Does anyone else look forward to summer just to go berry picking? I hope it’s not just me! It is definitely one of the best days of summer for me. I need to go berry picking so I can make one of my favorite treats – Homemade Mixed Berry Oatmeal Jam Bars! Being out there is awesome and I am happy to do the work to collect them!
I try to make it to the berry fields each year, but sometimes, life gets in the way. If I have to choose, my favorites to pick are the blueberries and raspberries since they are up higher and I don’t have to practice my squats like I do when I am picking strawberries. I picked black raspberries last year, but they were too sour and I added a lot more sugar to my jam just to make it tasty. Not a great combo there so I tend to scrap them!
How to Make Mixed Berry Jam (Freezer Jam)
Does making jam intimidate you? Please don’t let it! I will show you how to make it so easy that even your grandma won’t be able to tell the difference. You are literally going to say “wait, what?? That’s it??” Yep, it’s that easy!
The best thing to do is to grab a jar of Ball’s Freezer Jam Pectin. You don’t need to make the old fashioned canning with lids popping and fans going. Inside the pectin label is the recipe I have used for years, and it works perfectly. I have a friend that calls its “Ginny Jam.” I tried to show her it is not my jam. I didn’t invent it, it’s simply on the label. She doesn’t care. Oh, ok!
Combine 1⅔ cups of fruit, one cup of sugar and the pectin. For this recipe, we used a combination of blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.
Mash and stir for three minutes. I set a timer because I usually try to end the process too early. Pour the mashed mixture into jars and allow them to sit for 30 minutes and they ready! You can eat it right then.
I pour mine into one of these freezer safe jars. Ball used to make clear plastic ones with green lids but I can no longer find them. They were great, but for now, here are the glass ones I use. If you are looking at your local store, make sure you see the little snowflake symbol on the side so you can make sure they are freezer safe. Not all of Ball’s jars are and you don’t want an unpleasant surprise.
This jam lasts beautifully in the refrigerator for about three months and it freezes well for 12 months.
Can I Substitute Other Berries for the Recipe?
Absolutely! I mix it up all the time and it always works out great. We had some of the triple berry jam left over and we turned it into a sweet BBQ sauce, which is a whole other post at some point!
How to Make Homemade Oatmeal Jam Bars
These are so easy and fun to make! I love that they can be whipped up in just a few minutes. They remind me of a traditional summer cookie or snack bar. They are full of fresh fruity flavor and not overly sweet.
I’ve mentioned before that I do a lot of taste testing at Jason’s work. It gives me great feedback from a wide range of people so I can gauge if we just liked it or if it is truly a great recipe! I sent in a batch that had peanut butter and jam just for fun and Jason had several people ask him for the recipe on the spot and raved over them. So I’m not joking when I say they are DELISH!
Combine the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and gently mix. Press half into a 9×9 pan (You can squeeze by in an 8×8, but don’t add all the oatmeal mixture as it will overflow)! Spread two cups of jam from the recipe above and top with the remaining oatmeal mixture.
In full disclosure, I made two different versions. On one, I topped with all of the remaining mixture and on a second, I lightly sprinkled with some of the oatmeal mixture. I liked it better with the lighter oatmeal crumble topping, but it is up to you on how much you add.
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes and enjoy!
Notice in the photos that I lined my 9×9 with foil. I also sprayed it. I wanted to be able to just lift them out of the pan rather than prying them out…you know what I mean. Parchment paper will work for this as well. These techinques also made cleanup a lot easier. All personal preference!
If you choose to do the foil/parchment paper technique, put the cooled Mix Berry Oatmeal Jam Bars in the refrigerator for a couple hours to overnight before you cut them. I did that on my last batch and there were a lot less crumbs and the slices were very crisp!
If you like this one, make sure you check out the No Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake and the Mixed Berry Dump Cake! Both of these are perfect for hot summer nights with a tall glass of lemonade!!
Can I Meal Prep This Recipe?
Absolutely! I actually did that because I was already in the kitchen working on meals, and knew I would be short on time later.
Combine all the dry ingredients in a container and stir. Place a lid on it until you need to use it. I put my butter on top and left it on the counter until morning.
I prepped my pan as well. As I mentioned above, I lined it with foil and did that the night before. I waited to spray it until the morning.
In the morning (or when you are ready to make them) you simply add the melted butter and move forward with the recipe. If you meal prep this, it will take you less than five minutes to prepare it and get it in the oven. It’s a simple dump and go!
How to Give Homemade Mixed Berry Jam Bars as a Gift
This is an incredible recipe if you want to give friends and neighbors a homemade gift!
- Bake the Oatmeal Jam Bars and give them as gifts
- Prep all of the dry ingredients and place them in a jar with a tag for what they need to do to complete the recipe. You can easily give them the dry ingredients and a jar of jam that you made. They will only have to add the butter and whip out these delicious bars.
Mixed Berry Oatmeal Jam Bars
Super simple Mixed Berry Oatmeal Jam Bars are everything you would think of in a summer dessert! Fresh fruit that is quickly made into your own homemade jam makes these jam bars delish!
Ingredients
Mix Berry Jam Bar Oatmeal Base
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 2 cups old fashioned oats don't use quick oats for this recipe
- 2 sticks butter softened to room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
Mixed Berry Freezer Jam
- 1 2/3 cup mixed berries use any combination you like
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 tbs Freezer Pectin
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Spray the 9×9 square pan or line it with parchment or foil as shown in photos.
Combine the dry ingredients and mix.
Melt butter and add to the dry ingredients. The mixture should start to make crumbles.
Press 1/2 of the mixture into the bottom of the 9×9 pan and press to make a crust.
Pour the jam on top of the crust.
Sprinkle the remaining oatmeal mixture on top.
Freezer Jam (on the inside label of the pectin jar)
Combine the pectin along with the fruit and sugar and mash for 3 minutes.
Place in jars and allow to set for 30 minutes.
Put in refrigerator for up to 3 months or freezer for up to 12 months.
Recipe Notes
The recipe for the jam will make enough for one batch of Mixed Berry Oatmeal Jam Bars. I usually have about ¼ cup of jam leftover.
If you find your jam is runny, add a little bit of corn starch to it to help it bind together when it cooks. It will also set up nicely once you place them in the refrigerator after cooking and cooling.
You can substitute other jams with no problem. If you don’t want to invest in making your own jam, go ahead and buy your favorite instead.
