This is the only Christmas jam recipe you’ll ever need! It’s a deliciously festive jam bursting with the holiday flavors of strawberries, cranberries, and warm spices. It’s incredibly easy to make, perfect for beginners, and creates a beautiful, giftable jam that will disappear in minutes. Get ready to capture the magic of the holidays in a jar.
We’ll walk you through everything, from the simple ingredients to the easy water bath canning process. This Christmas jam is perfect for slathering on morning toast, serving with cheese, or giving as a thoughtful homemade gift.
What Exactly Is Christmas Jam?
Christmas jam is a festive preserve that combines the sweet taste of strawberries with the tartness of cranberries. What truly sets it apart are the warm spices, like cinnamon and cloves, that evoke the cozy feeling of the holiday season. Its vibrant red color makes it a beautiful addition to any holiday table or gift basket.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Christmas Jam Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: You only need a handful of common ingredients to create this spectacular jam.
- Perfect for Gifting: Poured into a pretty jar with a ribbon, this jam makes a heartfelt and delicious homemade gift for friends, family, and neighbors.
- Beginner-Friendly: This recipe includes clear, step-by-step instructions for water bath canning, making it accessible even if you’re new to preserving.
- Incredibly Versatile: It’s not just for toast! Use it as a glaze for meats, a topping for desserts like my pecan pie cheesecake, or as the star of a holiday appetizer.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Christmas jam recipe relies on a few key ingredients to create its signature festive flavor.
- Cranberries: You can use fresh or frozen. They provide the perfect tart balance to the sweet strawberries.
- Strawberries: The sweet, summery base of our jam. I use frozen strawberries for convenience, but fresh will work perfectly.
- Sugar: Essential for sweetness, preservation, and achieving that perfect jammy set.
- Powdered Pectin: This is our gelling agent that ensures the jam sets up properly without having to cook it for hours.
- Spices: A blend of ground cinnamon and cloves gives the jam its classic holiday warmth.
- Orange Zest and Juice: My “secret” ingredient! A little citrus zest and juice brighten all the flavors and add a subtle, fresh note.
For a different kind of sweet treat, you might also enjoy making some delightful homemade butter mints to go along with your holiday gifting.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making this Christmas jam is easier than you think. Just follow these simple steps for a perfect batch every time.
- Prepare Your Jars: Start by washing your canning jars and lids with hot, soapy water. Place the jars on a rack in a large stockpot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and let them simmer for 10 minutes to sterilize. Keep the jars in the hot water until you’re ready to use them.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine the cranberries, strawberries, orange juice, and orange zest. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.
- Mash the Fruit: Once the cranberries have popped and the fruit is soft (about 10-15 minutes), use a potato masher to break it down to your desired consistency.
- Add Pectin and Spices: Stir the powdered pectin and spices into the fruit mixture. Bring it back to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.
- Add Sugar: Add all of the sugar at once and continue to stir until it is completely dissolved. Return the jam to a full, rolling boil that can’t be stirred down. Boil hard for exactly one minute.
- Skim and Fill: Remove the pot from the heat. Skim off any foam that has formed on the surface. Carefully ladle the hot jam into your sterilized jars, leaving about 1/4-inch of headspace at the top.
- Process the Jars: Wipe the rims of the jars clean, center the lids on top, and screw on the bands until they are fingertip-tight. Place the jars back into the canner. Ensure the water covers the jars by at least 1-2 inches. Bring the water to a rolling boil and process the jars for 10 minutes.
- Cool and Check Seals: Turn off the heat and carefully remove the jars from the canner. Let them cool on a towel on the counter for 12-24 hours without disturbing them. You should hear the lids “ping” as they seal. Check the seals by pressing on the center of the lid; if it doesn’t pop back, it’s sealed.
How to Store Christmas Jam
Properly sealed jars of this Christmas jam recipe can be stored in a cool, dark place like a pantry for up to 18 months. Once a jar is opened, it should be refrigerated and will last for about 3 weeks. If any of your jars don’t seal properly, just store them in the refrigerator and use them first!
What to Serve With Christmas Jam
The beauty of this jam is its versatility. It’s not just for your morning toast or English muffins!
- Appetizer Board: Serve a dollop over a block of cream cheese or a wheel of brie with crackers. It’s a perfect pairing with savory bites like bacon wrapped water chestnuts.
- Breakfast Favorite: Spread it on toast, scones, biscuits, or swirl it into yogurt or oatmeal.
- Meat Glaze: Use it as a delicious glaze for roasted chicken, pork tenderloin, or your holiday ham.
- Dessert Topping: Spoon it over ice cream, cheesecake, or pound cake for an instant festive dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Jam
Yes, you can make it without pectin, but you will need to cook the jam for a much longer time to allow the natural pectins in the fruit to help it set. Using pectin is a much faster and more reliable way to ensure a proper gelled consistency.
If properly canned using a water bath method, sealed jars of homemade Christmas jam can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to 18 months. Once opened, the jam should be refrigerated and consumed within 3 weeks.
If you plan to store the jam long-term at room temperature, then yes, water bath canning is necessary for preservation. However, if you plan to eat the jam within 3 weeks, you can skip the canning step and store it directly in the refrigerator. This is often called a ‘refrigerator jam’.
Christmas jam is incredibly versatile! Serve it on toast, scones, or biscuits. It’s also delicious as an appetizer spooned over cream cheese or brie with crackers, or used as a glaze for roasted pork or chicken.
Christmas jam is typically made from a combination of cranberries and strawberries, which give it a beautiful jewel-toned red color. It’s sweetened with sugar and spiced with classic holiday flavors like cinnamon and cloves for a festive taste.
Christmas Jam Recipe
Christmas Jam Recipe (The Easiest & Most Festive!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash 6 half-pint jars and lids in hot, soapy water. Place jars on a rack in a large stockpot, cover with water, and boil for 10 minutes to sterilize. Keep jars in hot water until needed.
- In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine cranberries, strawberries, orange juice, and orange zest. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cook, stirring frequently, for 10-15 minutes until cranberries have popped and fruit is soft. Use a potato masher to break down the fruit to your desired consistency.
- Stir in the powdered pectin, cinnamon, and cloves. Bring the mixture back to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.
- Add all the sugar at once, stirring until it dissolves completely. Bring back to a full, rolling boil. Boil hard for exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Remove the pot from the heat and skim off any foam. Ladle the hot jam into the sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace.
- Wipe jar rims, apply lids, and screw on bands until fingertip-tight. Place jars in the water bath canner, ensuring they are covered by at least 1-2 inches of water. Bring to a boil and process for 10 minutes.
- Remove jars from the canner and let them cool undisturbed for 12-24 hours on a towel. Check seals. Any unsealed jars should be refrigerated and used first.
Notes
Adjust the amount of cloves based on your preference; they have a strong flavor.
Ensure you use a large enough pot, as the mixture will bubble up significantly.
Share This Festive Recipe!
I hope you love making this easy Christmas jam recipe as much as I do! It’s a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer. If you make it, please leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out. Don’t forget to save it to your favorite holiday board on Pinterest!
