Capture the magic of the holidays in a jar with this delightful Christmas Jam recipe. Imagine the sweet and tangy aroma of cranberries, strawberries, and warm spices filling your kitchen. This jam is not just a condiment; it’s a festive experience, perfect for gifting or elevating your holiday breakfast table. In this guide, we’ll walk you through creating this beautiful, glistening jam from scratch, ensuring perfect results every time.
A batch of holiday cheer, ready to be shared with family and friends.
What Makes This The Best Christmas Jam Recipe?
Unlike other recipes, this Christmas Jam recipe is designed for both flavor and simplicity. We balance the tartness of fresh cranberries with the sweetness of ripe strawberries, creating a beautifully complex flavor profile. The addition of warm spices like cinnamon and cloves evokes the cozy feeling of Christmas morning. We also provide clear, step-by-step instructions for canning, so you can enjoy this festive treat long after the holidays are over or share it as a heartfelt homemade gift.
Essential Ingredients for Christmas Jam
The magic of this jam comes from simple, high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in creating the perfect balance of flavor and texture.
The Fruit Base: Cranberries and Strawberries
The heart of our Christmas jam is the fruit. We use a combination of fresh cranberries and strawberries. The cranberries provide a tart, festive flavor and a gorgeous ruby-red color, while the strawberries add a familiar sweetness and soften the cranberries’ tang. Using frozen fruit is also an option if fresh is unavailable.
The Supporting Cast: Sugar, Pectin, and Spices
To turn our fruit into a perfectly set jam, we need a few key players. Granulated sugar provides sweetness and acts as a preservative. Pectin is essential for achieving that classic jammy consistency. A touch of lemon juice brightens the flavors and aids in the setting process. Finally, a blend of cinnamon, cloves, and a hint of allspice infuses the jam with the unmistakable scent of Christmas.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Homemade Christmas Jam
Follow these simple steps to create your own delicious batch of this festive Christmas Jam recipe. Preparation is key, so have your ingredients measured and your equipment ready before you begin.
Prepare the Fruit: Start by washing your fresh cranberries and strawberries. Hull the strawberries and chop them into small, quarter-inch pieces.
Combine Ingredients: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, combine the chopped strawberries, whole cranberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir everything together.
Cook the Jam: Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. As it cooks, mash the fruit against the side of the pot with your spoon to help break it down.
Add Pectin and Spices: Once the mixture has boiled for about 10-15 minutes and started to thicken, stir in the pectin, ground cinnamon, and cloves.
Final Boil: Return the jam to a hard, rolling boil and cook for exactly one minute, stirring constantly. After a minute, remove the pot from the heat. Skim off any foam that has formed on the surface.
Jar the Jam: Carefully ladle the hot jam into sterilized canning jars, leaving about a quarter-inch of headspace at the top. For a delicious and easy holiday dessert, try pairing this jam with our No-Bake Christmas Oreo Lasagna.
The perfect blend of sweet strawberries, tart cranberries, and warm spices.
Pro Tips for Perfect Jam Every Time
Making jam is an art, but with these tips, you’ll be a master in no time.
Don’t Reduce the Sugar: Sugar is vital for the jam’s preservation and proper set. Reducing the amount can result in a runny, quickly spoiling product.
Check for the Set: To test if your jam is ready, place a small plate in the freezer before you start. When you think the jam is done, put a spoonful on the cold plate and wait 30 seconds. If it wrinkles when you push it with your finger, it’s ready.
Use a Wide Pot: A wider pot increases the surface area, which helps the liquid evaporate more quickly, allowing the jam to set faster and retain a brighter fruit flavor.
Canning and Storing Your Christmas Jam
To make your Christmas jam shelf-stable, you’ll need to process it in a water bath canner. Ensure your jars, lids, and rings are sterilized. Once the hot jam is ladled into the jars, wipe the rims clean, secure the lids and rings until fingertip-tight, and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the jars and let them cool on a towel for 24 hours. You’ll hear the satisfying “pop” as they seal. Properly sealed jars can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to 18 months. Once opened, refrigerate and consume within a month. This jam makes a wonderful topping for savory dishes too, like our creamy Boursin chicken.
