Small Batch Raspberry Jam Made in a Bread Machine

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Some bread machines have a specific jam-making setting, use it to easily make a small batch of raspberry jam. You can use fresh or frozen raspberries, and all the work is done for you!

Years ago I wrote about my favorite items I always buy at Thrift Stores, and initially, when I wrote it I said you should steer clear of small appliances. So many of you commented that they found the exact opposite to be true, that thrift stores are the best places to buy small kitchen appliances, and many of specifically called out the Bread Maker as your favorite Thrift Shop appliance buy.

Recently, I was in the market for a bread machine, and after pricing bread makers on Amazon and realizing they can be kind of spendy, and I wasn’t entirely sure I would actually use a bread maker enough to justify the purchase I decided to take your advice and pick one up at the local thrift store.

Since bringing home my bread maker a year ago it has quickly become one of my favorite small appliances. I use it weekly, but I almost never use it to actually bake bread, my bread maker does the heavy lifting of actually kneading and timing the making and rising of pizza dough, bread dough,  and cinnamon roll dough. I shape and bake the dough in my oven.

I never thought in a million years I would use my bread maker to make jam, I mean I don’t even let it bake my bread. But I have found that the Bread Maker actually makes a really good jam.

Will a Bread Maker Make Good Jam?

Most but not all bread makers have a jam setting. Don’t attempt to make jam in a machine if there is no jam setting on your bread maker. It’s very important that you only make jam or jelly in a bread machine that has the specific and unique “Jam” setting. Machines with this feature are programmed to operate the paddle and the temperature settings uniquely for jams and it would difficult or actually impossible to recreate that with any other setting.

Before I even put my ingredients in the bread maker I worried about how the jam would set. It occurred to me that my dough bucket is relatively narrow, and the surface of the jam is pretty small compared to my 10-inch Dutch Oven, making evaporation difficult. I have seen recipes online using Jell-o in Bread Maker Jam, but I don’t love the idea of mixing fresh homegrown fruit with artificial flavors. So I went the route of adding powdered pectin to ensure I would get a decent gel in the jam. I am glad I did, because I got a nice soft set.

Tips and hints for Jam Making in a Bread Machine

  • Jam made in a bread machine may need a little help setting, depending on how you like your jam. Powdered Pectin (either the low sugar or regular variety) will help your jam set. There are some fruits that already contain the right amounts of pectin, so you may not have to add much. Typically, however, you’ll need about 1 tsp of the low sugar pectin, or 1 tablespoon of regular pectin (depending on the fruit, check this pectin chart) in order to bring your jam to the proper consistency.
  • If you don’t have or want to use powdered pectin, you can totally omit it, if the set is a little looser than you would call jam, call it pancake or sundae sauce no one will be the wiser 😉
  • Don’t double the recipe. Jam recipes made in a bread machine a small batch by default, any larger quantity wouldn’t set correctly. But because the process is relatively short, and for the most part hands off, making a few of batches in one day is totally doable!
  • Because jam made in the bread machine recipes only yield one to two jars of jam, I don’t bother processing the jam in a hot water bath canner, it will last for about a month in the fridge if your family doesn’t eat it all within the first week 🙂
  • Even though my recipe has sugar, I prefer my jam to have a smaller fruit to sugar ratio than what is found in traditional jam recipes. So, I like to use the Low to No Sugar Powdered Pectin in the bread machine,  it is capable of providing a gel without a large amount of sugar required by regular pectin.
Small Batch Raspberry Jam Made in a Bread Machine

Small Batch Raspberry Jam Made in a Bread Machine

Yield: 2 half pint jars
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 cups of fresh raspberries
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice.
  • 1 teaspoon low sugar or no sugar pectin

Instructions

  1. Gently mash the raspberries with a potato masher or fork.
  2. Add the mashed raspberries to the bread maker with sugar, lemon juice and pectin.
  3. Select the jam setting on the bread machine, (the typical jam setting on a bread machine runs for about 1 hour and 20 minutes)
  4. Once the cycle has ended, use baking mitts to carefully lift the pan out of the bread machine
  5. Pour into jars and let cool before putting on lids and transferring to the fridge.
  6. With oven mitts, very carefully remove the bread pan from the unit (it will be hot!) set on a trivet, and let cool for 45 minutes.
  7. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • This is a refrigerator jam and not intended to be sealed and processed for storage in the pantry. All you need is a very clean jar. Once the jam has cooked to consistency, pour into jar, let cool and refrigerate.
  • Raspberries are naturally low in pectin, the get a decent gel in a bread maker jam you will most likely want to add a little bit of powdered pectin.
  • I prefer bottled lemon juice because it has been uniformly acidified so that it has a consistent and dependable acid level, which results in consistent and reliable results every time you make jam.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: Tablespoon
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 13Sodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 3.4gFiber: 0.4gSugar: 2.7gProtein: 0.1g

Recipe Adapted From: A Healthy Slice of Life

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10 Comments

    1. @Donna, I make blueberry jam in my bread maker and use 9 ounces blueberries and 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar. I use fresh not frozen so maybe let them thaw first?

  1. Delicious, beautifully set jam. Made 2 small jars with minimum effort and so much tastier than shop bought jam. I used frozen raspberrys and didnt have pectin but still set really well.

  2. This jam is absolutely delicious and it’s a beautiful, bright red! It’s better than the high-end raspberry jam from the supermarket. I made it to share with a friend who uses it in her layered cookies. She and my husband loved the jam, too! I used frozen raspberries, about 4 cups, but I didn’t adjust the other measurements. Next time I will add a bit more low-sugar pectin in the hopes that it will be a little thicker.

    I’ve never been a big fan of raspberry jam, but I’ve been spreading it on toast and making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with it. I’ll definitely be making this jam again!

    I’m going to try this recipe with strawberries next.

  3. Thanks for the ideas. I was gifted A bread machine when they first came out. In the 80’s I think? I used that machine 4-5 times a week and it just broke a couple weeks ago. It was a work horse, lasted 30+ years. While I was at a thrift shop I spotted a machine that I thought was identical to my old one for $1.00. So I grabbed it and the first time I used it I realized it has a jam setting. So its an updated version of my old one. So I googled it and here I am. I will be trying your recipe in the next few days. Thanks again.