There is nothing like the smell of fresh strawberries to remind us of summer days. Those first ripened berries are a work of art all on their own.
In Ontario, even though we can get Strawberries imported throughout the year, there aren’t any that compare to the taste of sun ripened local berries. Where I live I am lucky to have an amazing local grower only minutes from my house. Heeman’s Berry Farm has been around for generations bringing the goodness of fresh berries to the area! My daughter and I look forward to our little escapes to the strawberry farm and at times are known to reward ourselves with a treat of their delicious strawberry shortcakes! (Which also just so happens to be my ultimate favourite dessert!)
Unfortunately our growing season in Ontario is short lived and for a good portion of the year we only can only reminisce of the fresh food we can buy in the summer. That is why I look for anyway to hang on to those fresh flavours throughout the year. The super easy way of doing that with strawberries is to make freezer jam! I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t have the time to do it; It is so quick and easy! Once you have a few jars safely stowed away in your freezer, you also have a delicious fresh ingredient to add to pies, cakes, cookies, muffins, sauces, milkshakes, smoothies, etc, etc. You think it, you can make it. Yum!
However, if strawberries are not your favourite, you certainly don’t need to limit yourself to them. You can use fruits such as raspberries, blueberries, peaches, mulberries, blackberries, or try your creativity with some combinations of any. The general rule of thumb is just 4 cups of tender fruit or berries to 1+ 1/2 cups of sugar per package of the reduced sugar pectin. Easy peasy. Make sure you have extra berries for eating as you’re making; especially if you are making your jam with strawberry loving kids who find the temptation to pop them in their mouth too irresistible! I think when I made them with my nephews, we were down a couple quarts 😉
I use the Gardenfare package of pectin which is made right here in London by Club House, but any of the low sugar packages are the same ratio’s. 
Reduced Sugar Strawberry Freezer Jam
Simple Strawberry Freezer jam anyone can make! Be creative and mix it up with any berries or tender fruit.
Ingredients
- 4 cups of chopped strawberries or other tender fruit and berries
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 package of clubhouse garden fare or similar reduced fruit pectin
- clean freezer safe jars or containers of your size choice
Instructions
- Wash and prepare fruit in a large mixing bowl
- Cut into chunks and mash with a potato masher to your desired consistency
- Gently stir in the sugar and allow to rest for 15 minutes
- Sprinkle pectin over the fruit a little at a time stirring gently and allow to stand for 5 minutes
- Spoon jam into jars or containers laving a 1 inch head space to allow for freezing expansion.
- Jam is now ready to eat or freeze
- Enjoy!
