Small Batch Strawberry Vanilla Bean Jam
Small Batch Strawberry Jam is made with just 4 ingredients, no refined sugar, and no canning is required. It’s the easiest homemade strawberry jam recipe ever!
When life gives you strawberries, make jam. Small batch strawberry jam, to be exact! Why make your own jam when you go on out and buy it?
Because it’s ridiculously easy, you control the ingredients, and most importantly, homemade is always best.
I’ve come to realize over time that most people don’t want to mess around with the whole canning process. I’ve done it before, and while it isn’t difficult, it can be more time consuming and require special ingredients and equipment.
Small batch jam recipes eliminate all of that and gives you homemade jam using ingredients you have on hand in about 60 minutes flat. You just can’t beat that!
As I mentioned, you control the ingredients, which means you get to customize your jam the way you see fit. You want to make it without refined sugar? Use coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey.
If you want to jazz it up, add some orange juice and zest, some fresh grated ginger, spices, or vanilla bean paste like I have here. You can also chop your strawberries smaller or process them in the food processor if you like yours less chunky.
I happen to love big chunks of strawberries in mine, which is just how I made this strawberry jam recipe 🙂
Small batch jam definitely doesn’t keep as long as regular preserves — it’s good for about 2-3 weeks tops. That’s ok since this recipe only makes about 1 cup of jam. You can also double the recipe easily if you go through jam really quickly in your house, or if you want to give some to family or friends for a gift.
I used maple syrup in this batch because it’s my favorite sweetener aside from coconut sugar, but you can definitely use granulated sugar in its place. The amount of sweetener is a personal preference, and I don’t like my jam to be too sweet.
My strawberries were straight from the farmer’s market and they were so sweet, they really didn’t need much. If you prefer your jam sweeter or your strawberries are on the tart side, simply add more sweetener.
Now it’s time to dream about PG&J sandwiches and toast slathered with an insanely large amount of this jam on them, or add this to your next cheese board and watch everyone go wild. 🙂
Try these small batch jam recipes!
- Apricot Jam
- Chia seed jam
- Blueberry Jam by Chocolate Moosey
- Fig Jam
- Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
- Tomato jam
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Small Batch Strawberry Jam
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs. fresh strawberries hulled and quartered or halved, depending on size (about 4 cups)
- 1 cup maple syrup sub with your favorite sweetener
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste may be substituted with pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place the strawberries, maple syrup and lemon juice in a large non-reactive saucepan and stir to combine.
- Heat over medium heat until boiling, then reduce heat to medium low and continue cooking for 50-60 minutes until the strawberries have cooked down and have thickened. Stir every 10 minutes or so to prevent burning.
- Once the jam has thickened remove from heat (it will continue to thicken as it cools). Stir in the vanilla, and allow to cool completely. Enjoy!
Notes
- Store strawberry jam in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. Enjoy!
- I don’t like my jam to be overly sweet, so add up to 1/4 cup more sweetener if you prefer it sweeter.
- Recipe is easily doubled!
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
34 Comments on “Small Batch Strawberry Vanilla Bean Jam”
Homemade is definitely better than store-bought, especially when it comes to jam! This looks incredible, Marcie! I am definitely one of those people who doesn’t want to try canning…it just intimidates me! But knowing I can have this ready in an hour sounds just perfect. I think I would slather this on just about anything!
Canning can be quite the pain, but this is so nice and easy! Thanks, Gayle, and I hope you get to make some jam soon!
I’ve never canned before so small-batch jams are where it’s at for me. 🙂 I love this Marcie! I wish I had this for breakfast right now.
Thanks, Alyssa! Small batch jams are almost too good to be true. 🙂
I love homemade jam! I’ve canned one thing in my life and it was a complete mess. I’m happy to be able to have delicious jam on the fly without all the hassle.
Thanks, Jen, and there are definitely no hassles here! 🙂
Nothing beats homemade jam – I have my eye on that luscious fig honey creation. It’s glistening! Lovely bit of inspiration for the weekend ahead , thanks!
Thank you so much, and I hope you get to make some jam soon! 🙂
Oh man this looks amazing!! I love your jam recipes!
Thank you, Annie!
I LOVE small batch jams, because I always want to make a million flavors of jam without making enough to feed all of DC 🙂 This looks amazing, love the vanilla!
Haha, yes — I don’t want a ton of the same flavor either! Thanks, Medha!
Love that this jam is so easy to customize Marcie! It looks fabulous!
Thank you, Christin!
Homemade is always the best and there is no arguing with that. This jam needs to happen!! So glad there is no canning involved 🙂 and I’ll have to try it with coconut sugar. I just started using it and now I can’t stop putting it in everything.
Thanks, Zainab! I love coconut sugar and it would be perfect in this jam! 🙂
This jam looks luscious and so delicious, Marcie. Love that it makes a small batch — Perfect for my family! 🙂 Thank you for this lovely share.
Thank you, Anu!
Homemade jam is definitely the best! Love the addition of vanilla bean!
Thank you, Jessica!
I have zero desire to can so the small batch recipes are my favorite!! This flavor sounds sooo good Marcie. Loveeee that you used vanilla bean paste!!
Thanks, Ashley! Vanilla bean paste finds it’s way into so many things around here. 🙂
What a glorious jam – such a rich red colour, and so beautiful the way it glistens!
Thank you so much! 🙂
I need to give this recipe a try!
I hope you do, Nancy!
What a great homemade recipe Marcie!
Thanks, Deb!
Can you use frozen berries instead of fresh? Or, alternatively, can you freeze the jam?
Hi Sheila! You can definitely use frozen frozen fruit, but unfortunately I haven’t tried freezing it so I can’t tell you for sure. I’d suggest freezing a small amount to try it out. One of these days I need to try that myself!
This looks lovely! When would I add the vanilla?
Hi Neha! Thank you and I’m sorry that I inadvertently left the vanilla out of the instructions. Add it in when it’s done cooking…I’ve modified the recipe to reflect this now.
Can I can this jam? I would like to make a couple batches at once and store it, would that work out ok?
Hello! I have never done it but have no idea why it wouldn’t work if you follow canning instructions.