Store-Bought Jam is Laiden with Sugar. Here are 7 Sugar-Free Recipes (2024)

Our busy schedules can make it harder to enjoy our favorite fruits, but there is one way to let those summer fruits be a part of your daily diet: delicious homemade jam or jelly!

What’s not to love about the thick, sweet spread over toast or combined with your favorite yogurt and oats? I’ll answer that for you: nothing!

So, leave that sugary store-bought stuff for another time (or never). This is the season to load up on fresh fruit that you can use to stock up your kitchen with homemade jam! Here I’ve got a list of 7 sugar-free homemade jam recipes for you! Let’s get right to it!

Want more amazing homemade recipes?

Try this tasty hummus one…

1. Truly Sugar-Free Strawberry Jam

For some odd reason, there are a lot of homemade jam recipes that claim to be sugar-free, but they always suggest adding some kind of sweetener to the mix. Let me ask you this, when you bite into a fresh strawberry, do you feel the need to add a sweetener?

You shouldn’t, because the thing about fresh fruit is, it’s already sweet! In my opinion, sweetener doesn’t need to be added when making homemade jam.

That being said, it does take a bit longer to cook since there is no sugar or natural sweetener added to coagulate, but the end result is outrageously delicious and worth it!

2. Sugar-Free Blueberry Jam

Here is a great addition to your low carb diet that is so ridiculously easy to make you won’t believe it! Blueberries are high in vitamins, antioxidants and they have a moderate amount of carbs. I love adding frozen blueberries to a bowl of yogurt to give it that burst of flavor.

They’re so sweet on their own that the thought of adding sweetener to this recipe is a little disheartening. All you need are blueberries, lemon, some water, and a couple pinches of xanthan gum as a thickener. Easy peasy!

3. Sugar-Free Apple Chia Jam

Apples are by far my favorite fruit, and that’s because of their incredible versatility! The amount of recipes you can cook up with apples is crazy big! I won’t list them off for you (that could be an entire list on its own) because today we’re talking about the refreshing taste of apple chia jam!

I highly recommend homemade chia jam if you’ve never tried it before. It’s so much healthier than the jams you can buy at the store. The one downside is chia jam can’t be kept for too long because of the lack of sugar.

Make sure to keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and it should last you up to one week. However, after the first taste, I’m betting it’ll be gone before then.

4. Low-Carb Sugar-Free Raspberry Jelly (Jam)

How does a sugar-free raspberry jam that fits into a low-carb keto or paleo diet sound? Too good to be true, right? Wrong!

This is a pectin-free jam that’s thickened with gelatin and is super easy to make. It’s hard to keep jam around when you’re on a diet because of the gross amount of sugar that gets tossed into each jar, but a little work can go a long way for both your health and your craving for fruit spread in the morning.

A perfect sugar-free spread for low carb breads or muffins to keep your diet stable and you happy!

5. No Sugar Apricot Jam

I’m sure you’re already yelling at me that none of these sugar-free jams are truly “sugar-free” because of the sugar in the fruits themselves. And that’s true, but the point is that none of these jams are getting extra sugar added to them. These are as sugar-free as you can get with fruits!

This apricot recipe is so simple that you’ll be hitting yourself because you haven’t been using it for years. Make sure before you buy your pectin that it reads on the box that, “No sugar needed.” Other than that, this is definitely one of the easiest homemade jam recipes on this list.

6. Sugar-Free Chia Jam

Who has the time it takes to make jam with all the sugar that recipes call for anyway? And buying sugar-free jams in the store is a crap-shoot since most companies substitute sugar for artificial sweeteners. This is a hassle-free, sugar-free homemade jam made with chia seeds and your favorite berries.

The creator of this recipe even gives the different amount of carbs that each berry will add to your jam. The best part, you don’t even need to add any berries! That’s right, you can have a completely sugar-free homemade jam using only 4 ingredients! Now that’s easy!

7. 5-Berry Sugar-Free Jam

This 5-berry homemade jam recipe is clear of any extra sugar or artificial sweeteners, the way jam should be. I’m sure you’re wondering what the 5 berries are that make up this homemade recipe.

That would be strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and dried açaí berries. An easy recipe to follow and the whole process takes about 35 minutes from start to finish. After that, you’ll be enjoying the tastiest jam you’ve ever had!

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Store-Bought Jam is Laiden with Sugar. Here are 7 Sugar-Free Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you put less sugar in jam? ›

Less sugar may allow for greater bacterial growth. As a result, process times may be longer for these low-sugar or no-sugar jams and jellies. Some pectin products include preservatives to reduce bacterial growth, as well as to preserve color.

