Spiced Blackberry Jam

ByJanice Pattie August 30, 2014September 30, 2022

Spiced Blackberry Jam is a delicious combination of sweet blackberries and warming spices. Make it with whole berries or make it seedless and smooth whatever your preference. It’s perfect to serve on bread, toast and scones. A jar of Spiced Blackberry Jam also makes a very welcome holiday gift.

Why make Spiced Blackberry Jam?

I can never resist picking blackberries. No matter how many boxes I already have in the freezer I still can’t resist picking more. There are only so many blackberry crumbles and tarts you can make and eat so it’s great to preserve the blackberries in a delicious jam or jelly that will last all year.

What is the difference between Jam and Jelly?

Jam and jelly are both preserves made with fruit and sugar. In the UK jam is a preserve with whole pieces of fruit and jelly is made with the strained juice from the fruit. In the US all fruit preserves are generally called jelly whether they contain pieces of whole fruit in them or not.

Versatile Jam

This jam is really versatile you can make it with whole berries for a traditional fruit jam. However, blackberries, particularly wild blackberries, contain a lot of seeds. If you prefer a seedless jam then you can put the cooked berries through a food mill or push them through a sieve. This makes a puree which you can then turn into a smooth jam with no seeds.

What ingredients do I need?

You will need:

blackberries
sugar
lemons
cinnamon sticks
star anise
cloves

What are blackberries?

Blackberries are the fruit of a usually prickly bush which is part of the rose family. Each individual blackberry, when ripe, is made up of 20-50 single seeds known as drupelets that are small, juice-filled, and a deep purplish-black when ripe

Are brambles the same as blackberries?

In Scotland blackberries are known as brambles, the terms can be used interchangeably. Sometimes the long, prickly arching stems are referred to as the brambles and the fruit the blackberries. Whatever you call them, they are absolutely delicious!

Where can I find blackberries?

Foraged Blackberries

Wild blackberries grow in all kinds of places. You will find them growing over ruined buildings, at the edges of woodlands, in parks, and in hedgerows. I even have them invading my garden!

Cultivated Blackberries

You can buy cultivated blackberries at markets, in supermarkets and greengrocer’s shops. You can also grow the cultivated varieties in your garden. One of the advantages of cultivated blackberries is that you can get thornless varieties.

How do I forage for blackberries?

I live on a farm and have easy access to wild blackberries growing in abundance in the hedgerows and lanes around the farm. I’ve grown up knowing how to pick blackberries and which ones to reject. If you are unsure about which you should pick, here are some tips on what to look out for:

Blackberries are at their best towards the latter half of summer, peaking in August and early September.
You will find blackberries in woods, hedges, roadside verges, and possibly even in your garden.
Do not trespass on private property, always ask if you see blackberries in an area that looks private.
Don’t pick blackberries close to a busy road as the berries will be covered in pollution from exhaust fumes.
Pick only berries that are fully black and shiny. Mature berries are plump yet firm, a deep black colour, and pull free from the plant without a yank. Berries do not ripen after being picked.
Once you pick each berry check the core (see photo above) it should be white and not discoloured. If it is brown then the berry is past its best and should go into the compost.
Pick blackberries during the cooler parts of the day. Once picked, place berries in the shade and refrigerate as soon as possible
Once you get your berries home, pour them out into trays or baking trays in a single layer, and remove any soft or unripe berries and random leaves.
Don’t wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze them. Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.

What kind of sugar should I use?

I use ordinary granulated sugar

What are cinnamon sticks?

Cinnamon is a spice that comes from the bark of an evergreen tree of the laurel family (Lauraceae). The spice, consists of the dried inner bark, and is brown in colour and has a delicately fragrant aroma and a warm sweet flavour.

What is Star Anise?

Star anise is a spice made from the fruit of the Chinese evergreen tree Illicium verum. It has star-shaped pods from which the spice seeds are harvested and has a flavour that is reminiscent of aniseed or licuorice.

What are cloves?

Cloves are the dried flowers of the clove tree. Cloves are native to the Spice Islands near China, and spread throughout Europe and Asia during the late Middle Ages as an important part of local cuisine.

Can I make the jam without the spices?

You can make Spiced Blackberry Jam just as easily without the spices. Not everyone likes cloves and star anise so please feel free leave the spice package out of the jam.

How many jars does this recipe make?

The recipe will make approximately 3 jars of jam with whole berries and 2 1/2 jars if the fruit is pureed.

How long can I keep Spiced Blackberry Jam?

Store the jam in sterilised jam jars with sealed lids for up to 12 months. You can keep it longer and will still be edible, but it will start to deteriorate a little after a year.

How do I sterilise my jam jars?

Carefully wash and rinse the glass jars and the metal lids
Put the wet glass jars on a baking tray upside down.
Put the baking tray and jam jars into the oven at 150C just as you start to make the jam. The water inside the jars will turn to steam which helps to sterilise the jars.
Put the lids into a large heatproof jug or bowl and cover with boiling water from the kettle. Drain and lay out the lids to dry on kitchen paper.
When your jam is ready take the jars out of the oven and fill them with hot jam, then put on the lids.
When the jars have cooled check that the lids are tight and tighten further if needed.

You can also sterilise your jam jars on a hot wash in the dishwasher.

Do I need to water bath the Spiced Blackberry Jam?

No, as long as the jars are sterilised and sealed while the jam is hot, you don’t need to water bath this Blackberry Jam.

Can I freeze Spiced Blackberry Jam?

Yes, you can freeze it. However, unless you want to keep it for longer than 9 months, there is no real need. Cool the Blackberry Jam as quickly as possible and store in sealed containers. Defrost in the fridge and use the defrosted jam within a week.

Vegetarian

Spiced Blackberry Jam is suitable for vegetarians.

Gluten Free

This jam is suitable for a gluten free diet.

For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.

How should I serve Spiced Blackberry Jam?

Serve Spiced Blackberry Jam with bread and butter, toast, muffins, pancakes, crumpets and croissants. The smooth pureed version of the jam is also delicious as a filling for a Victoria Sponge cake or Jam Thumbprint Cookies. Add a spoonful to Greek yogurt or porridge for breakfast.

More Blackberry Recipes

Blackberry & Apple Jelly is a classic and delicious jelly that is the perfect way to preserve the flavours of autumn (fall). I will take you step-by-step through the process of making jelly with this simple recipe.

Low Sugar Blackberry & Apple Jam has all the flavour of Blackberry & Apple Jam with two-thirds less sugar than traditional jams and jellies. It’s easy to make in a small batch and perfect to spread on bread, toast and scones.

Make Blackberry and Vanilla Cordial with fresh or frozen blackberries and a whole vanilla pod. It has a rich blackberry flavour with just a hint of vanilla. It is easy to make and much less expensive than the high-end fruit cordials.

Hedgerow Vodka is a delicious liqueur made from blackberries, rosehips and rowan berries that you can gather in the hedgerows of Britain. It is really easy to make and a bottle of Hedgerow Vodka makes a great gift for Christmas and the Holidays.