Easy Gooseberry Jam
Gooseberry jam – A tart and easy-to-make jam!
This jam only has four ingredients – yup, you read that right. Only four and one of then is water!
As you know, my hubby comes from England and they like their jams over there – on crumpets, on scones, and buttered toast.
For years I’ve enjoyed my mother-in-law’s delicious jams but never actually made one myself. I always just thought it would be really hard…
This year our Gooseberry bush was filled with berries – usually we don’t have many so just eat them off the bush, but this year we had enough to do something with! Yay!
A Magical Time in the Garden
I can’t help but think what a magical time it is in our garden! I know I shared our elderflowers and the elderflower cocktails we made with it. If you missed it you might also like to read about making elderflower cordial. Our lettuce is really big and we have so many cucumbers and tomatoes coming. If anyone has pickle recipes I’d love you to share it with me!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It only takes 4 ingredients.
- This jam is so easy to make!
- It’s delicious.
What is a Gooseberry
Before we get into making the jam, let’s answer an important question. One, that actually, went through my mind when we bought our bush from a garden club plant sale. I say gooseberry but Luke, my English hubby, says, “Guzzbry”. I always thought they were of English origin but they are native to North America and are in the currant family. They were actually banned for the first half of the 20th Century in the United States because they were an intermediary host of a pest thought to cause disease in pine trees. The ban was lifted in the 1960s with the rise of disease resistant gooseberries.
The gooseberry is a similar shape to grapes and comes in different colors. We have red gooseberries. They start out green and turn red when they are ripe. The flavor of gooseberry is tart although our red berries are sweeter. I enjoy eating them right off the bush, but this jam is wonderful because it isn’t too sweet!
What You Need To Make This Recipe
- Gooseberries (of course)
- Water
- Lemon
- Sugar
- Sterilized Jars
- Thermometer
- A heavy bottom pan
I actually made this quick video to show you just how easy the process is:
It’s that easy! We had enough to make 2 1/2 jars but I’m going to make more with the rest of our gooseberries so we can enjoy gooseberry jam in the winter and be reminded of summer! I hope you guys enjoy this recipe as much as I do!
More Recipes Fresh from the Garden
Gooseberry Jam
Equipment
- 1 heavy bottom pan
- 1 colander
- 1 therometer
- canning jars sterilized
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Gooseberries we used red ones
- ¼ Cup Water
- 1½ Cup Sugar granulated
- 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
Instructions
- Prep the gooseberries by washing them and topping and tailing them.
- In a heavy bottom pan place gooseberries, water and lemon juice. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium high for 10 minutes. Add Sugar and stir. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium high. Be sure to stir continuously. Mash some of the berries up to create a smoother consistency to the jam. The jam is done when it reaches gel stage. The temperature should be 220°F
- Ladle hot jam into sterilized jars. Leaving some space at the top. Be sure to wipe the jam off the top and seal shut.
Video
Notes
Let’s Stay in Touch!
Did you make this recipe? If so, let me know! Be sure to pin this for later:
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Your jam looks yummy! My brother-in-law makes hot pepper jelly every summer. So good! Enjoy your holiday!! 🙂
Oooh, I’d love the recipe for the hot pepper salad. Sounds lovely! Thanks, we’re looking forward to a little getaway Xx
I’ve never heard of gooseberries. This does look so easy to make. Would just have to find the berries. Have a great vacation!
Hope you try making it. You may be able to find the gooseberries at a Farmer’s Market or the super market. Thanks we’re excited to travel with the kids!
2 and 1/2 jars!!!??? It does boil down. When I lived in my old vintage home there was a cherry plum tree. A BIG producer of fruit. I had a sweet elderly neighbor, Helen, come over and show me how to make jam. We made 36 jars!!!! A sweet memory of a very kind lady and neighbor. I miss Helen and that tree. That was long ago but I believe we put pectin in there…You didn’t? I thought you had too. Yours looks yummy. AND funny thing, as I am reading my emails I am having an English muffin with… Read more »
Hi Josette, yes, it did cook down, but it’s delicious. I can’t believe you made 36 jars of jam with Helen. That’s a lot! Loved reading this memory. She sounded like a wonderful & inspiring person. I’ll share more about our trip when we get back xx
Oh, and these berries have enough pectin so you don’t have to add it.
I’ve heard of gooseberries, but have never seen any in the stores. Are they like grapes?
The look and sound delicious.
Hi Paula, they have a lovely sharp & sour but the sugar sweetens a bit. They don’t taste like grapes but are about that size and shape.