Aromatic black currant freezer jam made with agave syrup or another sweetener, a healthier kind of jam with fresh currants.
One of my favorite black currant recipes! Freezer jam with agave syrup, thickened with corn starch and kept in the refrigerator or in the freezer. Fresh and incredibly aromatic. Or try a classic Black Currant Jam or a Black Currant Jelly.
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Ingredients
Black currants:
- I was lucky enough to get some black currants from a neighbor this year. It is not something I often had; people tend to have lots of bushes full of red currants around here, and black currants do not seem to be quite so popular.
- I really don't know why, although I like red currants as well, I prefer the black version. They are less sour and have an earthy, full-bodied taste that distinguishes them from all other berries I know.
- I didn't have too many of them, so I couldn't really make a normal jam batch. I used most of them to make some creme de Cassis, a wonderful liqueur, and the rest to make this little, aromatic currant jam. The procedure is very quick and simple, and the result is just great.
Sweetener:
- Agave syrup or other sweeteners like maple or date syrup.
- Stevia is also an option; in this case, do use to taste; the amount mentioned in this freezer jam recipe would be too much.
- And you can certainly use regular sugar if you wish.
Needed amounts
- You can vary the quantities used. I used 350 g/ 12.4 oz/ 3 ½ cups berries because that is what I had left.
- You just increase or decrease the amount of sweetener according to how many berries you have and to taste.
- The amount of corn starch used is also according to taste. Add more or less depending on how thick you like the jam.
- I didn't use too much, so my jam is quite runny, almost like a sauce, but I love it this way, especially as I like to stir 1 or 2 tablespoons of it into muesli or yogurt.
Alternative berries for freezer jam
- Anything!!!
- Red currants, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, gooseberries, blackberries...
- Go with the availability and taste; anything goes.
- When choosing other berries, add sweetener to taste; some need more than others.
Tips
- Don't mash the berries too much, just enough to release some juice, but most of them should remain intact.
- Let the mashed currants stand for about an hour; this way, they will release more juice.
- If you use a dry sweetener, like stevia, start with a smaller amount and keep tasting until the jam is as sweet as you like it.
- You can use other berries to make the recipe.
How long does it keep?
- This black currant jam or any kind of refrigerator jam will not last very long, about 2 weeks in the fridge.
- If you make larger batches, you will have to freeze the jars.
How to serve?
- On toast or regular spelt bread, just like any other jam,
- Stir into homemade muesli or buckwheat porridge.
- Use as a sauce for German waffles, as a filling for creme fraiche crepes, or as a topping for oven pancakes.
What to do with black currants?
- Black Currant Cake
- Creme de Cassis - Liqueur
- Red Currant Cake - usually made with red currants, you can use a mixture or only black ones.
- Berry Crumble Pie
- Black Currant Crumble (with Apples)
- Black Currant Muffins
- Black Currant Ice Cream
- Black Currant Cordial
- Black Currant Gin
Recipe
Black Currant Freezer Jam
Aromatic black currant freezer jam made with agave syrup, a healthier kind of jam with fresh currants.
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Servings: 1 jar
Calories: 762kcal
Ingredients
- 12.5 oz black currants 350 g
- 9 tablespoons agave syrup or another sweetener, more to taste
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- a few tablespoons water
Instructions
- Clean and remove the stalks of the black currants.
- Crush: Place them in a large pot and add the agave syrup. Use a potato masher to crush the currants a little. You don't want a berry puree; mash the currants partially to obtain some juice while retaining most of them intact.
- Steep: Mix well and let stand for about an hour. The mixture will become juicier during this time.
- Cook: Bring everything to a boil and let cook for about 5 minutes while stirring from time to time.
- Thicken: In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2-3 tablespoons cold water to obtain a paste. Slowly pour this mixture into the boiling jam while whisking continuously. Bring to a boil again and cook for one more minute.
- Freeze or refrigerate: Let cool, transfer into a clean jar, and refrigerate or freeze.
Notes
The nutrition is calculated for the whole jar of jam.
Nutrition
Serving: 1whole jar | Calories: 762kcal | Carbohydrates: 187g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 15mg | Sugar: 105g
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @adinabeck or tag #WhereIsMySpoon!
Lisa says
Can I substitute in white currants?
Adina says
Yes.
Jillian says
How would you modify it for red currants? That's all I have in my garden.
Adina says
Maybe use a bit more sweetener as red currants are tarter. Do it to taste.
Sydney says
Perfect recipe for a gift, I'm a fan of small batch cooking and like this is for just one jar. I might not go through a full jar in a couple weeks so I divide between the smaller 4 ounce jelly jars and put one in the fridge and freeze the other jar.
Adina says
Sounds good, I am glad you liked the recipe.
Rachel @ Simple Seasonal says
I'd like some of this jam on my toast please! I also love that it doesn't involve the hassle of canning.
Adina says
That is great, isn't it? If there is one thing that annoys me when making jam, that is the sterilizing of the jars.
Sam @ SugarSpunRun says
I don't think I've EVER even tasted a currant before. This jam looks so good, though, I think I'm going to have to change that immediately.
Adina says
Currants are really good, the red ones sour and refreshing , the black ones somehow earthy and also very aromatic.
Julie says
I've never baked with black currents yet - but very motivated by your recipe! I'm sure it tastes as delicious as it looks! Pinned 😀
Adina says
Thank you, Julie. I hope you give it a try.
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Oh my gawsh, why IS it so hard to find black currents? Really it's just hard for me to find ANY type of currents, but I have yet to hit up all the farmers markets here in my new home town. Obviously this jam is going to light a fire under my bum to get on it because this looks terrific! I adore homemade jam and I'm digging the fact that you made this a little thinner! I can just imagine how delicious this tastes over waffles, pancakes, some buttered toast or stirred into yogurt.. or maybe paired with a smoothie bowl! Yum! Love this, girl! Thanks for sharing the yum! <3 Cheers to a beautiful day!
P.s.- thank you SO much for the super sweet comment you left on my blog!
Adina says
Thank you, Cheyanne. Black currants are quite hard to find here as well, I never saw them sold anywhere (but then we don't have any farmers markets at all here). I only ever got them from people who grow them in their gardens and I just love them. Red currants are easier to come by, I can even buy them frozen all year around, but normally I get so many in summer that I can freeze a few bags full of them myself.
David Zersen says
Black currant bushes are easy to grew in Midwestern climates. I
regularly make Creme de Cassis and use this recipe for freezer jam
with Stevia.
Adina says
Currant jam is really good, either red or black currants. The red one is quite sour and great to have some around Christmas when making cookies, the black currant jam is just great on toast or some other bread.
Anne says
I've never tried making jam because we never had an overabundance of fruit, but I definitely will have to find some currants now and make some jam!!!! :DD
Adina says
Thank you for the info about the stevia, Angie.I tend to reduce the sugar content in cakes as well, I rarely take the required amount.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I haven't seen black currants here yet...your healthy refrigerator jam looks perfect.
p.s It's 12grams, and that's about 120grams of sugar (original recipe called for 200grams of sugar, but you seriously don't need that much, esp. if you are going to glaze the cake with lemon icing.)