Recipe - Easy Bramble Jam

Bramble (or blackberry) jam is one of my favourite things to spread on warm croissants or toast. The hedges are absolutely laden with fruit at this time of year, so why not have an afternoon of hedgerow foraging and make your own jam? You can buy blackberries (even frozen) from most supermarkets so there's no need to even get your mitts dirty!

Jam making is something that used to make me nervous - visions of straining and setting points put me right off. But using jam sugar makes the whole thing ridiculously simple. It contains added pectin - a setting agent - so makes your jam setting foolproof.

Here's what you will need;

1lb brambles, washed and stalks removed
1lb jam sugar
Splash of water
Large saucepan or stock pot
Empty, sterilised jars (see method below)
A ramekin dish or saucer


1. Pop your ramekin/saucer in the freezer

2. Tip your brambles into the saucepan with a splash of water (1 tablespoonful) and heat gently

3. When the fruit starts to break down, tip in the sugar. If you like your jam smooth (like I do) then don't rush this stage, wait until they are virtually mush!

4. Once the sugar is in, bring to a rapid boil and stir regularly. It's like molten lava at this point - do not splash yourself!

5. When pink foam starts to rise up the sides of the pan, check your clock and time 4 minutes from this point, continuing to stir as needed

6. Take your ramekin/saucer out of the freezer and drop a blob of jam onto it with a teaspoon. Push the blob of jam with your finger - if a wrinkle forms, it has reached setting point

7. Take off the heat and allow to cool. Whilst it's cooling, prepare your jars by washing them with hot soapy water and rinsing with boiling water from the kettle. Allow to cool slightly before spooning in your jam

Et voila! Wasn't that simple? If you're a preserving nerd like me you can even make your own labels - I got these labels from Lakeland. They have lots of great kit for preserving, including jars. I have used these in the past but tend to re-use old jars now. I have even been known to buy a dozen jars of Tesco Value lemon curd and scrape it out so I can use the jars because it's cheaper than buying empty ones!

I'd love to know if you give this recipe a go and how your jam turns out.