Recently we had my daughter’s first birthday party -I chose to do a strawberry and picnic motif to celebrate her “berry first birthday.” The party was a huge success as were the strawberry jam party favors!
For the adults, which were the majority of attendees, the party favor was a simple and sweet homemade strawberry jam courtesy of my mom (thanks mom!). So many people enjoyed the yummy favor and commented on the cute idea that I wanted to share the recipe.
The recipe used is from the Sure-Jell brand of fruit pectin and requires just a few ingredients. The official recipe can be found on the Kraft Heinz website.
Ingredients:
• 5 cups prepared strawberries (washed, stems removed, berries crushed)
• 1 box Sure-Jell fruit pectin
• ½ teaspoon of butter or margarine
• 7 cups sugar, measured into a separate bowl
Pro tip: My mama’s tip and optional ingredient – the juice of a lime to balance the sweetness
Directions:
• Wash canning jars and screw bands in hot soapy water. Rinse with warm water. Boil water and pour over flat lids in a saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.
• Stem and crush washed strawberries thoroughly. Measure 5 cups of the crushed strawberries into a six or eight quart saucepot.
• Stir pectin into the strawberries in the saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil on high heat; stir constantly. Stir in sugar and lime juice. Return to a full rolling boil and boil exactly one minute stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim off any foam with a metal spoon.
• Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within ¼ inch of the top. Before closing the jars, wipe jar rims and threads. Place flat lid over jar and seal tightly with a screw band. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner (water should cover jars by 1 to 2 inches). Cover and allow water to begin a gentle boil. Process for 10 minutes. Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely. You may hear a popping noise indicating the jars have sealed. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middle of lids with finger. If the lids spring back, the lids are not sealed and refrigeration is required. If the lids do not spring back, the lid is sealed and refrigeration is not required.
Equipment tip: If you don’t have a canner, no worries! As long as you have a pot that is deep enough to cover the tops of your jars by a couple of inches of water while boiling, you are set! Just be careful lowering the jars into the water and removing them if you do not have a rack.
I love favors that are food or beverage related. Special treats in pretty packages are sure to be a hit with everyone.
How did you celebrate your little one’s first birthday?
We love a good theme so be sure to share in the comments!
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