at 5:40 amI always have some sort of homemade jam in my fridge. So perfect for quick snacks and spreads, but they are also great over grilled foods for a quick sauce. Love them!
Laura | Tutti Dolci
September 2, 2017 at 2:50 pmThis is such a fun post and you’ve totally inspired me to try freezer jam! 🙂
Sue
September 2, 2017 at 6:17 pmGo or it Laura, you can use it in all your gorgeous baked treats!
Liz
September 2, 2017 at 11:56 amSo many amazing recipes! Yeah, this kind of jam making is right up my alley!
Alexandra
September 2, 2017 at 10:11 amFreezing has so many advantages and is a process with which one can experiment a lot. Thank you Sue for your guidelines and the collection of ideas and recipes! These are really helpful to me since I have to be a bit careful with my sugar intake. The last couple of years I have been reducing the sugar level significantly (1/0.5 ratio) and still jamming the way we all do here (hot pots filled with hot fruit, close and turn upside down, in the pantry). Now I can go even further down (1/0.3-0.2)….., jam-freeze, and still enjoy our produce. Great project Sue, thank you!!!
Sue
September 2, 2017 at 11:37 amThank you! If you can tolerate natural fruit sugar then you’re going to love some of these recipes, some of my favorites need no sugar at all, like my microwave berry jams.
Alexandra
September 2, 2017 at 12:03 pmThank you again, Sue
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
August 31, 2017 at 7:49 amWow! What a great collection of jams. And thanks so much for including my peach and pepper jam (one of my favourites!). So many jams, so little time. I’ll have to pick a few and get at least some jam done this Summer 🙂
Linda L.
August 30, 2017 at 9:48 pmSo amazing, Sue! Brilliant inspiration for Christmas gifting – there’s definitely something for every taste here.
This would make a terrific book … just an idea!
David in Florida
August 30, 2017 at 12:35 pmI love your site to begin with, but now I’m smitten. This post was fantastic as I’ve always wanted to make jams and butters, but was intimidated by the “old fashioned” methods. Thanks for sharing these great recipes.
Sue
August 30, 2017 at 1:31 pmI’m glad I could inspire you David, I was the same way for a while, I didn’t like all the fussy rigamarole you have to do with traditional canning, this way is much better. Good luck with your jamming!
Pamela
August 30, 2017 at 10:45 amLove all the freezer jam, thanks for putting it together.will be pining this.
Sue
August 30, 2017 at 1:32 pmThanks Pamela 🙂
DAVID M. DUNN
August 30, 2017 at 9:12 amI no longer have any reason to avoid making jam. So annoying. Your photography is just as tasty. Your site is getting better and better.
Sue
August 30, 2017 at 10:27 amThanks David! Let me know which one you try first 🙂
John/Kitchen Riffs
August 30, 2017 at 7:40 amLove the idea of making jam, but it takes time. And is messy. So I never get around to doing it. Freezer or refrigerator jam? Well, that’s my, um, jam. Wonderful post — thanks.
Sue
August 30, 2017 at 7:40 amthanks John, I know this was a long list to get through, but hopefully you’ll try one or two, most of them are so easy!!
[email protected]'s Recipes
August 29, 2017 at 9:57 pmwow what a collection of jam! Wish I could taste all of them, Sue.
Sue
August 30, 2017 at 7:44 amThat would be a challenge, but tasty!
Matt @ Plating Pixels
August 29, 2017 at 4:13 pmWow so many options here. I want to try them all! Recently did a few recipes the traditional way and found it super fun, but this is great for a simple, healthier option.
Sue
August 29, 2017 at 5:11 pmIn all honestly I got kind of obsessed with finding as many great recipes as I worked through this round-up ~ there are so many interesting ways to do jam, it’s mind boggling!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables
August 29, 2017 at 3:40 pmNow that’s a lot of jam! Haha I’ve never made jam at home but now I’m thinking I should try!
Chris Scheuer
August 29, 2017 at 2:13 pmWow, I’ve been waiting for this, what an amazing collection! I think I’m going to run to the kitchen and make some biscuits!!! Thanks for sharing our jams 🙂
Sue
August 29, 2017 at 2:24 pmMake extra for me Chris!!
Lynn | The Road to Honey
August 29, 2017 at 1:41 pmSuch great tips on making homemade freezer jam Sue. I try to avoid most store bought jams because they are loaded with sugar. Of course, making my own jam is a pain because I am not too keen on the whole canning process. . .that’s what I love about freezer jam. I’ve made it a couple of times but seeing the collection of jams you pulled together has inspired me to make another batch in the not-so-distant future.
Sue
August 29, 2017 at 1:48 pmI love all kinds of jam, even store bought, but what I love about these easy recipes is that you can customize them and get so creative! Happy jamming Lynn!
Amy @ The Cook Report
August 29, 2017 at 12:34 pmYum, it’s always great to have something tasty on hand to bring some summer! Great round up
Zerrin
August 29, 2017 at 11:57 amWow! This is such a wonderful list of jams that I’m sure it will be the ultimate guide to everyone. I’m happy to see my lemon jam included in the list! Pinning!
Sue
August 29, 2017 at 12:04 pmI’m exhausted but this was so much fun Zerrin ~ and I LOVE your lemon jam!!
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert
August 29, 2017 at 11:42 amOh my goodness, this is the best roundup of jams, jellies and butters I’ve ever seen! What more could we want – this is a cookbook in itself! Thanks for including my recipes – love the link love!! Pinning and sharing.
Sue
August 29, 2017 at 12:05 pmI just want to sit down with some toast right now 🙂 Thanks for sharing your gorgeous jams, Tricia!