Spring is the peak of strawberry season, and it's the best time to make this old fashioned Strawberry Preserves recipe! This low-sugar jam combines strawberries and figs. It's heavenly!
Love this jam? Then you'll definitely want to try Strawberry Rhubarb Jam next! It's sweet and tart and just so good!
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Why you'll love this recipe
This strawberry preserves recipe is the MOST requested jam on the blog, it's everyone's favorite! The combination of strawberries and figs is exquisite, the jams is sweet and delicious.
It's a great recipe to try. If this is your first time canning or you've never made preserves. The canning process is not that hard. It uses simple ingredients This jam is absolutely delicious!
Whether you gather your berries at the u-pick farm, grocery store or farmers market the best way to enjoy them all year long is by making a batch of strawberry preserves.
Ingredients
- fresh strawberries - fresh strawberries are best! When making jam, fresh fruits are best when used at their height of ripeness and flavor.
- figs - dried figs are called for in this recipe.
- chinese five spice - optional spice, but it really accents the sweetness of strawberries and figs.
- red wine - optional also, but the wine adds depth of flavor to the preserves.
- low sugar pectin - low sugar sure-jell - this is the one in the pink box.
- sugar - pure cane sugar, it will set up best.
I make lots of jam every year to give my family and friends. Homemade jam is a great gift (especially during the holidays!), everyone loves homemade jam!
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions for the strawberry preserves recipe scroll down to the bottom and check the recipe card.
- Clean and hull the fresh berries (do not chop).
- Nip the ends off the figs and chop them into small pieces.
- Measure the exact amount of sugar, and set aside.
- Add the whole fruit strawberries, chopped figs, and spices to a large pot. Using a potato masher, mash the fruit mixture well.
- Remove ¼ cup sugar from the 4 cups of sugar and mix it with the contents of the Sure-Jell. Sprinkle it into the berry mixture, set it on the stove, and boil, stirring constantly.
- When it comes to a full rolling boil (that you cannot stir down - see video for example), add the remaining cups of sugar.
- Stir constantly and return to a hard boil. Boil for exactly one minute.
- Remove from the heat and immediately ladle the hot preserves into sterilized glass jars.
- Tap the filled jars on the counter; this will help air bubbles escape.
- Clean the tops of the jars off with a clean towel. Place the metal lids on top and screw the rings on the filled jars.
- Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes to help seal the jar.
FAQ's
If sealed correctly, preserves will last in your pantry for a year!
There is a small difference between preserves and jam. The fruit in preserves is often chopped. In jam the fruit is crushed. Because the berries are crushed, this yields more juice. In this recipe, a portion of the fruit is chopped and the remainder is crushed.
A rolling boil is when the mixture is boiling so hard you can't stir it down. Even though you're stirring as quickly as possible, the fruit still boil. See short video below.
Mashing the berries releases their juices and the jam will be more flavorful! If you slice or just cut up the berries the end result will be the jam isn't as flavorful.
A boiling-water bath is water boiling in a large pot. Jars of jam are lowered into the boiling water for 10 minutes. This will help the jars seal.
If you're new to making homemade jam and have more questions, be sure to check How to make homemade Jam - it's has all my tips and tricks and it's so helpful!
How to mash strawberries
What a rolling boil looks like
How to ladle jam into jars
Strawberry Fig Preserves
This low sugar Strawberry Preserves Recipe is just as delicious as the high-sugar recipes!
Because many of my family members suffer from diabetes. This is a low sugar version so everyone can enjoy it without worrying about their blood sugar.
If you've ever tasted the low sugar store-bought jams and jellies, they are often more juice and less berry. This recipe is so much better!!
Combining figs and strawberries is great because the figs really give the berries a great depth of flavor as does the Chinese Five Spice or curry. I know you're going to love this - it's just fabulous!
Tips
- Always wash jars in hot soapy water and sterilize them prior to canning.
- Always use the exact amount of sugar. Don't use a sugar substitute either. The preserves may not set correctly or it could mold.
- Use fresh berries! Fresh fruit always tastes better than old.
- Great places to find fresh strawberries are your farmers' market, a u-pic farm or your local grocery store.
Want all my best tips to make homemade jams and jellies? I have a post completely dedicated to it - Homemade Jam: A Complete Guide.
Storage
Store the homemade strawberry jam in a cool dark place after the jars have sealed.
Opened or unsealed jars should be refrigerated.
Essential tools to make jam
- heavy bottom pan
- potato masher
- wooden spoon
- ladle
- mason jars, half-pint jars, canning lids and rings
- hot pan holders
- jar lifter
- timer
- funnel
Related Recipes
Love homemade Jam? Next time you make jam, here are more delicious recipes to try!
- Peach Jam - sweet and flavorful, this jam is heavenly!
- Orange Jam Recipe - this is jelly is like a burst of California sunshine!
- If you think this is hard, be sure to check this out Blueberry Jam is so easy my 10 year old niece made this!
- Blueberry jam is another favorite from the blog!
- The bright fresh flavor of the fruit shines in this Apricot Preserves Recipe!
- Sweet Mandarin Sunshine Jelly - like a taste of California sunshine - YUM!
- Blackberry Jam Recipe - perfect for beginners to try!
