Name: Easy Homemade Strawberry Jam (No Pectin)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds fresh strawberries; 1 1/4 cups sugar; 2 tablespoons lemon juice

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Rich and flavorful, this homemade strawberry jam is perfect for taking advantage of strawberry season. It’s perfect with a slice of toast and a cup of tea. Totally pectin-free, and naturally gluten-free and vegan too!

Up close view of a jar of homemade strawberry jam

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Anything Homemade is My Jam (Pun Intended!)

Other than homemade bread, homemade jams and marmalades have always been a passion of mine.

I mean, it’s hard to beat fresh homemade jam spread generously over a slice of toast, together with a side of fresh whipped cream. Making my own jam transports me back to the time when my family and I did a homestay in a New Zealand farm, where the jams and creams were direct produce of the farmland, and not a single day old.

From plum jam, apricot jam, mixed berry jam, and kumquat marmalade.. I’ve made my fair share of jams and jellies!

A spoon in a jar of strawberry jam (no pectin)

A jar of jam on a wooden board with crackers

Making Strawberry Jam (Without Pectin)

Pectin is a soluble fiber that occurs naturally and is found in the cell walls of some fruits and vegetables, and is sort of like the “glue” that holds them together. It is commonly added as a “gelling agent” to jams, jellies and fruit preserves to helps them “set” better.

However, not all fruits contain natural pectin in the same quantity.

For example, strawberries have pectin, but not as much as fruits such as apples or citrus fruits, hence some strawberry jam recipes include added pectin to help the jam thicken and set.

If you don’t want to add pectin, the secret is to cook the jam for longer. The sugar added also helps to draw water out of the strawberries, which allows the pectin to react and bind together. Adding lemon juice creates a more acidic environment that also helps the naturally-occurring pectin in the strawberries to be activated.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe:

Just 3 Ingredients: All you need are just 3 ingredients to make this easy strawberry jam recipe (you might already have them!).
Super Easy to Make: Preparing this homemade jam is a matter of patience and simmering the ingredients over low heat until the strawberries have broken down and you get a rich delicious jam!
Totally Gluten-Free, Vegan & Pectin-Free: The best part is that this recipe is naturally 100% gluten-free and vegan. Plus, we don’t need to use added pectin for the jam to set!

Up close view of a spoonful of strawberry jam

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for making this homemade strawberry jam recipe.

(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Ingredients for strawberry jam recipe laid out on white board.

Recipe Notes + Substitutions:

Strawberries: I used fresh strawberries, but frozen strawberries will work too.
Consistency: If you prefer a thicker jam, continue cooking for a few more minutes, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired thickness.
Using Other Berries: If you prefer, you can also use other types of berries such as blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries.
Sterilized Jars: Make sure to use sterilized jars to prevent the jam from turning bad.

How to Make Fresh Strawberry Jam (Without Pectin):

Combine Strawberries with Sugar and Lemon Juice & Cook

Combine Strawberries, Sugar and Lemon Juice: Add the sugar and lemon juice to the saucepan with the strawberries. Stir gently to mix everything together.

Simmer and Stir: Set the saucepan on low heat and allow the mixture to come to a gentle simmer. Stir occasionally for the first 5 minutes to help the sugar dissolve completely into the fruit.

Simmer Until Thick and Rich

Cook Until Thick: Once the sugar has dissolved, cover the saucepan and let the strawberries cook on low heat for about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking, and keep an eye on the consistency of the jam. The jam will thicken as it cooks, so be patient and wait for it to reach a thick jam-like consistency.

Store in Jars: Once the homemade strawberry jam is ready, you can either transfer it into sterilized glass jars for storing or allow it to cool before serving it with pancakes, toast, or other dishes.

Other Homemade Jams/Marmalades You’ll Love:

Holding up a spoonful of homemade jam from a jar

Other Strawberry Recipes to Make:

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