1-2Tablespoonsfresh lemon juice(about the juice from one lemon)
Instructions
Wash and dry jars with lids.
In a 3.5 quart pot, over medium-high heat, add 2 (12 ounce) bags frozen raspberries, 3 ½ cups sugar, 6 ounce box raspberry Jell-O and 1-2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice. Stirring regularly.
Once sugar has dissolved (this takes anywhere from 8-10 minutes), take a potato masher and begin mashing all the berries until mostly smooth. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle boil then turn down to a simmer for about 5-6 minutes.
As it simmers, you’ll notice a light pink foam gathering at the top. Skim off any “foam” from the top of the simmering jam using a spoon.
Remove from heat and pour into clean jars. I find it easiest to do with a wide mouth funnel (non-affiliate link)
Wipe the edges of the jar with a clean, slightly damp cloth. Then screw on the lids. Allow the jars to cool completely on the counter then put into the refrigerator. Mixture fully thickens into a jam consistency after it has chilled in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Store in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Notes
Fresh berries can be used. Substitute frozen berries with 4 cups of fresh raspberries if desired.
If not using raspberry Jell-O, use 1 (3 ounce) pouch Certo liquid fruit pectin instead and increase sugar to 4 cups.
It seems like a lot of sugar but it is perfectly balanced. Use less sugar if you prefer.
This can be made seedless by simply straining the seeds using a fine mesh strainer over a bowl before pouring them into jars. Use the back of the spoon or a rubber spatula and gently push through to make sure you get all the jam without the seeds. Once all the seeds are removed, pour the remaining jam into prepared jars.
If you use the 11 ounce jars, you'll get 4 jars of jam. If you use the 8 ounce jars, you will get 6 jars of jam.
Raspberry jam can be stored in the freezer for up to a year.
I prefer to skim the foam off the top of the jam because it looks better while in the jars. However, this step is totally optional. It’s impossible to skim all the foam off the top but as long as you get a majority of it, it will look nice in the jars.
You can also can the raspberry jam using a water bath canning procedure. Follow directions here.
I created this recipe a very long time ago when a lot of the fruit I bought just didn’t have as much flavor as I would like. Fruit can be unreliable so to make sure you get the perfect batch every time, adding the flavored Jell-O really makes sure that it turns out delicious. This can be done with other fruit like strawberries and blueberries!