No Sugar Jam Reduced Sugar Jam Solutions

No Sugar Jam
Reduced Sugar Jam
Solutions

What can compare to freshly made jam?
Yet, if you're health conscious, you might not want all that sugar.
Here's some solutions for making no sugar and reduced sugar alternatives.
Why not keep the taste and shed the unwanted calories?

Ways to Reduce Sugar in Jams and Jellies

First of all, heed the pectin box directions that say DO NOT REDUCE SUGAR. They're telling the truth. If you try it, you will be unhappy with the less than jam-like product you end up with.

But, don't despair...there are solutions! Here are a few:

1. First, there are a number of reduced or no sugar pectins out on the market. Pick up one of those and follow the package instructions. There's still sugar in the mix, and you can't pick how much, but it's less than traditional pectin recipes. Many of them will also give you the option of using non-sugar sweeteners like Splenda or a mix of sweeteners in proper quantities. Here's a Mixed Berry Jam recipe you can try that has a variety of options for sweetening it.

2. Similar to above, but with more control over what you're doing, there's a pectin called Pomona's Universal Pectin (I haven't seen it at the "Big Box" stores, but I did find it at my local New Seasons Grocery store). What I love about this pectin is that it will create a gel from WHATEVER AMOUNT of sugar (or alternative) you want to use. This pectin seems more expensive on the outset (about double the price of regular pectin) but it's actually cheaper because one box will make up to 4 batches of jam.

3. Slow cooking. This is making jam the 'old-fashioned' way. You simply add the fruit (and sugar or otehr sweetener if wanted) and slowly bring the jam to a boil. Cook the jam until it's to the consistancy you want. This is a much slower method, but with wonderfully tasty results.

4. Use something besides pectin such as ThickenThin not/Sugar (a natural sweetener that gives food the same texture as you'd get if you used sugar, but without the sugar) or gelatin. Here's a Blackberry Freezer Jam recipe using both ThinenThin and gelatin.