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    Home » Recipes » Single Serving Breakfast

    By Joanie Zisk Published: Jun 9, 2019 · Updated: Feb 15, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · Please read my disclosure

    Easy Small Batch Refrigerator Jam

    Jump to Recipe
    a jar of blueberry jam with a knife sticking out of the jar.

    This is the easiest 2 ingredient refrigerator jam recipe! All you need is sugar and blueberries or strawberries to make your favorite jam. The jam is made on a stovetop, then refrigerated until you're ready to enjoy. No pectin is necessary for this quick, easy, and absolutely delicious homemade jam.

    A small jar of grape jam with a knife sticking out from the top of the jar plated on a metal tray with two scones in the background

    What could be more scrumptious in the morning than a warm biscuit, slathered in butter and a spoonful of homemade jam. Not many things, I assure you. With this easy small batch refrigerator jam recipe, you can have fresh tasting, made-from-scratch jam in minutes.

    There's no need to break out your canning gear and put away the pectin, they aren't even necessary with this simple jam recipe.

    Why We Love This Recipe

    • This homemade jam recipe yields a small batch of jam which makes it ideal if you're cooking for one.
    • The jam is made without pectin for thickening. The only ingredients needed are sugar and fruit. Jam made without pectin tends to be a little softer and looser than jam made with pectin, but is absolutely delicious and makes it a jam you can make almost any time you want with ingredients you probably have on hand.

    RELATED: 20 Breakfast Recipes For One

    Ingredients

    See recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

    • blueberries or strawberries
    • sugar

    Keep in mind that the natural sweetness of fruit can vary greatly. Taste your blueberries and strawberries before you begin to make the jam. If the fruit tastes tart, you might want to add slightly more sugar than this recipe calls for.

    This recipe yields 1 small jar of blueberry or strawberry jam, about ¾ cup.

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    How To Make Jam

    • Place the blueberries and sugar in a medium-sized saucepan and bring to a simmer. Mash the berries slightly with a potato masher or the bottom of a fork.
    a pot filled with blueberries and sugar on the stove.
    • Begin to stir the berries and sugar together as soon as the berries begin to boil.
    softened berries in a pot with a spoon on the side showing how to make homemade jam.
    • Continue to cook and stir occasionally until jam begins to thicken. The jam cooks quickly and as it cooks, it thickens naturally. You can see exactly what I mean our recipe video below.
    blueberry jam thickening up in a small saucepan.
    • When the mixture reaches a gel consistency, remove pan from the heat. When the jam has cooled, pour into a clean glass jar.

    Expert Tips

    • Although you can use many different kinds of fruit with this jam recipe, it is best for berries that naturally contain pectin.
    • The fruit and sugar need 20 to 30 minutes to cook and thicken. You can't rush the process. Cooking the fruit slowly helps the moisture to leave the fruit, helping it to thicken.
    • Fruit varies in water content and some fruits may take longer to thicken. Start checking for jam thickness after about 20 minutes.
    • Make sure the fruit you use is all about the same size. Cut fruit in half or into quarters before you get started.

    Note: Jam made without pectin is generally not as thick as store bought jam but its fresh taste makes it even more delicious.

    RELATED: Apple Recipes For One

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What Other Kinds Of Fruit Can I Use?

    You can make refrigerator jam with just about any kind of fruit so feel free to use what you have available and whichever fruits are in season. You might also like to consider adding a hefty pinch of fresh herbs like rosemary or mint or grating fresh ginger and adding it to the fruit as it cooks on the stove.

    How To Store Homemade Jam?

    It must be stored in the refrigerator and will last for 3 weeks.

    Strawberry jam spread on a scone that is on a plate next to a jar of jam, a cup of coffee, and a small bowl of strawberries all on a metal tray

    Homemade jam is so delicious when spread on strawberry scones or biscuits. A spoonful is also wonderful stirred into plain or vanilla yogurt.