- Sweet and a little spicy this is AMAZING! Bam Bam Pomegranate Jam
- Ja Makin' Me Crazy Mango Jam - filled with tropical flavor, this is so delicious and a great way to enjoy mangos all year long!
Serving suggestions
- Of course this is amazing for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!
- Use this yummy jam to make Strawberry Sandwich Cookies - YUM!
- Warm up the jam and serve it over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Homemade Strawberry Preserves Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups figs stems removed and chopped
- 4 cups fresh ripe strawberries hulled and sliced in half
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Chinese five spice
- 1 tablespoon yellow curry powder
- 4 cups sugar
- 1 package low/no sugar Sure-Jell powder (the one the pink package)
- 12 4 oz canning jars with lids and rings
Instructions
- In a heavy stock pot, combine strawberries, figs, red wine, curry, lemon juice & Chinese five spice. Using a potato masher, mash them by hand until they are crushed.
- Measure ¼ cup of sugar and mix it with the contents of the Sure-Jell. Sprinkle it into the berry mixture and set it on the stove. Increase high heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
- When it comes to a hard boil (a hard boil is one you can't stir down with spoon) add the remaining sugar.
- Continue stirring constantly and return it to a boil and when it comes back to a hard boil, continue boiling it for one full minute. (Set a timer to make sure you get it for a full minute).
- Remove from the stove, and skim the pink foam from the top of the jam if desired.
- Immediately ladle the strawberry mixture into sterilized, hot jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace.
- Wipe off the top of the jars. Place lids on jars, screw on tightly. Wipe off the top of the jars. Place lids on jars, screw on tightly.
- Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes to seal the jars. Allow jars to cool to room temperature. Store unopened jars in the pantry, open jars should be refrigerated.
- Makes 1 dozen 4 oz. jars.
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Nutrition
Recipe backstory
When my brother and I were kids, we'd pick strawberries in the summer to earn money. Don and I were probably seven and nine years old when we started picking strawberries.
We would go up to the bus stop at 5 a.m., the farm bus would pick us up and take us to the field. We'd spend all day picking. Pretty sure we whined the entire time!
Don and I weren't the most dedicated pickers (we were just kids!). Because of this, we were often stuck picking "side-by-each" because we wouldn't pick the row clean enough.
This resulted in Don tormenting and teasing me - I would cry and whine. In the
You understand, right? It's what brothers and sisters do!
Anyway, you'd think after toiling in the berry fields for years I would hate strawberries, but it's the opposite - they are my favorite fruit! Of all the jams I make pepper jam, mango or orange jelly, still this strawberry jam recipe is the most requested jam!
First published April 24, 2018 - Updated June 26, 2021 to improve instructions
Tiffany says
Ok, I’ve already made the cherries jubilee twice now. This was so delicious!!!! I toasted some sourdough and added a little butter and the jam. Absolutely delicious!!! Looking forward to trying more of your jams
Debra Clark says
That's awesome Tiffany!! I have another new jam coming out in a few weeks and a great fall jam too! Those homemade jams are so special!
Renate Claybourn says
Can you substitute something for the figs?
Debra Clark says
You can substitute plums or add more strawberries.
Rose says
what type of red wine? this is my first time making it and I'm a little lost!
Bowl Me Over says
Hey Rose, you can use a Cabernet or Zinfandel - both would be delicious! If you aren't a wine drinker and the rest of the wine would just go to waste you could sub with pomegranate or cranberry juice - either of those will give it a punch of flavor! Enjoy the jam!!
Madi says
Strawberry jam is the best! This would be so delicious on toast for breakfast!
Lisa@Lisa's Dinnertime Dish says
Homemade jam is the best! I love that this one is low sugar so I can slather even more on a piece of toast!
Bowl Me Over says
I agree Lisa! Homemade is the best and it doesn’t last long, that is for sure!!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Strawberry jam is a favorite at our house. I love the low-sugar profile of this recipe and I can only imagine how wonderful it must taste on a warm and pillowy slice of homemade bread. Thanks so much for sharing this one!
Bowl Me Over says
Thank you Dan! We love the low-sugar version, it's just the perfect amount of sweet, I hope you really enjoy this jam!
Ashlyn says
Homemade jam is the absolute best! I need your low-sugar version because my kids go through it like crazy and it would be so much healthier for them! Thanks for the great recipe!
Bowl Me Over says
Most definitely!! Thank you Ashlyn, you will love this recipe!
Angela says
Homemade jam is amazing!!! I made it many years ago with my grandma but not again since! I need to try this recipe soon! We go through so much jam with my kids love of PB&J!
Bowl Me Over says
And all of the kids love strawberry, right? It's the most popular jam. I hope you enjoy it and it brings back great memories! Thank you Angela!!
Michelle Turner says
Beautiful and delish. Loved the story too. Sibling torment so memorable.
Bowl Me Over says
Haha! Isn't it though? I'm glad you enjoy this jam it is one of the best!! Thank you Michelle!!
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
Had this tonight, the daughter and I craved something sweet before her bedtime. This jam was absolutely perfect, the berries shined through, the right amount of sweetness. Great recipe.
Bowl Me Over says
That's terrific, I'm so glad you and your daughter enjoyed it! It was such a pleasure to meet you and I so appreciate all of your helps! 😀