Homemade, immune-boosting and 100% organic jam that requires no canning, no added sugar and no pectin!

I’m a comfort food kinda girl, and nothing comforts me more than homemade jam on a buttery biscuit or piece of crusty toast.

(Have you seen my homemade biscuits? They are amazing!)

Even my kids are crazy about this Blueberry Elderberry Jam. It’s perfectly sweetened and spiced, thick (but not too thick) and spreads beautifully with a burst of fresh flavors and colors.

Did I mention that this recipe is immune-boosting?

I’m a die-hard elderberry fan, so why not add a little health boost to one of the most classic foods out there? 

To boot, it has no pectin or added sugar.

Heeeyyy, that’s what I’m talking about!

Ditch the Added Sugar

If you take a trip to the store and stroll down the jam aisle, just pick up a jar and take a look at the ingredients. You may be surprised some of them don’t even have real fruit.

So let’s say you decide to skip the artificial jams and go straight to the organic labels. This is great because we’re all about organic here at Elderberry Queen.

But you’ll notice that even in organic jams, there’s always added sugar. It’s impossible to find one without it. 

Here’s the thing… it’s NOT necessary. 

Honey is my go-to for sweetening jams, and in this recipe, we’re using organic elderberry syrup that already has the honey mixed in. 

Doesn’t get much easier than that, right?

So we have ditched added sugar for this recipe, and I’m 100% positive you’re going to love it even more than anything you could pick up at the store or farmer's market.

The Truth About Pectin

Pectin is widely used as the thickening agent for jams and jellies. 

But it’s not good for you — at all.

Typically, pectin comes from corn that’s genetically modified (GMO) unless it’s certified organic. 

Maybe you’ve found fruit pectin or “all natural” pectin, but it’s still going to be full of pesticides and GMOs since it’s not organic. 

Organic pectin is very hard to find and expensive.

Even then, it will probably also have dextrose and citric acid, and organic or not, they aren’t healthy choices.

One other note about pectin, it requires a lot of sugar to properly thicken. Like a lot.

Plus it doesn’t react to natural sugar the same as regular sugar.

So if you’re skipping the added sugar and using honey instead, there’s no point in using pectin.

Skip the Canning 

One of the reasons I put off learning to make jam as long as I did, was because of one haunting thing — canning!

Seriously though, canning is intimidating. All the pots and equipment. It just seems like so much work — and time-consuming at that.

What a hassle.

That’s why refrigerated jam is my jam! (Get what I did there?) I know, I’m a dork. At least I own it.

Refrigerated jam lets you skip the canning method.

You go straight from the saucepan to the jar and into the fridge.

That’s it! Voila. Easy peasy.

3 Simple Organic Ingredients

I love this recipe and make it all year round. I never get tired of it either.

It’s super easy and only requires 3 simple ingredients.

Like I mentioned above, organic is important to us. So all of our ingredients are just that — organic, free of pesticides or any other nasty chemicals you don’t want in your body.

1. Organic Blueberries 

Fresh or frozen both work, but I prefer fresh. If you go with frozen, you may need to cook your jam a little longer so it’s not runny from the added water.

The blueberries in this recipe will add the chunky consistency we love so much in a good jam.

2. Organic Elderberry Syrup 

It’s easy to find elderberry syrups without all that artificial junk and added sugars.

But they don’t offer USDA organic ingredients, and that’s what makes organic elderberry syrup so hard to find.

Don’t worry, I got tired of searching too and finally decided to craft my own.

Do you want organic and real ingredients with nothing weird added in?

Shop here now, and you’ll be all set to whip up this delicious jam.

3. Organic Lemon Juice 

Why lemon juice you ask? It’s actually science-based. Lemon juice neutralizes the PH level of the jam mixture and helps it to set, giving it that thick jam-like consistency. It’s basically the pectin we need but without all the other junk.

How to Make This Healthy Blueberry Elderberry Jam

Ready for the super easy recipe I promised?

Here we go!

In a medium saucepan, combine blueberries, elderberry syrup and lemon juice. Bring this mixture to a boil.

Reduce heat to a low boil and smash the blueberries with the back of your spoon.

Allow it to thicken naturally as it simmers. Every few minutes, you’ll want to give it a good whisk. 

Once it comes to the thickness and consistency of jam (about 10 minutes), pour it into a glass mason jar. 

Pop the lid on it and place it in the fridge. 

Now it’s time to let it sit and set for the most delicious jam you’ll ever eat. 

After you’ve made this for yourself, you’ll wonder why you ever chose store-bought jam to begin with!

Ways to Serve Blueberry Elderberry Jam

There are so many ways to enjoy this Blueberry Elderberry Jam. Here are a few ideas!

• Spread on toast, croissants, bagels
• Drizzle on top of ice cream or pancakes
• Add a dollop on greek yogurt
• PB&J anyone?
• Stir into oatmeal

This jam is sweet, flavorful and the essence of the elderberry shines through beautifully!

I can’t wait for your entire family to try it.

Change It Up 

Don’t feel like blueberries? 

Feel free to change it up and use the fruits you desire!

Apples, raspberries, blackberries, peaches… the options are endless — and it's so delicious.

How to Store Blueberry Elderberry Jam

I prefer to store my jam in glass mason jars. Especially since we’re pouring the hot mixture into the container.

It’s best to skip plastic with anything that’s hot.

How Long Will It Last?

This recipe will make one 8oz jar and will last in the fridge for about 3 months unopened. Once opened, it’s good for one month.

Boost Your Immune System All Year 

It makes sense that we think about boosting our immune systems when sickness is near.

Or in the fall and winter when it feels like everyone is coughing or wiping runny noses. 

Sickness is everywhere, despite the season.

So it makes more sense to be building your health all year round. 

Not getting sick as much is a perk of having a strong immune system. But there are so many more benefits.

Your immune system is linked to how you handle stress, to diseases and even nutrient absorption. 

So don’t wait until fall. Don’t wait until you’re already sick. 

With one simple daily dose of organic elderberry syrup, you’re giving your body everything it needs to be healthy. 

Use it in your favorite recipes, just like this one!

💜 Start boosting your health now and get shopping for Organic Elderberry Syrup here.