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Home » Recipes » Sauces and Spreads

By Kaleigh McMordie - July 18, 2016, Updated July 15, 2022

Low Sugar Strawberry Jam

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low sugar strawberry jam in a jar with strawberries around it with text overlay.

Low sugar homemade strawberry jam perfectly captures delicious summer strawberries in easy-to-make, fruit-forward jam. This strawberry jam recipe made with Ball low sugar pectin is great for canning so that that you can enjoy it all year long! (gluten-free)

strawberry jam in a glass jar with strawberries and toast behind it.

I've been making homemade jam since I was in college, stirring away, canning, and making a big mess in a tiny little rent house that didn't even have a dishwasher - it was quite the project! I got into it because my dear aunt used to make and gift her homemade raspberry jam, and once she passed away, I knew I wanted to carry on the tradition. It's now second nature to me, and it's so rewarding making your own jam that is healthier, tastes delicious, and allows you to preserve fruit for months to enjoy throughout the year! Strawberry jam was the first flavor I ever made, and I still enjoy it to this day.

Why You'll Love This Low Sugar Strawberry Jam Recipe

This homemade strawberry jam is so simple and delicious. It tastes like real strawberries, nothing like the syrupy sweet (and fructose-filled) versions that line grocery stores. It's turns ordinary English muffins or toasted sourdough bread into a delightful breakfast treat. Not only is it better tasting, this jam is also better for you, made with very little sugar compared to most recipes, letting the natural flavor of strawberries shine through!

What You'll Need

  • Strawberries
  • Ball Low Sugar Pectin
  • Lemon Juice - Use bottled lemon juice for consistent acidity.
  • Sugar
  • Jars
  • A large pot
  • A potato masher or immersion blender

If you're canning the jam, you'll also need:

  • New lids
  • A water bath canner or a pot large enough to fully submerge the jars
  • A rack for the canner (or a dishtowel for the bottom)
  • A jar lifter is helpful, too
9 image collage showing steps for making and canning low sugar strawberry jam with pectin.

How To Make Low Sugar Strawberry Jam

  1. Use a potato masher to mash the strawberries. You can also use a food mill or blender if you'd like your jam more smooth.
  2. Add crushed strawberries, lemon juice and pectin to the pot and stir to combine them.
  3. Heat over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Keep stirring to prevent the bottom from scorching.
  4. Once boiling, stir in the sugar. Bring back to a rolling boil and boil for one minute, stirring. Careful not to burn yourself - the mixture will splatter!
  5. Remove from heat. If you're not canning, let the jam cool slightly before dividing into containers. It will firm up as it cools, so don't let it get completely cold. If you are canning, proceed without letting the jam cool.

How To Can It

  1. Start with clean jars washed in warm, soapy water. Keep the jars warm until you're ready to fill them to prevent shattering once you add the hot liquid. According to the USDA, you no longer need to sterilize jars before canning if you will be processing for 10 minutes or longer.
  2. Pour hot jam into warm jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace.
  3. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean cloth dipped in vinegar.
  4. Top with lids and screw on bands until finger-tight.
  5. Place jars in a water bath canner with a rack (or a large pot with a dish towel in the bottom). Bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes. For altitude, add 1 minute for every 1,000 ft above sea level.
  6. Remove jars from the water bath and set on a towel on the counter. Let them cool to room temperature, and wait for up to 24 hours for jars to seal. You'll hear 'pops' as the lids seal. The lids should be fully indented and not spring back up when pressed to indicate a good seal. Store in a cool, dark place (like the pantry) for up to 18 months.

For more detailed instruction on canning, read my Beginner's Guide To Canning.

How Long Will It Last Without Canning?

The strawberry jam will last 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator without canning. You can also store cooled jam in the freezer for up to 1 year.

overhead view fo toast spread with strawberry jam on a white plate with a gold knife surrounded by strawberries.

Low Sugar Strawberry Jam Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use honey instead of sugar?

Yes. Honey is sweeter than sugar, so you will need less than the amount of sugar that the recipe calls for.

Can I use more or less sugar than is in the recipe?

Yes! Using the low sugar pectin allows you to adjust the sugar to taste, so you can use none at all, or up to one cup.

Can the recipe be doubled?

Yes! I usually make up to 8 jars (double the batch) with success. Any more than that and you risk it not setting up right.

How can I prevent browning/dull color?

Browning or a dull color is caused by oxygen in the jar. Make sure you don't leave too much headspace, and that you try to get any air bubbles out of the jars prior to processing. You can run a clean skewer, butter knife, or chopstick around the edges of the jar to remove air bubbles. Some recipes will have you add a teaspoon of butter to prevent foaming (foaming = more air bubbles). You could also add citric acid to prevent browning.

