This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.
Huckleberry jam is perfectly sweet and tart. Huckleberries taste like a cross between a blueberry and a blackberry, which makes for a tasty jam!
Featured in this recipe
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Albertsons. All opinions are 100% mine.
This huckleberry jam is sweet and delicious in every bite! Huckleberries are smaller than a blueberry and can be dark purple, blue, or even bright red in color. They are delicious on their own or as an addition to ice cream, shakes, pancakes, oatmeal, and anything else you can think of! My very favorite way to eat huckleberries is in huckleberry jam.
Of all the things you can make with huckleberries, huckleberry jam has got to be my favorite. It’s a little tart and not too sweet. We love putting it on everything from our easy homemade bread to honey whole wheat bread to homemade dinner rolls. It’s even great over ice cream or swirled into the cake batter to kick your cake up a notch.
What you Need to Make Huckleberry Jam
Homemade huckleberry jam is simple to make and your house will be filled with so many flavors of deliciousness. The warmth from the huckleberries in the pot will bring everyone to the kitchen. Get ready to enjoy the most amazing jam using huckleberries with this easy recipe!
- Huckleberries – Fresh huckleberries that are picked in the wild or picked in the grocery store work great! Wash them and clean them before adding them to the pan.
- Sugar – Balances out the sweet and tart flavors of the huckleberries and lemon. It helps the fruit mixture work together leaving just enough sweetness in the jam but not enough to take away the natural sweetener.
- Water – This helps thin out the jam leaving it a thinner and more smooth jam once set.
- Powdered fruit pectin – Gives the jam more shelf life and time to be stored.
- Lemon juice – Added in for the acidity to help keep the jam fresh and the huckleberries from not molding or expiring too soon.
How to Make Homemade Huckleberry Jam Recipe
Making jam is easier than you think! Simply boil the ingredients together, simmer to let all the flavors blend and combine, then add to jars getting ready for storage. There is some preparation ahead of time but these jars of jam are just what you need sitting on your shelf!
- Boil – Rinse huckleberries and add to a heavy saucepan. Add sugar and water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.
- Simmer – When the mixture starts to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture may foam and that’s totally normal. When sugar is completely dissolved, add pectin and lemon juice and simmer for another 1-2 minutes.
- Mash – Remove from heat and mash if needed for consistency.
- Storing – Fill jars, leaving about 1/2″ of room at the top. Cover and allow to set. For storage suggestions, see above. Makes 3 pints (or about 7 half-pints mason jars).
Where To Find Huckleberries
You can find wild huckleberries in forested areas in the Pacific Northwest. Huckleberries look almost like small blueberries and grow in shrub-like bushes. Unlike blueberries (which grow in clusters), huckleberries grow as single berries throughout the bush. This makes them more difficult to pick in bulk than blueberries and is why they are more expensive.
Picking huckleberries takes some patience. It took us about an hour for 5 of us to pick about 1 quart. It has become a fun tradition for us that our kids have grown to love.
Where To Buy Huckleberries
Instead of picking fresh huckleberries, most grocery stores have them available to purchase during huckleberry season. Usually, Albertsons stores will have the best and most fresh huckleberries during the season. You can buy them in different amounts/options to create your own delicious recipes or look for a variety of store-made Huckleberry items throughout every department.
I found these fresh huckleberries at the Albertsons Market Street in Meridian Idaho, but you can ask your local Albertsons Companies family of stores, including Safeway, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Randalls, Shaw’s Supermarket, Star Market, and Tom Thumb about Huckleberries. Don’t forget Albertsons also offers Grocery Delivery and Drive Up & Go™ for convenient ways to shop!
Fun Facts About Huckleberries
Huckleberries are delicious in every way and have the best taste. They are popular for good reason! Growing huckleberries is nearly impossible but you can find them in the wild. Selling them is discouraged but making them for yourself and gifting them is encouraged. Huckleberries are good for you, even the bears love them!
- Growing huckleberries – It is VERY difficult for huckleberries to be cultivated, dare I say almost impossible.
- Grown in the wild – They grow best in the wild because of their unique root systems. If you try to plant the berries, a bush may grow but it will be berry-less.
- Can’t sell – It is illegal to pick and sell huckleberries commercially in many places. For huckleberries to be picked for commercial use, pickers need to have special permits and can only pick in certain areas.
- Good for you – Huckleberries are a high-nutrition superfood. Bears are also big fans of huckleberries so be extra careful when foraging for them on your own
“Your recipe is the most clear one I’ve found so far. Thank you for that! Huckleberries are my favorite and I’m about to use up my freezer stash on some jam. Anyone that has never tried them, do it! Order some huckleberry syrup online if you don’t have local access and make up some french toast. Amazing.”
-KFisher
Frequently Asked Questions
Huckleberries are wild berry that is commonly found in the Pacific Northwest. Although different varieties can be found in different regions throughout the U.S., living in Idaho, we are most familiar with the Northwest huckleberry.