Creative Gifting and Serving Ideas
Homemade Christmas jam makes a wonderful and personal holiday gift. Pour it into decorative jars, cover the lid with a festive fabric scrap, and tie it with a ribbon or twine. Add a custom label with the name of the jam and the date it was made.
This jam isn’t just for toast! It’s incredibly versatile. Serve it on a charcuterie board with cheese and crackers, use it as a glaze for roasted chicken or pork, swirl it into yogurt or oatmeal, or spoon it over vanilla ice cream. It’s also fantastic with savory dishes; imagine a dollop alongside these crockpot marry me chicken for a sweet and savory kick.
Christmas jam is typically made from a festive combination of fruits and spices. Our recipe features a delicious blend of fresh strawberries, tart cranberries, sugar, pectin, and warm spices like cinnamon and cloves for that signature holiday flavor.
While it is possible, it is much more difficult and time-consuming. Pectin is what helps the jam set to a thick, spreadable consistency quickly. Without it, you would need to cook the jam for a much longer time, which can affect the fresh fruit flavor and color.
If you process the jam in a water bath canner and the jars seal properly, it can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to 18 months. Once a jar is opened, it should be refrigerated and is best enjoyed within one month.
Christmas jam is incredibly versatile! It’s wonderful on toast, scones, or biscuits. You can also serve it with cream cheese and crackers, use it as a glaze for pork or chicken, spoon it over ice cream, or swirl it into yogurt.
Yes, you can absolutely use frozen fruit. There is no need to thaw the fruit before you start; simply add the frozen cranberries and strawberries to the pot and proceed with the recipe. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the initial cooking time.
The Perfect Holiday Gift: Christmas Jam Recipe
FL Recipes
Christmas Jam Recipe: A Festive Holiday Spread
This festive Christmas Jam recipe combines sweet strawberries and tart cranberries with warm holiday spices. It's the perfect homemade gift and a delicious addition to your holiday breakfast table. Easy to make and absolutely delicious!
1 Water Bath Canner Optional, for long-term storage
Method
Instructions
Prepare the Fruit: Start by washing your fresh cranberries and strawberries. Hull the strawberries and chop them into small, quarter-inch pieces.
Combine Ingredients: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, combine the chopped strawberries, whole cranberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir everything together.
Cook the Jam: Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. As it cooks, mash the fruit against the side of the pot with your spoon to help break it down.
Add Pectin and Spices: Once the mixture has boiled for about 10-15 minutes and started to thicken, stir in the pectin, ground cinnamon, and cloves.
Final Boil: Return the jam to a hard, rolling boil and cook for exactly one minute, stirring constantly. After a minute, remove the pot from the heat. Skim off any foam that has formed on the surface.
Jar the Jam: Carefully ladle the hot jam into sterilized canning jars, leaving about a quarter-inch of headspace at the top.
Process for Storage (Optional): For long-term storage, process the sealed jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Let cool completely for 24 hours until sealed.
Nutrition
Calories: 50kcalProtein: 0.1gFiber: 0.5g
Notes
Don't reduce the sugar, as it is crucial for a proper set and preservation. To check for doneness, use the freezer plate test: a small spoonful of jam on a frozen plate should wrinkle when pushed. Store properly sealed jars in a cool, dark place for up to 18 months. Refrigerate after opening.
Keyword christmas jam,cranberry strawberry jam,holiday jam
We are confident you will love this festive Christmas Jam recipe. It’s a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer. If you make it, please leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out! For more holiday inspiration, be sure to share your creations and follow us on Pinterest.
Share the love this holiday season with a homemade Christmas Jam recipe!
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