Can I make this jam without pectin?

You can make jam without pectin, but that's not this recipe. You'll need a specific method and recipe for no pectin jam.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the comments!

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Low-Sugar Strawberry Jam

low sugar strawberry jam in a jar with strawberries around it.
Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.3 from 4 reviews

Low sugar homemade strawberry jam perfectly captures delicious summer strawberries in easy-to-make, fruit-forward jam. This strawberry jam recipe made with Ball low sugar pectin is great for canning so that that you can enjoy it all year long! (gluten-free)

  • Author: Kaleigh
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1-cup (half pint) jars 1x
  • Category: condiment
  • Method: stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups strawberries, hulled and crushed
  • 2 tbsp bottled lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp low sugar pectin (such as Ball)
  • ½ cup sugar

Instructions

  1. If you are canning your jam, wash them in hot, soapy water and rinse well. Keep them warm until you're ready to fill them. I place them in a warm oven until the jam is done.
  2. To prepare strawberries, wash them and remove stems and roughly chop them. Use a potato masher to crush them. You can also use a food mill or blender to crush them. Measure out 4 cups after mashing.
  3. Place strawberries and lemon juice in a large pot. Stir in pectin.
  4. Heat the mixture over medium high heat. Bring mixture to a rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Make sure you are stirring the whole time to prevent the bottom from scorching.
  5. Add the sugar and return to a rolling boil. Continue boiling for one minute while stirring. Careful, as the mixture will splatter! Remove from heat.
  6. If you are not canning the jam, let cool for a few minutes before pouring into containers. Allow at least an hour in the refrigerator to firm up. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to a week. It can also be frozen in freezer-safe containers.
  7. If you are canning the jam, ladle hot jam into hot jars, leaving a ¼" head space.
  8. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean cloth dipped in vinegar. Top with lids and secure tightly with rings.
  9. Place jars into a boiling water bath and boil, fully submerged, for 10 minutes.
  10. Carefully remove jars and place on a dish towel to cool. You should hear 'pops' as the lids seal. Wait up to 24 hours and check that the jars have sealed by pressing down on the center of the lids. If a lid 'clicks' or is able to be pushed down, it hasn't sealed properly.

Notes

  • Make sure to measure the strawberries after crushing.
  • Adjust the amount of sugar to taste. You can use up to 1 full cup.
  • Honey may be used in place of sugar. It is sweeter than sugar, so you will need less.
  • This jam is a little more loose. If you'd like it more solid, increase the pectin by ½ tablespoon.

Notes on canning:

  • According to the USDA, jars no longer need to be sterilized if they will be processed longer than 10 minutes. Lids do not need to be boiled, either.
  • For more detailed instructions on canning see my Beginner's Guide To Canning.
  • If any jars fail to seal properly, you can store them in the fridge or re-process them in the water bath.
  • Sealed jars can be stored in the pantry until ready to use, up to 18 months.

Keywords: low sugar strawberry jam, low sugar strawberry jam with pectin, reduced sugar strawberry jam

Did you make this recipe?

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About Kaleigh McMordie

Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD, is a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Dietitian in Abilene, Texas, as well as a member of the Baby Led Weaning Dietitians Network. Kaleigh can be found at kaleighmcmordie.com.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cynthia Walker says

    May 27, 2024 at 9:19 pm

    This is a great recipe. But…. When you up the scale on ingredients the recipe instructions do not match. I read through the instructions several times before making. I was on 3x scale for ingredients and the instructions said measure out 4 cups of strawberries after mashing. I had 16 cups of mashed strawberries, so I multiplied the other ingredients by 4 but then went back and did a 1x scale and it still said 4 cups. So now it is cooking on the stove with 1 1/2 c. Of low sugar pectin and 1 1/2 c of lemon juice…..haven’t added the sugar yet…. This may be a disaster with my wonderful 6 qts of fresh picked strawberries!

    ★★★★

    Reply
  2. norma s says

    September 01, 2022 at 3:06 am

    Hi keighly- love this recipe. I made this recipe 2 days ago-4 jars-and it set up up so well. And delicious!!!. This recipe is a winner--thank you so much. I processed the jars also.Do you have a recipe for a cherry jam using an 8 oz can crushed pineapple, and low sugar pectin. I would so appreciate your help Thanks again --- norma

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Janis Kramer says

    May 30, 2021 at 3:34 pm

    Delicious low-sugar jam! I simply mashed the berries and added 1 additional cup of sugar (tasted and it was just a bit too tart with just 1 cup). I also tripled the recipe and it worked great! Beautiful color and full fruit flavor ♥️

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  4. samantha martin says

    August 09, 2020 at 11:43 am

    I made this jam as the recipe stated but my jam didn't stay pretty and red. The color faded to a ugly dull color. Why did this happen?

