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Easy Small-Batch Spiked Strawberry Jam – Fresh and easy strawberry jam made with just picked strawberries, sugar and Grand Marnier Liqueur
I hope you’re not tired of all the strawberry recipes we’ve posted lately. I can’t seem to get enough of these beautiful red fruits! Over the years I’ve made jam but never anything good enough to write home about.
When I was a young girl I helped my mom can butters, jellies and jams so you’d think I was proficient in canning. That is not at all the case. I wish I had the time to learn the process all over again but until then, I’ll settle for small batch jams that take very little time to prep, and are incredibly easy to make.
Made with just three ingredients and no pectin.
Many jam recipes are made with equal parts fruit and sugar with a little lemon juice and pectin. This jam is made with a double fruit to sugar ratio, no pectin, and I substituted Grand Marnier liqueur for the lemon juice. Grand Marnier and strawberries are a match made in heaven and of course I have a small bottle that’s just begging to be used. I know you’re going to love our Easy Small-Batch Spiked Strawberry Jam with Grand Marnier.
This is the recipe to try if you’ve always wanted to make strawberry jam but didn’t think you could.
The recipe makes 2-full cups of jam that will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. I can’t say our lasted that long but it was enough to share with family.
Without pectin you must make sure to cook the strawberry jam long enough to thicken.
There’s a super easy method to test for doneness without all the guesswork. Put a glass plate in the freezer while preparing the jam. When the strawberry jam has cooked down, place a spoonful on the cold plate and leave it for 30 seconds. Tilt the plate and if the jam moves very slow, it’s done. If it rolls down the plate, cook for a few more minutes and test again.
If you have the chance to pick your own berries, please don’t let the opportunity to pass you by.
The juiciness and fresh flavor of fresh picked fruit is incredible, and that makes all the difference in recipes like this easy, small-batch strawberry jam.
Here’s a few tips for finding the best strawberries:
- Pick strawberries with light colored seeds. If the strawberry seeds are dark brown and dried up, the strawberry probably is too.
- Buy local strawberries if at all possible. Less time traveling to your kitchen will yield fresher strawberries, thus better flavor. If you’re buying strawberries from another country they may have been picked before they were fully ripe to survive the long distance commute.
- Look for strawberries that are red all the way to the top. If the top is white, the middle of the strawberry will be too. White strawberry tops yield less flavor.
- Visit your local farmers market during peak season for the best strawberries.
- Finally, if you can pick your own strawberries at a local farm – go for it!
If our kitchen wasn’t in the middle of a renovation, I’d go pick more strawberries tomorrow morning and make another strawberry pie, and perhaps some jelly. No sink, no cabinets and no floor. Baking and cooking is difficult without the basics. But we do have lots and lots of dirt however!
I have one more strawberry recipe to post later this week so please stop back and check it out! If you make our jam recipe, please take a photo and post it on Instagram and tag us at Saving Room for Dessert. We would love to see how this recipe turned out for you!
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Easy Small-Batch Strawberry Jam
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh chopped strawberries, (I like a mixture of small pieces and large)
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier Liqueur, or lemon juice
Instructions
- Place two small, clean plates in your freezer.
- In a large deep skillet, combine the strawberries, sugar and liqueur or lemon juice. Heat on medium until the mixture starts to boil. Skim the foam from the top of the jam and discard as it cooks. Don't worry if you can't get all the foam but you should be able to get most of it.
- Continue cooking and stirring for about 10 minutes or until it starts to thicken.
- Remove one of the plates from the freezer and put a small spoonful of jam on the plate. Allow it to sit for 30 seconds then tilt the plate. If the jam slides down the plate quickly, keep cooking. If it is slow and thick, it's done.
- Continue testing, if needed, every 2 minutes. Do not overcook!
- Place the jam in jars and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate once cooled.
- The jam will keep 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Here are a few more recipes you might enjoy:
Strawberry Mascarpone Cake
Homemade Strawberry Pop-tarts
Strawberry Icebox Cake
Donna
Jam came out delicious took about half hour to boil maybe because I used frozen strawberries very good recipe thank You
Tricia Buice
Great to hear Donna. Glad you enjoyed the jam. Happy holidays!
