Homemade Jam or Jelly Recipe Using Sure Jell Fruit Pectin
When I was a little girl, I “helped” my grandmother make homemade jams and jellies. As soon as we picked fresh fruit, I knew we would start making jam soon. I always enjoyed working with my grandmother regardless of the job. However, making homemade jam was one of my favorite chores because it yielded delicious jam for months to come.
After I married, I missed making jam and jelly with my grandmother each summer. I also missed having wonderful jam stockpiled for the winter. While we could always buy them at the grocery store, none of it tastes as good as homemade.
When a neighbor gifted me with a jar of her homemade jam, my heart yearned for my own again. I started that very summer, 30 years ago, making homemade jam in my own kitchen.
Also, Homemade Jam makes a wonderful gift for friends & family!
Easy Homemade Jam Recipe
The key to making wonderful homemade jam or jelly is using Sure Jell Fruit Pectin. Each packet added to 2 – 3 cups of finely chopped fruit fills 6 small jars.
I prefer the freezer recipe because I can store my homemade jam in the freezer until I am ready to serve it. Back in the days of cooking with my grandmother, we used the cooked recipe that is included in each box of Sure Jell fruit pectin. In my case, sadly, I don’t have a large pantry for storage of dozens of jars of preserves. However, I do have a large freezer with plenty of room.
The Freezer Jam Recipe I Use
Recently, I made peach jam, therefore those are the pictures I will use in this article. However, you can use peaches, strawberries, apricots, blueberries, cherries, grapes, pears, plums, or raspberries. The amount of fruit and sugar does vary for each fruit. Check the list below for quantities needed for anything other than peaches.
Jam Time
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Ready In | Yields |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 min. | Pectin/Water: 1 min boil |
27 hours |
6 – 8 oz jars |
Sure-Jell Premium Fruit Pectin, 1.75 Ounce Box (Pack of 4)Check Price
Ingredients for Peach Jam Recipe
- 2¼ Cups Chopped Peaches
- 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- 5 Cups of Sugar
- 1 Box Sure Jell Fruit Pectin
- ¾ Cup Water
- Freezer Canning Jars ( 6 – 8oz. freezer-safe canning jars)
Peach Jam Preparation
- Rinse clean freezer canning jars with boiling water
- Finely chop 6-8 peaches (depends of size of peaches. You need 2¼ cups chopped peaches) – If you use a potato masher, or food processor set pulse to chop, not puree
- Stir Lemon Juice into Fruit
- Stir Sugar into prepared Fruit
- Let stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally
- After the 10 min., mix ¾ cup water & Sure Jell in a sauce pan
- Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly
- Immediately stir Sure Jell mixture into prepared fruit mixture. Stir constantly for 3 minutes
- Fill jars quickly to ½” of top
- Wipe off top edges of containers and cover with lids
- Let stand at room temperature for 24 hrs.
- Freeze for up to 1 year & thaw in refrigerator
- Refrigerate for 3 weeks (it is not necessary to freeze it first. I usually put one jar in my refrigerator for immediate use and store the rest in the freezer.)
Note: I noticed that the new recipes inside the box are slightly different from the original recipe I use. It calls for more fruit and less sugar. For peaches, they list 3 cups of chopped peaches to 4½ cups sugar. Sounds like a great change to me even though I haven’t tried it yet.
Other Fruit & Sugar Options for Jam Recipes
Apricot – 2½ cups chopped apricots & 5½ cups sugar
Blackberry – 3 cups crushed blackberries & 5¼ cups sugar
Blueberry – 3 cups chopped blueberries & 5¼ cups sugar
Cherry – 2 cups finely chopped cherries & 4 cups sugar
Mango – 3 cups mashed mango & 5 cups sugar
Red Raspberry – 3 cups crushed raspberries & 5¼ cups sugar
Strawberry – 2 cups crushed strawberries & 4 cups sugar
Jelly Recipes
Apple – 3 cups apple juice & 5 cups sugar
Grape – 3 cups grape juice & 5¼ cups sugar
Recommended Jam Freezer Jars
I prefer the Ball brand of jelly jars. That choice may have more to do with longevity of experience. It is the only freezer jar I have ever used. However, I can tell you that I have never had any problems with the Ball jars and I love the quilted appearance of the jars.
Ball Mason 8oz Quilted Jelly Jars with Lids and Bands, Set of 12Check Price
Originally posted 2018-06-13 16:52:56.
This is a lovely quick recipe, thank you for sharing it with us.
