• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Hilda's Kitchen Blog

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Book
  • About
  • Resources
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Book
    • About
    • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    • Recipes
    • Book
    • About
    • Subscribe

    You Are Here Home » Jam and Preserves Recipes

    Published: Aug 7, 2019 Updated: Jul 19, 2021 by Hilda Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links 3 Comments

    Montana Mountain Berry | Huckleberry Jam

    Sharing is caring!

    221 shares
    • Share77
    • Yummly
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    mountain berry jam pin

    Say what? You've never heard of "Mountain Berry Jam"? Well, I can't say that I'm surprised. Especially since I made up this delicious Huckleberry Jam with Saskatoon Berry and Oregon Grape juice. Together, these three Northwestern berries make one fantastic jam!

    preserves on toast

    Foraging for berries is one of my favorite things about living in Montana! There are so many berries to forage! This includes Huckleberries (everyone's favorite), Serviceberries (also called Juneberries and Saskatoon berries), Oregon grape, Elderberries, Thimbleberries, Gooseberries, and Juniper berries.

    Although foraging for berries is fun and rewarding, you have to also use a little common sense. Some berries look very delicious and tempting, yet could kill you, or make you very ill. For this reason, you need to educate yourself on the berries that grow in your region before picking or eating any berries that you're not familiar with.

    One way to learn about what is edible and what is not is to read informative articles from reputable sources on the subject. Here is a great example (How to Harvest Wild Berries from GardnersPath.com). Another great option is to use a plant identification app like Picture This. One of the downfalls to using the app, however, is that you don't always have a phone signal in some remote locations.

    Why This Recipe Works

    Ever since I discovered that Oregon Grapes were edible, I've wanted to use them to make jam. Most people, however, use them to make jelly. This is because they're too seedy (no, they're not disreputable, just full of seeds). 😉

    I've never liked jelly, I prefer lots of chunky goodness! So when I decided to go foraging this morning, I contemplated what to do with the two cups of Oregon Grapes that I picked.

    I decided to add them to the two cups of Saskatoon Berries, which were ripening on my counter. Since Saskatoon berries are also seedy, I extracted their juice, along with the Oregon Grapes.

    I added the Huckleberries last for some yummy texture, making this berry jam unique and so delicious! I measured out three cups of sugar (one for every two cups of berries I used). In the end, I only used two cups of sugar with excellent results!

    What you need to make this recipe

    recipe ingredients

    How to Make This Huckleberry Jam

    Step 1

    pouring water on berries in pot
    berry mixture in pot

    Step 2

    Mash berries with a potato masher, or spoon, then work to extract their juice using a sieve. I was able to get two cups of juice. If you get less, add enough water to equal 2 cups.

    cooked huckleberries in pot
    huckleberries being stirred
    straining berry juice in bowl
    huckleberry juice

    Step 3

    Return strained juice to the pot and add huckleberries. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    mountain berry juice in pot
    adding huckleberries to pot
    mixing berries in pot

    Step 4

    Add sugar, limoncello (or lemon/orange juice), and spices. Boil for 20 minutes, or until the jam starts to thicken, stir occasionally. The jam thickens further upon cooling.

    stirring sugar into berries
    berries being stirred in pot
    stirring berries in a pot

    Step 5

    Pour the huckleberry jam into sterilized jars and process in boiling water for 10 minutes.

    huckleberry jam
    jam in jar

    Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips

    What Are Huckleberries?

    You might have read my recent Wild Huckleberry Pie post where I discussed huckleberries in detail.

    I wrote about where they grow, how to pick, clean, and store them. There's a reason why Huckleberries are referred to as "Purple Gold."

    Huckleberries are hard to come by and grow in the mountains, at elevations of 3,000 to 9,000 feet.

    In order to pick them, you have to compete with wild animals, especially bears. This is also why studious pickers can charge as much as $70 for a gallon of huckleberries.

    In the last month, I've gone huckleberry picking on three different occasions. I'm hoping to get out there at least one more time before the season is over.

    People around here stock up for the lean months and use them to make huckleberry sauce, bread, wine, and huckleberry jam.

    To learn more about huckleberries, check out this great post: Huckleberries: Fun Facts About the Unofficial State Fruit of Montana

    huckleberry plants

    What are Saskatoon Berries?

    Another berry used in this recipe is Saskatoon Berries. They're known by other names too, including Juneberries, and Serviceberries.

    These delicious berries grow in abundance on our Montana property. They are ready to harvest in July through August.

    I've found that many of my Montana friends seem to shun these tasty berries, but the deer know what's up!

    Perhaps it's because unlike Huckleberries, Saskatoon Berries grow in abundance at lower elevations. But in all honesty, I don't mind if they're overlooked. That just leaves more for me!

    Yes, they are seedy, but so are raspberries and they still make excellent jam, don't they? When fully ripened, Saskatoon Berries are actually sweeter than Huckleberries. So get out there and harvest them before they're all gone!

    plant with blossoms
    Saskatoon tree
    Saskatoons in a bowl

    What Are Oregon Grape Holly?

    The Oregon Grape Holly plant is native to the Pacific Northwest. It is also Oregon's State Flower. They are, in fact, neither grapes nor holly. However, they do grow in clumps that resemble grapes.

    They also have leaves that look like holly leaves, with sharp, thorny edges. Although there are both tall and short varieties, we have the short variety on our Montana property.

    Oregon Grapes are very nutritious and rich in Vitamin C. The plant's bark and roots have long been used for their medicinal value.

    Their pretty yellow flowers blossom in Spring, followed by tiny green berries that turn purple as they ripen in late Summer.

    The ripe berries are very tart on their own. This is why they are mostly used in recipes that call for sugar, such as jam, pie, or wine.

