Elderberry and blackberry jam

Capturing the best of late summer, this elderberry and blackberry jam is a forager’s delight. A splash of port at the end takes things up a notch. Learn how to make it with our easy recipe.

  • Best of the hedgerows: if you’ve been blackberry and elderberry picking this summer, this jam recipe is a great way to preserve the flavours of your hedgerow harvest. The benefit of a hedgerow jam over a pure berry jam is that apples naturally have a good amount of pectin, unlike some berries, so this will help your jam set without the need to add any.
  • Adjust the sweetness: foraged blackberries are likely to be tarter than farmed varieties. If you’d prefer the jam to be a bit sweeter, taste the mixture once the sugar has dissolved and add up to an extra 100g sugar.
  • Make ahead: store unopened for up to 6 months then, once opened, keep chilled for up to 6 months.

Conserve more summer goodness with our complete jam and preserves recipe collections.

  • Makes about 1.2kg (4 x 300g jars)
  • Prep time 20 min. Cook time 45 min

Nutrition

Calories
30kcals
Fat
0g
Protein
0g
Carbohydrates
6.9g (6.8g sugars)
Fibre
0g
Salt
og

delicious. tips

  1. Ideally you want to use a cooking variety of apple, such as bramley, which will break down completely as the jam cooks. But if you have a firmer, eating variety you can just chop them finely and the jam will contain some pieces of apple, giving a different texture but still delicious.

    To sterilise jam jars and lids, wash and upturn them – lids off – on a baking sheet. Put in a low oven for 15 minutes while the jam cooks.

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