Name: Montana Mixed Berry Jam
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 2 cups Saskatoon berries; 2 cups Oregon grapes; 2 cups huckleberries; 1 cup water; 2 cups sugar; ¼ cup fresh lemon juice; ⅛ tsp cinnamon powder ((optional)); ⅛ tsp cardamom powder ((optional))

Say what? You've never heard of "Mountain Berry Jam"? Well, I can't say that I'm surprised, especially since it's my own creation! I make this mixed berry jam with saskatoon berries, huckleberries, and Oregon grapes. Together, these three Northwestern berries make one fantastic jam!

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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 also have to 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 GardenersPath.com).

Another great option is to use a plant identification app, such as 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.

Jump to:

😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
🫐 How to Make This Mixed Berry Jam
🍒 More Jam & Jelly Recipes!
👩🏼‍🍳 Pro Tips
🍓 More Jam & Jelly Recipes
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe

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). 😉

When I decided to go foraging this morning, I contemplated what to do with the two cups of Oregon grapes that I picked. It wasn't enough to make Oregon grape jelly, so 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!

saskatoon berries on the tree — Saskatoon berries

huckleberry tree with huckleberries in it. — Huckleberries

🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions

Berries: You'll need a combination of huckleberries, saskatoon berries, and Oregon grape.
Sugar: Granulated sugar
Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice, bottled lemon juice can be substituted.
Spices: I like to add a pinch of cinnamon and cardamom, but they're totally optional!

🫐 How to Make This Mixed Berry Jam

Step 1: Add saskatoon berries and Oregon grapes to a medium saucepan. Add one cup of water and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes.

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.

Step 3: Return strained juice to the pot and add huckleberries. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 4: Add sugar, lemon juice, and spices. Boil for 20 minutes, or until the jam starts to thicken, stirring occasionally. The jam thickens further upon cooling.

Step 5: Pour the huckleberry jam into sterilized jars and process in boiling water for 10 minutes.

🍒 More Jam & Jelly Recipes!

👩🏼‍🍳 Pro Tips

For a 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.
If processed in a hot water bath, this jam will last up to a year or longer when stored in the pantry.

mixed berry jam and toast on a white plate

🍓 More Jam & Jelly Recipes

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Hilda Sterner