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This easy, delicious blueberry jam recipe is made with 4 ingredients: blueberries, sugar, lemons, and honey! The honey is used to replace some of the sugar, and the lemon zest + juice perfectly balance out the sweetness of the jam. You can spread it on some toast, top your yogurt, or stir it into your matcha lattes!

Blueberry jam in a white ramekin on a wooden table, surrounded by a few blueberries.

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🫐 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • You won’t need any special equipment, not even a thermometer! When I worked as a pastry cook, making jam was a simple part of our to-do list. We just combined all the ingredients in a pan and checked for doneness using the spatula test: scrape the pan’s bottom; if the spatula leaves a clear trail that takes 2-3 seconds to fill back up, it’s done!
  • I swapped out ⅓ cup of sugar with honey 🍯. This gives the perfect balance of flavors, where the honey doesn’t overpower but enhances the blueberry flavor nicely.
  • There’s no added pectin. Blueberries naturally contain a good amount of pectin, which is a thickening agent that makes jam… jammy. Plus, the longer you cook your jam, the more water evaporates, which yields thicker jam anyway.
  • It makes a great gift 🎁! You can easily make a large batch, portion them out into smaller jars, and tie a little twine or ribbon on the outside. Who doesn’t love a homemade gift, especially if it’s food?

Ingredients

To make homemade blueberry jam, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Blueberry jam labeled ingredients laid out on a wooden table.

Ingredient Notes

  • Make sure to wash your fresh blueberries before cooking.
  • Although we are using granulated sugar, about ⅓ cup of it will be replaced with honey. I believe this adds such a nice subtle flavor to the blueberry jam, while also cutting back on the processed sugar.
  • We will be using both lemon juice and lemon zest, which balances out the sweetness nicely.

For the full list of ingredients and measurements, see the recipe card below.

💡 Recipe Tips

  • Use fresh, ripe blueberries! The more ripe, the more flavorful the jam.
  • Cook the jam in a large, wide pan. I actually like using my sauté pan because it’s super wide and shallow, which helps it cook more evenly compared to a deep pot.

How To Make Blueberry Jam

Pouring honey into a large saucepan with blueberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

Step 1: In a large pan, add chopped blueberries, lemon juice, lemon zest, granulated sugar, and honey. Cook on medium heat, stirring often. Once the blueberries soften, use a masher to break them up.

Using a wooden spatula to test if blueberry jam is done by seeing if it passed the streak test in the saucepan; it did pass!

Step 2: Gently boil for 15-25 minutes, until thickened. To check if it is done, drag your spatula across the bottom of the pan. The spatula should leave a clear trail and the jam should take 2-3 seconds to fill the space back up. The jam will also thicken a bit more once cooled. Remove from heat and transfer to storage containers.

For full instructions, see the recipe card below.

FAQs

How can I tell if my jam is done without a thermometer?

You can try out the spatula test, which is what I use in this recipe!

Drag your spatula across the bottom of the pan: the spatula should leave a clear trail and the jam should take 2-3 seconds to fill the gap back up.

How can I fix runny blueberry jam?

I encourage you to put the jam back on the stove and keep cooking it!

How to fix thick blueberry jam?

You can mix in a splash of water at a time.

Can I omit the honey?

Yes, you can omit the honey. Replace it with 1/3 cup of sugar instead.

Can I use frozen blueberries instead?

Yes, you can use frozen blueberries. You don’t even have to let them thaw—add everything to the pot and cook as usual.

Blueberry jam in a white ramekin on a wooden table, surrounded by a few blueberries.

Storage

Homemade blueberry jam can last up to 2 months in the fridge. You can also store it in the freezer and let the jam thaw overnight before using.

For long-term storage, you can always can your blueberry jam! It can last for over a year if left unopened.

I really hope you enjoy this easy, homemade blueberry jam recipe! If you make it, I’d love to see! You can tag me at #bitesbybianca / @bitesbybianca on Instagram.

📖 Recipe

Blueberry jam in a white ramekin on a wooden table, surrounded by a few blueberries.

Blueberry Jam

Bianca Fernandez
This easy, delicious blueberry jam recipe is made with 4 ingredients: blueberries, sugar, lemons, and honey! The honey is used to replace some of the sugar, and the lemon zest + juice perfectly balance out the sweetness of the jam. You can spread it on some toast, top your yogurt, or stir it into your matcha lattes!
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 2 cups

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 2 pounds (907.18 g) blueberries washed and dried
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons (63 g) honey
  • 1 tablespoon (6 g) lemon zest from 1 medium lemon
  • 3 tablespoons (45 g) lemon juice from 1 medium lemon

Instructions 

  • In a large saucepan, stir together all of your ingredients: 2 pounds blueberries, 1 cup granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, and 3 tablespoons lemon juice.
  • Turn the heat to medium and stir. Once the blueberries soften, mash them up in the pan. Gently boil for 15-25 minutes, scraping the bottom + sides of the pan often. It will be really liquidy at first, then cook down and thicken.
  • To test if the jam is done, drag your wooden spatula across the bottom of the pan. If it leaves a clear trail and the jam takes 2-3 seconds to fill in the gap, it's finished! It will continue to thicken while it cools.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • Want to omit the honey? Replace it with ⅓ cup sugar instead.
  • Tips:
    1. Use fresh, ripe blueberries! The more ripe, the more flavorful the jam.
    2. Cook the jam in a large, wide pan. I actually like using my sauté pan because it’s super wide and shallow, which helps it cook more evenly compared to a deep pot.
  • Storage: Homemade blueberry jam can last up to 2 months in the fridge. You can also store it in the freezer and let the jam thaw overnight before using. For long-term storage, you can always can your blueberry jam! It can last for over a year if left unopened.
Serving: 1 cup blueberry jamCalories: 746kcalCarbohydrates: 193gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gSodium: 7mgPotassium: 396mgFiber: 11gSugar: 172gVitamin A: 248IUVitamin C: 57mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg

The nutritional information is an estimated value per serving.

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