Is it safe to make jam without sugar? ›

Jams and jellies can be made without added sugar but will resemble more of a fruited gelatin desert than a true jam or jelly. Salt is not necessary for safe processing of canned or frozen fruits and vegetables.

What happens if you don't add sugar to jam? ›

If you don't add the required amount of sugar, your homemade jam will become a runny mess. Kitchn suggests that if you do want sugar that's a little less sweet, actively seek out a jam recipe that is advertised to taste less sugary. Additionally, sugar helps to preserve your jam.

What is a good substitute for sugar in jam? ›

Alternative sweeteners for sugar-free jams
  • Stevia. Stevia is a natural product derived from a plant, just as sugar is. ...
  • Splenda. Splenda® (aka sucralose) provides sweetness. ...
  • Aspartame. Aspartame is not recommended for a quality reason, which is simply that its sweetness is destroyed by heat: ...
  • Saccharin. ...
  • Honey. ...
  • Sweet One.

How to make store-bought jam less sweet? ›

To try out this two-ingredient trick, add just a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon juice, then taste the jam. If it's still too sweet, try adding another squeeze of lemon juice, but hold back on any more salt, since the salt can ultimately make it taste even sweeter, which we don't want.

Is reduced sugar jam OK for diabetics? ›

Diabetics can enjoy fruit jams in moderation, especially those that are sugar free or low in processed sugar. For instance, our raspberry-flavored 99% sugar free jelly provides the natural sweetness and flavor of fruits like raspberry, rowanberry, and lemon without any added sugar content.

How to substitute honey for sugar in jam recipes? ›

Jams and Jellies with Honey

If a recipe calls for 4 cups sugar, use 2 cups honey. Cook the jam or jelly slightly longer than time stated in recipe using sugar. When substituting honey, use a commercial liquid or powdered pectin. The consistency of the jam or jelly will be somewhat softer.

How to thicken jam without sugar? ›

Add pectin.

Whisk a tablespoon of powdered pectin (preferably the no-sugar-needed variety) into the pot of cooking jam. Test for thickness and add another tablespoon if needed.

How long does sugarless jam last? ›

With the reduced sugar once opened a jar of low or no-sugar jam will last about one week out of the fridge. If refrigerated low and no-sugar jams will last about 30 days.

Can you reheat jam to add more sugar? ›

If you want to fix a whole batch at once, pour the contents of all the jars into a pan – remove lids carefully if they haven't been on the jars for very long and you want to re-use them. Add more sweetener. Bring the mixture to a good boil. Boil and stir for 2 minutes.

Can I add more sugar to my jam? ›

If you add more sugar than a jam recipe calls for, it can significantly impact the texture, flavor, and preservation of the jam. Sugar plays several crucial roles in jam-making, including: Setting: Sugar helps jam set by interacting with the fruit pectin.

What is a healthy alternative to jam? ›

Preserves are the closest thing to consuming whole fruit. They contain chunks of the actual fruit, making them richer in fiber and nutrients. As with jam, though, the sugar content can vary based on the brand or recipe. In terms of health benefits, preserves generally come out on top due to their whole fruit content.

What is a healthy substitute for jam? ›

Instead of processed jams or jellies, choose a homemade fruit compote or fruit salsa. A fruit compote is essentially fruit that has been chopped and cooked down to form a delicious gooey topping. Fruit salsa is simply cut fruit, usually marinated in an acid like lemon juice and served cold.

Can I use Stevia instead of sugar for jam? ›

Can I use Stevia that measures like sugar as the sweetener when making jam or jelly with Pomona's Pectin? Yes, Stevia that measures like sugar (cup for cup Stevia) can be used just like sugar in all of our recipes.

What is the minimum amount of sugar in jam? ›

to legally be called jam the product must contain a minimum of 60% sugars (that includes natural fruit sugar and added sugar).

Will adding more sugar thicken jam? ›

Sugar also thickens jam, especially strawberry and grape which are high in natural pectin and may not need to have additional pectin cooked in.

Why should jam not contain less than 60% sugar? ›

By reducing the percentages of total sugar content, the characteristic gel in the consistency is lost. If the percentage is less than 60% the jam may ferment, unless chemical additives are added to preserve it. Significantly higher percentages of total sugar content may cause crystallisation in the jam.

Can you make jam less sweet? ›

You can use less sugar. I often drop by about 25 percent, especially with marmalade which sets easily. Sometimes you might need to boil it for longer to reach setting point. But adding more pectin is the important thing for setting.

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