Blackcurrant Jam

I have made many jars of jam over the years and I used to sell it in my cafe. I had a lot of blackcurrants in the freezer so I decided to make it into jam so that I could use it in my baking.

I had some blackcurrants in the freezer but if you have less fruit then just adjust the sugar. You need the same amount of fruit to sugar to fruit though I would not advise making more than 1kg at a time as the setting point is harder to achieve.

The jam will keep for a year in sterilised jars - if you don’t use it before then!!! Jam is a great thing to make if you have excess fruit in your garden as it will keep for a year and you can use it in your baking even when not in season.

Blackcurrant jam is delicious on fresh bread, with clotted cream on scones or in frangipani tarts.

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To start put the jam jars and lids in the oven at 140 degrees centigrade (120 fan) faced down on a baking tray.

Place 2 saucers in the freezer to use later.

Put the fresh or frozen blackcurrants and lemon juice into a large pan or jam pan if you have one and on a low heat stir until the fruit starts to go soft. If you push them against the side of the pan they will squash slightly.

Then add the sugar and dissolve on a low heat stirring all the time so the sugar doesn’t burn.

Once the sugar is fully dissolved turn the heat up and boil for about 10 minutes until the fruit starts to break down and the jam starts to thicken.

Take one of the saucers from the freezer and take a small amount of jam and put on the saucer and place in the freezer for a minute.

Then rub your finger through the jam and if it wrinkles then it is ready. If it doesn’t then continue to boil and keep testing every 5 minutes until it wrinkles.

Add a knob of butter after setting point is reached as this will reduce any foam on the surface of the jam.

Take the jars out of the oven and fill them with the jam.

Finally put the lids on tightly and leave to cool.

Label and store for up to a year.

Blackcurrant Jam

Sarah's servings: 6 Jars

Sarah's skill: Medium

INGREDIENTS

1 kg blackcurrants

2 lemons, juiced

1 kg granulated sugar

1 tsp unsalted butter (optional)

METHOD

1. To start put the jam jars and lids in the oven at 140 degrees centigrade (120 fan) faced down on a baking tray.

2. Place 2 saucers in the freezer to use later.

3. Put the fresh or frozen blackcurrants and lemon juice into a large pan or jam pan if you have one and on a low heat stir until the blackcurrants start to go soft. If you push them against the side of the pan they will squash slightly.

4. Then add the sugar and dissolve on a low heat stirring all the time so the sugar doesn’t burn.

5. Once the sugar is fully dissolved turn the heat up and boil for about 10 minutes until the fruit starts to break down and the jam starts to thicken.

6. Take one of the saucers from the freezer and take a small amount of jam and put on the saucer and place in the freezer for a minute.

7. Then rub your finger through the jam and if it wrinkles then it is ready. If it doesn’t then continue to boil and keep testing every 5 minutes until it wrinkles.

8. Add a knob of butter after setting point is reached as this will reduce any foam on the surface of the jam.

9. Take the jars out of the oven and fill them with the jam and put the lids on tightly.
   

EQUIPMENT USED

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SARAH'S EXTRA SLICE

If you have more or less fruit then just adjust the water and sugar. You need the same amount of fruit to sugar.

Make sure you keep stirring the jam so that it does not burn.

Using a jam funnel makes filling the jars easier but it is not essential.

Add a knob of butter after setting point is reached as this will reduce any foam on the surface of the jam.

The jam will keep for a year in sterilised jars - if you don’t use it before then!!! Jam is a great thing to make if you have excess fruit in your garden as it will keep for a year and you can use it in your baking even when not in season.