Here’s a simple, classic Chuckley Pear Berry Jam recipe you can try at home. Saskatoon berries or Chuckly Pear (sometimes called serviceberries or juneberries) have a sweet, nutty, blueberry-like flavor that makes a wonderful jam.
🍇 Saskatoon Berry Jam Recipe
Ingredients:
- 8 cups fresh Saskatoon berries (washed and stemmed)
- 6 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup lemon juice (fresh is best)
- 1 pouch (57 g / 2 oz) liquid pectin (or powdered equivalent)
- 1 cup water
Instructions:
- Prepare jars
- Sterilize canning jars and lids by boiling them for 10 minutes. Keep hot until ready to fill.
- Cook berries
- In a large pot, combine Saskatoon berries and water.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring often. The berries should soften and release their juices.
- Mash lightly with a potato masher for a more even texture (optional).
- Add sugar & lemon juice
- Stir in the sugar and lemon juice.
- Bring mixture back to a boil, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves.
- Add pectin
- Stir in the liquid pectin.
- Return to a full rolling boil (the kind you can’t stir down) for 1–2 minutes.
- Test jam set
- Place a small spoonful on a chilled plate. If it wrinkles when pushed, it’s ready.
- If not, boil another 1–2 minutes.
- Jar the jam
- Ladle hot jam into prepared jars, leaving about ¼ inch (0.5 cm) headspace.
- Wipe rims clean, apply lids and screw bands fingertip-tight.
- Process jars
- Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
- Remove and let cool undisturbed for 12–24 hours. Lids should “pop” to seal.
Yield:
- About 7–8 half-pint (250 ml) jars.
✅ Tips:
- For a richer flavor, replace half the water with apple juice.
- If you like a thicker jam, cook berries a few minutes longer before adding pectin.
- Saskatoons can be mixed with rhubarb or blueberries for a tasty blend.