Strawberry Rhubarb Freezer Jam ~ 2 Reduced Sugar Recipes - The Self Sufficient HomeAcre (2024)

Strawberry Rhubarb Freezer Jam With Less Sugar

Strawberry Rhubarb Freezer jam is a great way to preserve the harvest when it’s hot and you’re too busy to can. Strawberries and rhubarb are one of my favorites jam combos but most recipes call for sooooo much sugar. I wanted a reduced sugar recipe and had trouble finding one. So, of course, I decided to experiment.

So far we’ve polished off 4 batches of experimental strawberry rhubarb freezer jams. They all tasted good, but they either didn’t jell up nicely or didn’t have as much flavor as I wanted. Never fear, batches #5 and #6 are keepers! Keep reading for the recipes and a few notes.

Try Fresh Strawberry Pie for another easy no-cook recipe! Or can your own Low Sugar Strawberry Jam for the winter.

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‘Strawberry’ Rhubarb Freezer Jam

So what do you do if you want strawberry rhubarb freezer jam, but you don’t have strawberries? I found myself in that exact situation, so I used strawberry flavored gelatin. To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of artificial color and flavor, but I’m certainly not a purist. And the gelatin helps create a thicker freezer jam.

Here’s the recipe for freezer jam made with strawberry gelatin and rhubarb…

• 5 cups cooked, unsweetened rhubarb sauce
• 3 small (3oz) boxes strawberry flavored gelatin
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 6 Tbs no sugar needed freezer pectin

Wash and chop rhubarb, cook in a saucepan with enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Measure 5 cups of prepared sauce into a bowl while it is still hot (be careful!).

Add strawberry gelatin and stir until completely dissolved.

In a separate bowl, combine sugar and pectin. Slowly add to rhubarb sauce while stirring. Stir for 3 minutes.

Spoon into freezer containers and chill. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 1 year.

Strawberry Rhubarb Freezer Jam – No Artificial Ingredients

Maybe you want to make some yummy jam without the artificial ingredients in the flavored gelatin. I understand completely! Although everyone in our family liked the recipe above, I did hear a comment that it tasted kind of like strawberry flavored kool-aid.

So I set out on a mission to make a nice, thick, all natural version using real strawberries. The resulting jam is super delicious and easy to make. This version is hands down the favorite with the taste testers in our family! Here is the recipe for batch #6…

• 2 1/2 cups cooked, unsweetened rhubarb sauce
• 2 1/2 cups crushed strawberries
• 3 packets Knox unflavored gelatin
• 3 cups sugar
• 6 Tbs no sugar needed freezer pectin

Wash and chop rhubarb, cook in a saucepan with enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Measure 2 1/2 cups of prepared sauce into a bowl while it is still hot (be careful!).

Sprinkle small amounts of unflavored gelatin on the sauce and stir in, then add more and stir until all of the gelatin has been dissolved into the rhubarb sauce.

Add crushed strawberries and combine.

In a separate bowl, combine sugar and pectin. Add to fruit mixture and stir for 3 minutes.

Spoon jam into freezer containers and chill. Store in refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or in freezer for up to 1 year.

Both Recipes Are Easy & Delicious

I really like both recipes, for somewhat different reasons. The all-natural recipe is my favorite for flavor, but the recipe made with strawberry flavored gelatin is great for those times when we don’t have strawberries to make jam.

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Notes for Making Strawberry Rhubarb Freezer Jam

Of course, plenty of people make ‘strawberry’ rhubarb jam with strawberry flavored gelatin…that’s not a new idea. I’ll be honest, I’ve never tried anyone else’s recipe, so I can’t compare them to mine.

I thought that using 3 packages of gelatin seemed like a bit of overkill, but I also tried it with just one, and with two. The batch with one box of gelatin didn’t jell up very well and the batch with 2 boxes jelled ok but didn’t have as much flavor as I wanted. Three packages made a nice thick jam with great flavor…even if it reminded someone of kool-aid.

Do you make freezer jam? Have you ever tried using gelatin to thicken it?

Grow Your Own Organic Strawberries for the best-flavored jam!

Check out my other jam recipes:

Strawberry Rhubarb Freezer Jam

How to Make Peach Freezer Jam from Fresh or Frozen Fruit

How to Make Blueberry Jam

How to Make Cherry Jam from Scratch

Canning Grape Juice and Jelly

Strawberry Jam – Low Sugar Recipe

Cranberry Jam with Free Printable Labels

Easy Cranberry Jelly with Free Printable Labels

Apple Cranberry Jam with Free Printable Labels

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