    Oregon grape holly
    Oregon grape holly
    Oregon grapes holly
    When picking, be prepared to get poked with those sharp, spiny leaves!
    • For more citrusy flavor, add one or two dried orange slices.
    • Place a small amount of jam in the fridge to see what the final consistency will be. If it's still too runny after 30 minutes in the fridge, boil the jam for 10 minutes longer.
    jam and toast on a white plate

    Related Recipes

    • mulberry jam on bread with mulberry jam jar
      Mulberry Jam and Other Mulberry Recipes
    • chokecherry jelly in a jar
      Backwoods Chokecherry Jelly
    • strawberry rhubarb preserves on toast with fresh strawberries
      Rhubarb Strawberry Jam Recipe (no pectin)
    • huckleberry chutney main pic
      Huckleberry Chutney with Habanero and Bacon

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    Mountain Berry Jam

    Montana Mountain Berry Jam

    Berry Jam made with Saskatoon Berries, Oregon Grapes, and Huckleberries.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Condiments
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Servings: 3 (8 oz) jars
    Calories: 45kcal
    Author: Hilda Sterner

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups Saskatoon berries
    • 2 cups Oregon grapes
    • 2 cups huckleberries
    • 1 cup water
    • 2 cups sugar
    • ¼ cup limoncello (or lemon/orange juice)
    • â…› teaspoon cinnamon powder
    • â…› teaspoon cardamom powder

    Instructions

    • Add Saskatoon Berries and Oregon Grapes to a medium saucepan. Add one cup of water and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes. 
    • Mash berries with a potato masher, or spoon, then work to extract their juice using a sieve. I was able to get two cups of juice. If you get less, add enough water to equal 2 cups.
    • Return strained juice to the pot and add huckleberries. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Add sugar, limoncello (or lemon/orange juice), and spices. Boil for 20 minutes, or until the jam starts to thicken, stir occasionally. The jam thickens further upon cooling.
    • Ladle in sterilized jars, hand tighten lids, and process for 10 minutes in boiling water.

    Notes

    • For more citrusy flavor, add one or two dried orange slices.
    • Place a small amount of jam in the fridge to see what the final consistency will be. If it's still too runny after 30 minutes in the fridge, boil the jam for 10 minutes longer.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1T. | Calories: 45kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 2mg | Sugar: 9g
    Tried this Recipe? Please leave A Star Rating!Mention @HildasKitchenBlog or tag #HildasKitchenBlog!

    More Jam and Preserves Recipes

    • pear jam in a jar
      Small Batch Pear Jam
    • 2 jars of apple pie filling recipe with apples around them
      Canning Apple Pie Filling
    • jars of dandelion jelly stacked on eachother
      Wild Dandelion Jelly
    • jar of jam with a spoon on top
      Welcome Fall Crabapple Jam (no pectin)

    Sharing is caring!

    221 shares
    • Share77
    • Yummly
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




       

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Steve Coles says

      September 24, 2021 at 1:28 am

      Hi Hilda
      Thank you for such a useful and very informative page/blog. Although I have not used any of your recepies they all sound great and I will certainly be giving them a try. Anything alternative from shop/supermarket bought has my support. However, plant's such as Oregan Grape are good for type two diabetes and as such I am trying to buy the illusive plant.
      I look forward to reading and trying your recepies.
      Steve
      Yorkshire
      England

      Reply
    2. Kathy Fisher says

      August 11, 2019 at 5:21 pm

      5 stars
      Hilda's Mountain Berry Jam is so delicious. I'm hiding it in the fridge from my husband. Tasting is believing.

      Reply
      • HildaSterner says

        August 11, 2019 at 5:28 pm

        Thanks, Kathy! I appreciate you taking the time to rate the recipe! ?

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    profile photo-Hilda

    Hi, I'm Hilda! I'm the creator of Hilda's Kitchen Blog, author of Mom's Authentic Assyrian Recipes, and a recipe contributor to Brian Baumgartner's Seriously Good Chili Cookbook (AKA Kevin Malone, from The Office).

    Are you looking for a little inspiration in the kitchen? Let me show you how to use unique ingredients to make tasty meals for your family! more about me →

    Get My Cookbook!

    cook book on a wooden board

    Easter Recipes

    • easter round up main photo
      35 Tasty Easter Recipe Ideas
    • a slice of carrot cake on a white plate
      Carrot Cake with Pineapple
    • kileche under a Christmas tree
      Kileche | Kleicha (Assyrian Holiday Cookies)
    • roasted carrots
      Parmesan Roasted Rainbow Carrots
    • healthy deviled eggs on a blue plate
      Healthy Keto Deviled Eggs
    • birds nests on a plate
      Bird Nest Recipe (Osh El Bulbul) Baklava

    Check Out My Etsy Shop!

    montana healing salves logo

    Popular Recipes

    • Katiafi pastry
      How to Make Kataifi Pastry from scratch!
    • smoked Tri Tip being sliced
      Traeger Smoked Tri-Tip
    • smoked turkey breast on the grill
      Traeger Smoked Turkey Breast
    • tri tip sandwiches featured image
      Tri-Tip Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions
    • orange powder in a jar with oranges around it
      Drying Orange Peels and How to Use Them
    • jiffy cornbread with creamed corn in a cast iron pan with a slice removed
      Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn

    Featured On

    featured on

    Subscribe to Get my Latest Recipes!

    Privacy Policy

    Stay Connected

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • My Etsy Shop

    Policies

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Photo & Content Sharing Policy

    LET'S CONNECT!

    • Contact Page
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage from qualifying Amazon purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 • Hildas Kitchen Blog • All rights reserved