    ★★★

    Reply
    • Kaleigh says

      August 09, 2020 at 3:40 pm

      Dulling can sometimes happen due to oxidation, or oxygen getting trapped in the jar. Make sure you're not leaving too much headspace and that you try to get as many of the air bubbles out as you can. You could also try adding a little citric acid.

      Reply
  5. Barb says

    July 05, 2020 at 2:55 am

    What if I want the berries chunky?

    Reply
    • Kaleigh says

      July 06, 2020 at 4:20 am

      You can use a potato masher to mash them instead of a food mill.

      Reply
  6. Diane Rock says

    September 17, 2018 at 3:42 pm

    can i use honey instead of sugaar

    Reply
    • Kaleigh says

      September 18, 2018 at 8:40 am

      Hi Diane,
      I can't say for sure since I've never tried it with honey. If you decide to try, let us know how it works out!

      Reply
  7. Summer Risen says

    July 13, 2017 at 9:18 am

    If I use a blender and puree strawberries, do I have to strain off the juice and seeds?

    Reply
    • Kaleigh says

      July 13, 2017 at 3:11 pm

      You wouldn't have to , but you'll still have seeds in your jam!

      Reply
  8. Carrie says

    July 08, 2017 at 7:33 pm

    I'm not totally in love with this jam. I essentially quadrupled it, using 16 c berries, 4 c water, 4 pkgs of certo light, 2 c sugar, and 12 tsp of lemon juice. I did smash the berries with a potato masher so it was chunky. It turned out quite tart tasting, more than I would have liked. Maybe too much lemon juice? Any one else find this jam too tart?

    Reply
    • Kaleigh says

      July 09, 2017 at 11:07 am

      Hi Carrie, I'm sorry this turned out too tart for you. Since it is low sugar, it is not as sweet. Sometimes making jam recipe too large can change the outcome, so perhaps that had an effect?

      Reply
  9. Rachel says

    July 05, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    This recipe turned out wonderful! The only change I made was to mash my strawberries with a potato masher, leaving some chunks of berries and seeds in. By definition, your recipe would actually be strawberry jelly, not jam. Other than that, I was SO happy to have a recipe with low sugar that tasted great!

    Reply
    • Kaleigh says

      July 06, 2017 at 8:03 am

      I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe! I use the masher to make chunks sometimes too if I'm too lazy to use the mill 😉 Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  10. Ardis Fureby says

    June 14, 2017 at 3:12 pm

    So glad I found this recipe. Can wait to use it on my lovely home grown strawberries. Thanks so-o-o much!!

    Reply
    • Kaleigh says

      June 14, 2017 at 7:49 pm

      That sounds amazing! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  11. Carolyn says

    June 12, 2017 at 11:12 am

    I made this yesterday and it's amazing! Just what I was looking for. I really don't like anything overly sweet and thought this recipe was perfect. Just the right sweetness, a little tangy. I didn't mill the strawberries because I wanted little chunks strawberry in it. But I have (12) 4oz jars and got 9 with the recipe as it is but if I want to fill all the jars, I think I need an additional 2 cups of strawberries, 1 or 1 1/2 tbsp pectin, and 2 tsp lemon juice, and 3/4 cup of water. Does that sound right?

    Reply
    • Kaleigh says

      June 13, 2017 at 7:07 am

      Hi Carolyn! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe! I think to fill all of your jars you will need 1 1/2 times this recipe, or an additional 2 cups of strawberries, 1/2 cup water, 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 2 1/4 tbsp pectin, and 1/4 cup sugar. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        June 13, 2017 at 8:37 pm

        Thank you. I'll try that next time.

  12. Melissa H says

    April 25, 2017 at 10:04 pm

    Just made this today and LOVE it! Thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • Kaleigh says

      April 26, 2017 at 5:36 pm

      So glad you liked it! It's so yummy for using strawberries at the end of the summer! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Ariella @ Perspective Portions says

    July 18, 2016 at 9:16 pm

    I stopped myself from purchasing jam today, thinking I could make my own instead. This is great. Can't wait to try making this.

    Reply
  14. nutritioulicious says

    July 18, 2016 at 3:27 pm

    Love the story behind how you started making your own jam. So nice you are carrying on your aunt's tradition! Can't wait to try this recipe!

    Reply

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