Foraged Rosehip jam recipe + 11 ways to use it

This full-flavor foraged rosehip jam recipe makes a delicious spread on toast or pancakes and is easy to make at home.

Its unique taste goes wonderfully with game meat. While there are only a few places to buy it, this rose hip jam is easy to make at home. If you’re looking for a delicious, simple rosehip jam recipe with no pectin, you’ve come to the right place! 

Follow my step-by-step video tutorial to ensure success!

Rose hips peek up at us from leafless bushes and shine at us with their reddish-orange color till the first snow. 

I wonder why people don’t fully gather and use their potential, especially during autumn when they fight viruses and infections. 

I love to use rosehip in many recipes, I like making rosehip syrup, rosehip tea or smoothie.

However, rosehip jam is the most versatile and has many other uses that we will explore later in the article. But let’s start from the beginning.

Rosehip jam benefits

Rosehip jam is made of rosehips, the fruit of rose plants that contain their seeds. 

Rose hip jam is rich in vitamins A, E, and C and is very beneficial in cold and flu season, helping to strengthen the immune system. (1)

The high content of Vitamin C and flavonoids helps to protect our bodies against heart diseases and blow flow improvement (2)

Foraging Rosehips from Rose Bush

Rosehips are fruits of the rose plant and there are several rose varieties you can forage the rosehips from. Note, that  all Wild Rose species are edible, The tastiest are: Dog Rose (Rosa canina),  Japanese Rose (Rosa rugosa) or Sweet briars (Rosa rubiginosa).

They are typically gathered from October to November. When foraging for rose hips, make sure you pick those that haven’t been sprayed with pesticides.

Preparing rose hips for the rose hip jam is not easy, but the taste is rewarding. When you are warming up in the winter with a cup of hot roasted tea and nibbling on raw rose hip cookies, you will forget all about the hard work.

Take gloves when you go picking rose hips as their thorns are sharp and can prick you uncomfortably. 

Other Ingredients for Rosehip Jam Recipe

Juice from one lemon

You can also use lemon zest for a tart kick.

Sweetener

People have been making jams, jellies and marmalades since ancient times to preserve fruits and even vegetables (yes, like carrot or caramelized onion) for the whole year.

They used honey as a sweetener before cane sugar even existed. Since then, the jam has come in and spread around the world. I have used stevia as a sweetener in this jam but feel free to use other sweeteners as per your choice. Any type of sugar, honey, or stevia will do. I mentioned recommended quantities in the recipe card. Since we are adding the sweetener at the end of the process, feel free to adjust the amount of sugar as per your taste. Just don’t spoil the jam with your saliva by licking the spoon.

Pectin

Rosehips contain natural pectin so no need to add pectin into this recipe.

Two Methods of Making Rosehip Jam – Pro tips

The first method involves cutting off both ends of the rose hips and chopping them in half to remove all seeds and hairy bits. After this, cook the cleaned rose hips with double the amount of water until they are soft. Blend the mixture until smooth. This method takes more time and effort, but it ensures the jam is smooth and free of irritating seeds or hairs. It also avoids any bitterness from the seeds.

The second method is simpler. It involves cooking the whole fruits in the water until soft. Then, strain the mixture through a sieve or cloth to remove the seeds and hairs inside. This method is quicker at first and requires less careful preparation. However, thorough straining is required to avoid irritation, and the taste might change if the seeds remain during boiling. You might also need more rose hips because some are lost during straining. Longer cooking times can reduce the jam’s nutrition.

How to make rosehip Jam

De-seeded First Method

(see the recipe card for the faster method)

First step: Prepare the rosehips

Remove any leaves and stems and wash the rose hips thoroughly under soapy water. Set them aside. Trim the ends of the rose hips, then cut them in half and remove all the sticky seeds.

Second Step: Cook the rosehips

Place the cleaned rose hips in a large pot and cover them with water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the rose hips, covered, for 40 minutes, until they are soft and mashable.

Check the hips by picking one and let it cool. Then squish it between your fingers, and if it breaks easily, it has become mushy.

Third step: blend or mash

Use a potato masher or immersion blender to break the softened rosehips into a smooth pulp.

Fourth step: Add the sugar and lemon juice

Add your preferred sweetener to the mixture. Stir in the lemon juice.

Now you need to test for the set. Place a small plate in the freezer to chill. Once its cold place a teaspoon of the jam on the plate.

Fifth step: Transfer to a sterilized jar

Pour the jam into sterilized jam jars. You can sterilize the jars in a dishwasher on a hot cycle. Seal the jars with lids and store them in the refrigerator.

How long does this rose hip jam last?

This rose hip jam lasts several months if kept refrigerated. You can also freeze it or can it if you want to extend its shelf life.

How can this rosehip jelly?

To extend its shelf life you can process the rosehip marmalade in the water bath.

Place the canning jars on a rack in a large pot. Cover with 1 inch of water and bring to boil. Boil it for 5 minutes. Then turn off the heat, remove the jars from the water, and let them cool.
During the cooling process, you should hear the popping sound of the lids when they seal. if not, store the rosehip jam in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
Sealed jars will keep for a long time, but for the best flavor and texture, use them within 1 year.

How do you store it?

store it in sterilized glass jars in a cool and dry place.

What does rose hip jam taste like?

Rosehip jam combines a sweet floral taste with a tangy touch of hibiscus. It pairs well with fruits or fruity desserts.

Can I make rosehip jam from dried rosehips?

You will need to rehydrate them by mixing them with a little water. Once they are soft, you can turn them into jam.

Where to buy rosehip jam?

If rosehips are not in a season or you just simply prefer to buy ready made rosehip jam, this is the best one I have come across.

11 surprising uses of Rose hip jam

Once the jam is done, you will be surprised how tasty it is and how easily it can turn an ordinary dish into a culinary speciality:

1. Use rosehip jam to make these raw rose hip cookies
2. Rosehip jam is ideal for Christmas jam-filled cookies for its color and taste.
3. It’s very popular in my country as a sauce which goes wonderfully with game meat.
4. add your rosehip jam full of vitamins into white plain yogurt instead of eating commercial sweet yogurts
5. by combining rosehip jam with red wine you can make a marinade for your meat
6. when making a cheese sandwich, don’t forget to spread a bit of rosehip jam over it.
7. Pour a spoon or two into vanilla ice cream or any ice cream you like.
8. Add a spoon or two to the dressing to pour over your salad.
9. Don’t forget to put a few spoons into the oatmeal or poridge you made for breakfast.
10. use it as filling for your pancakes
11. Drink it as rosehip juice – dilute it with soda and ice cubes as a refreshing nutritious rosehip juice.

Let us know how you used your rose hip jam in our Facebook group.

Rosehip recipes you want to try:

This cranberry sauce with rosehips will transform old fashioned cranberry sauce into a culinary delicacy and brighten up your holiday table.

Rosehips are great in remedies such as this potent elderberry rosehip tincture or fire cider

Rosehips have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and are beneficial for the skin. I like to turn them in rosehip oil that I use further in other DIY skincare products such as eye cream or lip balm or rosehips soap.