Homemade Blueberry Preserves (No Pectin)

This recipe for Homemade Blueberry Preserves (No Pectin) is a simple way to make organic blueberry jam at home that only requires three ingredients. Use Blueberry Preserves in cookies, cakes fillings, or spread on top of toast!

Try this Blueberry Preserves recipe in The Best Jam Thumbprint Cookie Recipe, Eggless Blueberry Babka Coffee Cake, or slathered on top of butter on my Homemade Sesame Bagels.

A Quick Look At The Recipe

• Recipe Name: Homemade Blueberry Preserves (No Pectin)
• Ready In: 15 minutes
• Makes: 6 ounces
• Main Ingredients: blueberries, cane sugar, lemon
• Flavor Profile: sweet blueberry
• Dietary Info: no seed oils, eggless, vegan, gluten free
• Difficulty: Easy!
• Why You’ll Love It: 3 ingredient blueberry preserves to use on anything

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Homemade: I love making organic blueberry jam because it is so fresh when you make it at home. I think it tastes even better than buying a high quality jam.
• Easy: This recipe for homemade Blueberry Preserves is so easy! It only requires three ingredients and it takes no time at all.
• Many Uses: You can use homemade Blueberry Preserves on so many things! I love this just on toast or bagels in the morning. I also love adding on top of waffles and pancakes. You can also use this to make blueberry thumbprint cookies with The Best Jam Thumbprint Cookie Recipe.

What are preserves?

Preserves are a fruit spread that is made with cane sugar as the sweetener. Preserves are also known to have larger pieces of fruit in them, as opposed to jam or jelly. I like to think of this as preserves are “preserving” the fruit, haha, and keeping it more whole. Preserves can be used on top of toast, cheese, or in other recipes as well as pop tarts or cakes!

What is the difference between jelly, jam, and preserves?

Not a whole lot to be honest, but it's mostly the texture and the type of fruit that is used to make them. While jelly is made using fruit juice, it has the smoothest consistency. Jam has some small bits of fruit in it and preserves can have larger chunks of fruit.

I usually prefer to make preserves because I like the chunks of fruit, especially if I'm using in another recipe. But, all three are a great topping for toast in place of butter. Or, for me it just makes me use less butter haha.

Ingredients

• Blueberries: You can use fresh or frozen organic blueberries to make organic blueberry preserves, either works! If you're using frozen, you do not need to thaw beforehand as you'll just cook off the excess moisture as you cook down the preserves.
• Cane Sugar: I use organic cane sugar, which is less processed than granulated white sugar.
• Lemon: You'll need a lemon as fresh lemon juice will help naturally preserve this.

*For a full list of ingredients and measurements, visit the recipe card below.

Baker's Tips

• You can use fresh or frozen blueberries for preserves. Whatever you have on hand is fine!
• Once the blueberries start to bubble, you can squish them with your spatula to break them up easier.
• If you want smaller fruit pieces, you can cut up the blueberries beforehand and you'll end up with a smoother consistency.

How to Make Homemade Blueberry Preserves (No Pectin)

Step 1

Add blueberries, cane sugar, and lemon juice to a medium pot. Cook over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Turn the heat to high and boil for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 2

Turn the heat back down to medium/low and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the consistency is thick. Transfer to a glass jar and let cool to room temperature. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Ways to Use Homemade Blueberry Preserves

• Use on top of your favorite bagels or toast like Lemon Rosemary Sourdough Bread or Sourdough Discard Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread.
• Spread on top of scones like Blueberry Cream Cheese Scones Without Eggs or Citrus Scones.
• Top Eggless Sourdough Waffles or Meyer Lemon Pancakes.
• Use inside layer cakes or as a topping to blondies like Vegan Blueberry Bars With Frosting.
• Add as a filling inside cupcakes like Simple Vanilla Cupcakes.
• Swirl it into yogurt and enjoy with Honey Almond Coconut Granola or Homemade Vanilla Granola with Cranberries.
• Transfer it to a glass jar and tie a ribbon around it and you have a delicious homemade gift for the holidays!

Recipe FAQ's

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