Can you use a sweeter instead of sugar?
No, you cannot use an artificial sweetener instead of sugar with that original Sure Jell Fruit Pectin. However, they do make an alternative product that does not require sugar. It has dextrose already added for sweetener and requires not sugar. Check out the Sure Jell No Sugar Pectin
Where can you purchase this ?
The Sure Jell is linked above in the article. So sorry that was not obvious! Here is the link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Sure-Jell-Premium-Fruit-Pectin-Ounce/dp/B004C20NH2?tag=cookingfortheholidays-20
I made the strawberry freezer jam with Sure-Jell pectin. I’ve let the filled jars sit out 24 hours sit on the counter per directions. During that time , most of the berries floated to the top and more jam at the bottom. Did I do something wrong?
Fran, I am so sorry to hear that happened to you! I have never had that happen and I’m not sure why it would. I checked the SureJell website for an answer and found this: http://kraftfoods.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/961/kw/how%20to%20remake%20their%20batch%20of%20freezer%20jam%20and%20jelly
I hope that helps! I would not be thrilled with that answer, but I don’t have a better one for you.
Thank you for sharing your recipe. I have more shelf space and can’t seem to find a recipe to make my own creative flavors for the pantry. How do I use this recipe and be able to keep in in the pantry instead of refrigerator?
This recipe with Sure Jell requires refrigeration. You would need a recipe for canning. I recommend searching YouTube for a great canning video.
I did a stupid thing wasn’t thinking! I juice my berries before i measured it. Can u help me i have only 2 cups i haven’t done thay 2!!
Hi Terri, Definitely not stupid! Juice will make a delicious jelly, but you do need 3 cups of the juice.
Elderberry jelly recipe?
I don’t have one, but Kraft has published an Elderberry Jelly recipe here: https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/060866/surejell-elderberry-jelly
Can i make rhubarb Jam with the sure jell? how do i figure out the fruit to sugar ratio?
Yes, you can! Here is the published recipe on the Kraft website.
https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/052011/surejell-rhubarb-jam
I have fresh grape juice concord from a local winery. Can I use it ? How much juice & sugar for one pack of sure-jel??
Since I do not have experience with using grape juice concord myself, I had to search for a recipe for you. I believe this would be your best solution. I hope it works! Please let us all know if you recommend it. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/70697/grape-jelly/
I’d like to make an orange-pineapple jelly using the combined juice of both. Will Sure Jell work and how much juice and sugar ?
You have presented me with a real challenge here Gary. I have not made that combination myself. My best guess would be to try 3 cups of juice (like the apple or the grape above) and 5 cups of sugar, but that really is just a guess and where I would start. I suspect you would need to make this jelly a few times to get it perfected. Please come back and tell us all what you do when you find a recipe that works! Good luck and happy cooking!
For freezer Strawberry Jam-
must the lemon Juice be fresh, or can it be bottled?
can you use larger than 8 oz. jars
Hi Rebecca, I only use the bottled lemon juice, so I know it is fine. I have also used larger jars, so I know that is okay too.
This will be my first time making peach jam & the answer is probably obvious but do you peel the peaches first?
Yes, I do peel my peaches.
Can I use frozen mixed fruit for jam or jelly.
I have peaches, grapes, blueberries, strawberries, pineapple all frozen and mixed together . So would it be ok to make jam or jelly with it
According to Kraft (maker of Sure Jell) you can use frozen fruit (not sugared) if thawed and at room temperature.
https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/faq/can-frozen-fruit-berries-be-used-to-make-jam-how-about-canned-fruit?id=6d1fc7f3-d6f9-4688-b771-a92c40f6ad5b
Thank you, my boxes didn’t come with the recipe inside so I appreciate your posting this recipe.
In another’s comment, I have had the fruit and jelly separate so everytime I make it now as its cooling in the jars for the first couple hours I turn them upside down every 15 mins or so and that has solved the problem.
Hope that’s ok to do but I’ve been doing it that way for years.
I miss the directions in the box of Sure Jel. Am I the only 1? Not sure I will keep on buying Sure Jel without directions. What do you expect people to do without computers? I have a computer, but every time I went to check it I had to research it. What a pain.
While I think it is rare, you are not the only person who has purchased a box of Sure Jel that was missing the directions that are supposed to be in every box! I hope you found the answers you needed in this article.
I just bought 4 boxes of sure jel, yellow, at Walmart and none had instructions in it. Not happy about that.
Thank God I have made enough that I had the right amounts.
Betty Holden