Kelli
Really simple recipe! I was skeptical but after about nine minutes on the stovetop, my jam set on the plate perfectly. It tastes scrumptious! (Didn’t have Grand Marnier so used lemon juice.) Going to use this as filling in your homemade pop tart recipe this weekend.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Kelli! Great to hear you liked the recipe, and I bet you’re going to LOVE the pop tarts, too! We appreciate you taking the time to comment and for trying the recipe.
Emily
Is this recipe OK for canning?
Tricia Buice
Hi Emily. I’m not a canning expert but after some research, I believe it will be fine. This recipe makes a small batch so I’m sure you’ll want to make more if taking the time to process it in jars. Good luck and enjoy!
Kevin
Imagine spreading it on pancakes (I’m not a huge maple syrup fan ) I’m always looking for toppings.
Tricia Buice
This would make a great pancake topping Kevin – so pretty too! Great idea 😉
Diane (Created by Diane)
Oh my GOODNESS, I need to stop at the farm stand today and pick up some strawberries to make this!!
Tricia Buice
This is a great jam Diane – we were so sorry when it was gone! Thanks
Karen (Back Road Journal)
Perfect amount for just myself and my husband. Love your version with less sugar…I think it lets the flavor of the strawberries shine.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Karen – and I agree – it was just enough and the strawberry flavor was terrific. So sad it’s gone already!
Susan
What a luscious-looking jam, Tricia! Our Wisconsin strawberries will be coming in another few weeks and I’d love to try this with some local strawberries. It looks perfect on those biscuits!
Tricia Buice
I hope you get to try it Susan – we really enjoyed it! Have a lovely weekend.
Jaime
Can you make strawberry pop tarts w/ pre-made rolled-out pie-crust dough?
Jaime
The strawberry jam is so tasty!… I’ve used on biscuits w/butter.. everyone loves it!…
Tricia Buice
So glad you tried this jam Jaime. My favorite for sure! Happy holidays 🙂
Tricia Buice
Absolutely Jaime! Nothing like a great shortcut 😉
Liz
Your jam looks heavenly! I don’t think I’ll ever get into big batch canning, but I’d be happy to make some of your gorgeous strawberry jam!!!
Tricia Buice
Thank you so much Liz! Congratulations on your son’s graduation 🙂
Wendy
Canning always intimidates me, so I’ve never made my own jam. Your jam recipe is just what I need! Not to mention that Grand Marnier is always in my cabinet (essential Cosmopolitan ingredient 🙂 )I am going strawberry picking with my daughter this weekend. Between your jam and Chris’ strawberry lemonade, I am going to be one happy camper! I hope your kitchen renovation is completed quickly and leaves you delighted. I don’t think there is any other renovation project that requires as many decisions as a kitchen! ( When it’s done, if you decide to hold pie baking classes in it, please sign me up!)
Tricia Buice
Haha – this kitchen renovation is the pits. Nothing ever goes as planned and we are now changing the flooring for the third time – sheesh. You’ll never catch me flipping houses. Enjoy your strawberries and the jam! I have two more strawberry recipes coming soon – guess I should change the name of my blog! Thanks so much Wendy – have a terrific week and happy picking!
John/Kitchen Riffs
We’ve been feasting on strawberries lately! Haven’t made jam, though. Yet. 🙂 You’ve really inspired me — thanks.
Tricia Buice
Feasting on strawberries sounds pretty great to me! Thank you so much!
Amanda
This recipe is wonderful and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time! I’ve been thinking of a great summer recipe that I could make for my friends and family and this is absolutely perfect! It sounds delicious–thank you so much for sharing!
Tricia Buice
Thank you for the comment Amanda – this is great jam – hope you love it too!
All That I'm Eating
What a fantastic colour, and a great idea for a small batch recipe.
Tricia Buice
Thanks! It’s a delicious jam and we’re sad it’s gone again – time to make some more!
Monica
This jam is so beautiful. I’ve had this on my to-try list for a long time but I never seem to have enough strawberries to spare for the project! This is a huge encouragement, I tell you! My husband loves strawberry jam and I know he’d appreciate this. The Grand Marnier is a must-try. I have some wonderful strawberries in the fridge right now but I want to go picking. ; )
And good luck with the kitchen reno – scary yet so extremely exciting. I know it will be awesome!
Tricia Buice
I hope you will give it a try Monica! My husband has been nuts for this jam and he wants to pick strawberries again soon. Such fun! Have a great week.