There are so many variables that can factor into huckleberry jam not setting. Some berries are juicier than others, causing the jam to have extra liquid. Sometimes elevation or even humidity can play a role in jam not setting. It happens, even to the most experienced jam-makers. If your jam hasn’t set in 48 hours, there’s a good chance it probably won’t set at all. Don’t worry, if this happens, not all is lost! You have a couple of options: 1. Use your jam as huckleberry syrup or ice cream topping (SO GOOD) 2. Re-cook it.
Yes! Huckleberries are considered to be a “superfood”, right up there with the acai berry and the lingonberry. They have high levels of antioxidants and are rich in Vitamin B, Vitamin C, iron, and potassium. They can help lower cholesterol, fight against immune deficiencies, and protect against ulcers.
Huckleberries taste like a cross between a blueberry and a blackberry. They are tart and sweet and oh-so-delicious. Their skin isn’t as tough as blueberry and they are a little juicier.
How To Store Huckleberry Jam
Like any other jam, huckleberry jam can be stored in several different ways for you to enjoy later. Here are a few of the ways to keep the huckleberry jam fresh for any day that you are in need!
- In the Refrigerator – Simply put your jam in air-tight containers and store it in the fridge for up to 3 weeks
- Freezer Jam – Place the jam in air-tight freezer containers (leaving at least 1/2″ at the top to allow for expansion) and freezer for up to a year.
- Canned (processed) – Place the jam in sterilized glass jars. Place on new, clean lids and seal with rims. Process in a hot water bath for 5 minutes then allows to sit at room temperature for 24 hours. Check if jars have been sealed before storing them. For best quality, use within a year.
More Delicious Jam And Jelly Recipes
Once you make this huckleberry jam you will be a pro at making jam and jelly recipes. These recipes are perfect for storing year-round and having them in storage when needed. They each have their own delicious flavor that adds the perfect touch to any toast, cracker, or bread.
Homemade Huckleberry Jam
Ingredients
- 1 quart huckleberries (4 cups)
- 4 cups sugar
- 4 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons powdered fruit pectin
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Rinse hucklberries and add to heavy sauce pan. Add sugar and water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.
- When the mixture starts to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture may foam and that's totally normal. When sugar is completely dissolved, add pectin and lemon juice and simmer another 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and mash if needed for consistency. Fill jars, leaving about 1/2" of room at the top. Cover and allow to set. For storage suggestions, see above. Makes 3 pints (or about 7 half-pints).
I followed the recipe exactly and the jam did not jell at all. Very liquidy. It did seem low on sugar and pectin compared to other jams I have made. Reboiling now with more sugar and pectin. Fingers crossed.
Oh no! How did it end up turning out?
Can I use liquid pectin and would the measurement be the same as powered
If you use liquid pectin, you will need to follow the directions and recipe on the package.
Can you use a variety of berries? I would like to make a jam with huckleberries, blueberries and elderberries? Thank you.
Sounds delicious!
My huckleberries are all frozen. Will this be a problem?
That should still work!
Can you store this on your pantry shelf and for how long?
Follow these instructions for making this jam shelf stable:
Place the jam in sterilized glass jars. Place on new, clean lids and seal with rims. Process in a hot water bath for 5 minutes then allows to sit at room temperature for 24 hours. Check if jars have been sealed before storing them. For best quality, use within a year.
I had to give a star rating even though i haven’t tried, but just curious, if u use less sugar, is that an option?
If you buy low-sugar pectin, there are instructions on how to make it with less sugar inside the box!
Are you supposed to let the jars cool before using storage suggestions listed in this blog?
Yes, let them cool to room temperature.
I got a little over 3 pints from this recipe so maybe you meant 7 half pints? Regardless, it’s a great recipe, and I’m going to use it from now on. I found a great patch of huckleberries so I’m going to try and make enough to last me through the winter, and have some extra for Christmas gifts too.
Thank you for letting us know! We will double check the recipe.
Can you double this recipe?
Sure!
Oh, it seems that I am missing a lot! I have never tried huckleberries at all. And now this jam… It sounds yummy and delicious. I am bookmarking for later. Thanks!
Your recipe is the most clear one I’ve found so far. Thank you for that! Huckleberries are my favorite and I’m about to use up my freezer stash on some jam. Anyone that has never tried them, do it! Order some huckleberry syrup online if you don’t have local access and make up some french toast. Amazing.
I enjoyed reading this as I haven’t heard of huckleberries before and know I feel like I know them. Yum, so perfect and sweet looking!
Love the jam recipe. Really very easy and look at that gorgeous color. I regularly make jams at home and will love to try out your recipe when I can get some huckleberries.
I am so happy to learn new fruit, I have never tasted huckleberry, but as a homemade jam it sounds so yummy. Can I use different berries for this jam recipe?
We love homemade jam, and this is delicious and makes for a wonderful gift!
There’s no way this recipe makes 7 pts. I got two which makes more sense since there’s only 4 cups of fruit and 4 cups of sugar. The flavor is great though!
Whoops, you are absolutely correct, it should have been half-pints– not full pints. We corrected it on the recipe. Thanks for catching that!
I got 4 (1/2 pints) out of this recipe not 7. So 2 pints if using pint jars.