Amish Cornstarch Jam

20.09.26 07:19 PM - By Blossom Frey

Let the Fruit Shine!

Blossom & Brine™ peach corn-flour jam in a glass jar on a rustic kitchen table with fresh peaches, homemade bread, cornstarch, and jam spread on a slice of bread in an Amish kitchen.

Cornstrach jam is an old-fashioned Amish jam recipe that creates a smooth, soft fruit spread without relying on commercial pectin. Unlike traditional homemade jams that depend on large amounts of sugar to gel, this recipe thickens with cornstarch, allowing the natural flavor of the fruit to shine. It spreads easily, even when cold, and works with almost any fresh or frozen fruit.

On our farm, we grow waxy maize and grind it into cornstarch for making jams and other recipes. Most readers won't have access to waxy maize, so the closest commercial product is Clear Jel®, a modified waxy cornstarch commonly sold for home canning. It provides the same smooth, glossy texture we've relied on in Amish kitchens for generations.

If you're looking for a no-pectin jam recipe, a lower-sugar homemade fruit spread, or a traditional Amish way to preserve fruit, this family recipe lets the fruit—not the sugar—be the star.

Ingredients

  • 7 quarts/28 cups of Fruit (chopped or mashed; use food processor if you have one)
  • 2 - 3 cups Sugar (sweeten to your taste)
  • 1 cup Lemon/Lime Juice (depends on the fruit, makes most taste better)
  • 1 ⅓ cup Cornstarch For best results, use a waxy-maize-based cornstarch such as Clear Jel®.
  • 1 ⅓ cup Cold Water
  • Yield: 7 quarts (14 pints, 28 half-pints, or 56 quarter-pints)

Instructions

  1. ​​Put the fruit, sugar, and lemon juice in a pot over medium-high heat. Bring it to a boil and let it cook for about 10–15 minutes until the fruit is soft and has released its juices. You may need to add a small amount of additional water, depending on the fruit. Lower the heat to a simmer and reduce the mix until it coats your spoon without running.
  2. ​​In a bowl, mix the cornstarch and cold water until it looks like smooth milk. 
  3. ​​Bring the mix back up to a boil and slowly pour in the cornstarch mixture. Let the jam boil for one full minute while stirring. Lower the heat and simmer for up to 5 minutes. You will see the jam turn glossy and thick. Remove from heat. Pour into clean jars, wipe rims, add flats with rings.

This old-fashioned recipe has been passed through my family’s Amish heritage. — Blossom Frey

Canning

This is a rebel canning recipe. It does not follow USDA guidelines. Use at your own risk. 

Amish Water Bath Canning Method

Process in a water-bath canner (WB) or steam-bath canner (SB) for 25 minutes at elevations of 0–1,000 feet. If you live at a higher elevation, adjust the processing time using my family’s easy elevation chart in the Blossom & Brine™ Canning Times Guide. Start the timer at a full rolling boil, this is a boil that can't be stirred down. 

📌 Note: Modern water bath recommendations for jams are often 5–10 minutes depending on elevation, acidity, and recipe style. Many modern recipes rely on higher acid levels and large amounts of sugar or commercial pectin for preservation. Traditional Amish and homestead kitchens process jams longer at 30 minutes when using older preservation methods with less pectin, lemon juice and sugar.

Need More Canning Processing Times? 

Blossom & Brine™ Canning Times Guide brings together hundreds of water-bath, steam-canning, pressure-canning, and dehydration times, along with easy elevation adjustments. It’s the same quick reference I keep in my own kitchen.


Questions or Want to Share Your Results?
Pull up a chair and join us in Amish Water Bath Canning & Food Preservation. We talk about canning, food preservation, sourdough, homemade recipes, and homestead cooking every day.
Blossom Frey

Blossom Frey

Lead Educator and Founder Blossom & Brine™
https://www.facebook.com/blossombrineco

Blossom Frey is the Founder and Lead Educator of Blossom & Brine™. Raised in an Amish community, she teaches food preservation, canning, and traditional homestead skills through practical classes, workshops, and educational resources.

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