    RELATED: 25 Single Serving Summer Recipes

    Other Single Serving and Small Batch Blueberry Recipes

    • Lemon Blueberry Muffin
    • Blueberry Crumble
    • Baked Oatmeal
    • Berry Filled Dutch Baby

    Single Serving and Small Batch Strawberry Recipes

    • Strawberry Shortcake
    • Strawberry Ice Cream
    • Watermelon Strawberry Sorbet

    If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page. For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.

    We now have a COOKING FOR ONE Facebook group. Join us to share your favorite single serving recipes and find new ones too. We’d love to see you there!

    Click HERE to join the community!

    If you’ve tried this easy small batch jam recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.

    Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see!

    jar of blueberry jam

    Easy Small Batch Refrigerator Jam (Blueberry or Strawberry)

    Easy small batch refrigerator jam made with just two ingredients. Use blueberries or strawberries and sugar in this quick stovetop recipe.
    4.87 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    See the post above for expert tips,
    FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Cooling time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: Breakfast
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 40kcal
    Author: Joanie Zisk

    Video

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups blueberries (1 pint) or 2 cups chopped strawberries
    • ¼ cup sugar
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Combine the blueberries (or strawberries) and the sugar in a medium saucepan. Mash berries slightly with a potato masher or the bottom of a fork. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
    • As soon as the berries begin to boil, begin to stir.
    • Continue to cook and stir occasionally until jam begins to thicken. During the last few minutes of cook time, stir vigorously so that the mixture doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
      When the mixture reaches a gel consistency, remove pan from the heat. 
    • Pour into a clean glass jar.

    Notes

    Expert Tips
    • Although you can use many different kinds of fruit with this jam recipe, it is best for berries that naturally contain pectin.
    • The fruit and sugar need 20 to 30 minutes to cook and thicken. You can't rush the process. Cooking the fruit slowly helps the moisture to leave the fruit, helping it to thicken.
    • Fruit varies in water content and some fruits may take longer to thicken. Start checking for jam thickness after about 20 minutes.
    • Make sure the fruit you use is all about the same size. Cut fruit in half or into quarters before you get started.
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Small Batch Refrigerator Jam (Blueberry or Strawberry)
    Amount Per Serving (1 tablespoon)
    Calories 40
    % Daily Value*
    Potassium 37mg1%
    Carbohydrates 10g3%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 10g11%
    Vitamin A 25IU1%
    Vitamin C 4.8mg6%
    Calcium 3mg0%
    Iron 0.1mg1%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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    About Joanie Zisk

    Joanie Zisk is the creator of OneDishKitchen.com, the number one go-to site for single serving recipes. The aim of One Dish Kitchen is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul. Her website is filled with hundreds of easy, flavorful recipes that are tailored for those cooking for one. Joanie is the author of "The Ultimate Cooking For One Cookbook" and her recipes and food photography have been featured in various publications including, TODAY.com, Huffington Post, Real Simple, Self.com,Women’s Day, Buzzfeed, and others. Come say hello and follow Joanie on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mary says

      April 14, 2022 at 11:00 am

      Can you use monk fruit instead of sugar

      Reply
      • Joanie Zisk says

        April 15, 2022 at 7:42 am

        I haven't tested making jam with monk fruit.

        Reply
    2. Lisa Furman says

      August 14, 2021 at 6:10 pm

      This jam makes the BEST fluff and jam sandwich EVER!

      Reply
    3. Deanna says

      August 07, 2021 at 3:24 pm

      Do you turn the heat down after it initially starts to boil? Or is it boiling temp the whole time?

      Reply
      • Joanie Zisk says

        August 08, 2021 at 1:57 pm

        No, do not turn down the heat.

        Reply
    4. Betty Duncan says

      May 13, 2021 at 2:58 pm

      I made blueberry jam this morning. It's quick to make, delicious to eat, and won't last in the fridge long because there's too much to eat in a timely manner.

      Reply
    5. gaylegirves says

      April 20, 2021 at 8:13 pm

      can you use honey instead of sugar ?

      Reply
      • Joanie Zisk says

        April 21, 2021 at 4:36 pm

        I haven't tested honey in this jam recipe so I'm not sure how it would work.

        Reply
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