Monica
Tricia – I made a small batch of this jam yesterday. My husband and I thank you! : ) It is so very delicious – super easy and so gorgeous to look at and sweet to eat. Thank you for your beautiful post, which really motivated me to get into the kitchen and make it happen. And I’m so glad I did. We had a fun “British-themed” Sunday breakfast today with this. Thanks for inspiring me so often. xo
(Will post this on my blog later on if you don’t mind…it’s a keeper!)
Tricia Buice
Yeah! Thanks so much for letting me know Monica. We were thrilled with how easy it was to make and eat – haha – enjoy your holiday and thanks again!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners
I never tire of berry recipes, Tricia, and you had me at ‘easy’! I love cooking chicken with strawberries and mozzarella cheese and I can’t wait until the berries come into season here. We’ve had such a cold spring that everything is behind schedule.
A beautiful jam and I love the addition of Grand Marnier!
PS. The reno must be driving you nuts! lol. Been there, done that. Any end in sight?
Tricia Buice
Your recipe sounds wonderful Robyn – can’t wait to see it on your blog! Yes the renovation is pretty awful – haha. I just hate the enormous mess. Think boxes everywhere, dust on everything, no running water on the main floor – ahhhhh! Plus I’m not an interior designer which makes for some sleepless nights wondering if it’s all going to fit together. I guess you’ll know how it turned out if I “do or do not” share pictures 🙂 Have a great week!
handmade by amalia
This looks amazing, Tricia, such a great color. I have to see whether we still have strawberries in the market, I’d love to give it a try.
Amalia
xo
Tricia Buice
Thanks Amalia – the color is so pretty – strawberries are just absolutely amazing! Have a great week.
Becky Green
YUM!!!! HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, TRICIA!!!! 😉
Tricia Buice
Thanks Becky – hope you had a nice one too.
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Perfect jam! I feel like I can smell that wonderful strawberry scent right through your pictures 🙂 Can’t wait for local strawberries here. Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Jennifer – we spent Mother’s Day packing up all the kitchen cabinets. What a mess my house is now. Anyway – the jam is great and the strawberries are delicious!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
Yes! Such a beautiful post. Love strawberry jam, especially when it comes complete with scones!
Tricia Buice
Oh scones and strawberry jam – absolutely perfect! Thanks Thalia!
cheri
Hi Tricia, you could never publish to many strawberry recipes for me, love the color of you jam, it is perfect.
Tricia Buice
Thank you Cheri – it was a very good batch!
Sara
I love how simple this jam is, I’ve always been more intimidated by the complicated recipes with all the sterilizing and pectin and stuff. Can’t wait to try it!
Tricia Buice
I hope you enjoy the jam as much as we did Sara. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Chris Scheuer
Happy Mother’s Day Tricia! Hope you’re having lots of jam and biscuits today that someone else made! The jam is such a beautiful color! I’m afraid I’d eat that whole plate of biscuits if I had this amazing jam to smother them with! Hope your kitchen renovation goes quickly, I know it will be wonderful when it’s finished!
Tricia Buice
No biscuits for me today – my kitchen is empty but I did get some beautiful flowers from my daughter. Hope you are having a wonderful Mother’s Day with children and grandchildren. Thanks so much!
Monique
This is our kind of jam..no pectin…Just like this:)Hope you are having a great day!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Monique – hope you had a lovely weekend!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
Though I am not fancy for sugar loaded jam, this one looks too good to miss in life, Tricia.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Angie – and I agree. Every now and then – this is a lovely treat!
ZazaCook
Love this recipe! Looks so simple to make. I’ve never made jam, I have to try your recipe before the end of strawberry season. Thanks Tricia for sharing!
Tricia Buice
I hope you will give it a try Zaza – so easy and really good. Thanks!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
I love easy peasy jams — I’ve working on one right now that isn’t even cooked. Traditional jams can get so laborious, I’m all for experimenting with new methods. That color is glorious — who wouldn’t want to start the day with that? Happy Mother’s Day Tricia <3
Sharing 🙂
Tricia Buice
I can’t wait to read about your new recipe Sue – no cooking sounds amazing! We love fruit, fresh, frozen, blended or whole. Hope you’re having a wonderful Mother’s Day!