Angela's 'flexible' jam recipe

Angela's 'flexible' jam recipe

Make the most of fruit gluts and try making your own jam - delicious spread on homemade bread

Difficulty and servings

Easy

1.2 litres/4 jam jars

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 10 mins

Cook time

Cook 50 mins

Method

  1. Put the fruit into a preserving pan or large heavy-based saucepan. For blackberries, add 50ml of water and 1½ tbsp of lemon juice; for plums (halved and stoned), use 150ml of water; for strawberries, add 3 tbsp of lemon juice (no water); and for raspberries, add nothing. Bring to the boil.
  2. Lower the heat. For blackberries, simmer for 15 minutes; for plums, simmer for 30-40 minutes; for raspberries, simmer for 2 minutes; for strawberries, simmer for 5 minutes. The fruit should be soft.
  3. Tip in the sugar, stir over a very low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved. Raise the heat, bring to a full rolling boil, then rapidly boil blackberries for 10-12 minutes, plums for 10 minutes, raspberries for 5 minutes or strawberries for 20-25 minutes - don't stir though - until the setting point of 105C is reached.
  4. Remove from the heat, skim off any excess scum, then stir a knob of butter across the surface (this helps to dissolve any remaining scum). Leave for about 15 mins so the fruit can settle. Pour into sterilised jars, label and seal.
Try

OUR DOWNLOADABLE LABELS

Download our printable preserves labels - perfect for writing cook's notes and gift messages. You can find them here.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, August 2009.

Try 3 issues of Good Food magazine for £3 - subscribe now!

Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 20 July 2009

    cookie rated this recipe

    5 stars

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 20 July 2009

    cookie commented on this recipe

    I made the raspberry jam to this recipe but with less sugar. It was quick, easy and delicious.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 24 July 2009

    jb5370 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    What a great help it is to have all the quantities for the various jams all in one place. I made the strawberry jam and it is fabulous. Very easy. I don't have a sugar thermometer so did the plate in the freezer test to check for a set.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 30 July 2009

    Katie rated and commented on this recipe

    1 stars

    Well, I dont know what I did wrong as I followed the instructions, however, I ended up with burnt strawberry toffee, that 2 days later the residue is still burnt to the pan that is soaking away in the kitchen. Can anyone shed any light as to what I did? Boiled it too hard or something? Not sure but would like to find out as living where we do there are quite often gluts from peoples gardens and I really want to make use of the produce.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 30 July 2009

    helen commented on this recipe

    do you have tor emove the skins from the plums? if so when?

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 01 August 2009

    Tracy commented on this recipe

    I don't have a thermometer - what is the 'plate in the freezer' check?

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 02 August 2009

    Tracy commented on this recipe

    I made raspberry jam, but with 600g of fruit & equal amounts of sugar. Having never made jam before I did feel a little out of my comfort zone - but it was OK, perfect example of a nice simple recipe for any first time preserver! I did worry that the jam wasn't set enough - but I needn't worry it was fine. It tastes really nice on homemade bread - now I'm off to make some scones. x

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 02 August 2009

    ajhiggins commented on this recipe

    i have just tryed this receipe with plums and i didnt skin them its all about how u want your jam and i am waiting for it to set but i used the plate in the freezer test ( this is putting a plate in the freezer till very cold and when u want to test the setting temp u take plate out of freezer and take a small spoonful of cooked jam and place on the plate if it is still runny and doesnt set then its not ready if it sets like normal jam is in a jar then its ready) my kids tryed the spoonful that went on the plate and they loved it so i really hope it sets so they can enjoy it on there toast tomorrow morning.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 02 August 2009

    ajhiggins rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    loved doing this it was so simple easy and fast

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 08 August 2009

    GinaB commented on this recipe

    my plum jam doesn't seem to be setting as it cools, can I rescue it and how?

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 10 August 2009

    Marola rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    GinaB I'm not expert on jam making but I don't think there is a lot you can do with it now. If I was you, I would use it in cooked recipes like steamed sponge or jam tarts. You might like to try www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1774/apple-flapjack-crumble it uses jam and is excellent. Made the above blackberry version. Lovely easy recipe. Stupidly made it on a hot day 33c/91f !

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 11 August 2009

    emmz commented on this recipe

    GinaB you should put in some pectin which can help set the jam or add some chopped apple to it while cooking to help it set (you can get pectin from tesco and sometimes the chemist)

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 12 August 2009

    Mango commented on this recipe

    Made the jam - made scones - bought double cream-YUM

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 12 August 2009

    Mango rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Forgot to rate!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 13 August 2009

    dawn commented on this recipe

    Haven't made jam for a couple of years and as I have a lot of greengages at the mo (which I think are tastier than other plums) I used the plum quants and timings. It caught on the bottom a bit I think greengages may have more sugar that other varieties of plums so may reduce the sugar next time. It set beautifuly though and has that amazing honey sharp flavour that greengaes have. Yum!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 13 August 2009

    dawn rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Forgot to rate - need to try with other fruit before giving it a full five stars.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 14 August 2009

    yetta commented on this recipe

    can I make blackberry and apple jam?

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 17 August 2009

    Jennyf commented on this recipe

    I had great success using blackberries with this jam today..lovely set. I find it a bit too sweet for my own personal taste..if I used less sugar and more lemon juice, would it affect the set too much?

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 17 August 2009

    Jennyf commented on this recipe

    To yetta...yes, that's a lovely combination and the apples help it set...well, that may be the answer to MY solution, a bit of tart apple!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 18 August 2009

    Jane commented on this recipe

    My first attempt at jam making, having been given a huge bag of plums. Took 20 minutes boiling to set (cold plate method) otherwise fab and tastes gorgeous! Only made 3 x 1lb jars from recipe though, not 4 as stated. Maybe boiled so long it evaporated?

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Leave a comment or suggestion

You must sign in or register to leave a comment.

Sign in / Register

Difficulty and servings

Easy

1.2 litres/4 jam jars

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 10 mins

Cook time

Cook 50 mins

Ingredients

  • 900g fruit (blackberries, plums, raspberries or strawberries), prepared weight
  • 900g golden granulated sugar
  • knob of butter
Print this recipe
Add to your binder

Advertisement

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons why to sign up:

  • You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.

Follow Good Food

Advertisement

All about Good Food

Magazine

Good Food Magazine

Subscribe to Good Food magazine - enjoy 100+ triple-tested recipes delivered to your door, every month.

Order today, and receive your first 3 issues for just £3

On TV

Foodie TV

See your favourite chefs on Sky Channel 247, Virgin TV 260 and find their recipes at goodfoodchannel.co.uk.

Good Food Apps

Good Food Apps

For Good Food on the go, download our apps to your phone or portable device.
Find out more here

Buy ingredients

With just one click, the full list of recipe ingredients will be put into a basket at your choice of provider. Choose from:

mySupermarket Compare prices and choose a retailer you wish to buy them from.

Ocado Let Ocado deliver all you need for this recipe, right to your door

Tesco Buy all the ingredients from our recipes through your Tesco online shop.

new

Asda Shop with Asda? You can now buy ingredients for our recipes via your Asda online shop.

In association with the above providers. Terms and conditions apply.

Close