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Christmas jam is a festive treat that captures the flavors of the holiday season. This sweet-tart spread blends cranberries, strawberries, and oranges with warm spices. You can make this delicious homemade jam to enjoy throughout the year or give as gifts during the holidays.
Making Christmas jam is easier than you might think. With just a few simple ingredients and some basic canning equipment, you can create jars of this tasty preserve. The recipe typically yields about 10-14 half-pint jars, perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Christmas Jam Recipe: Exact Ingredients (+ Possible Substitutes)
Here’s a simple recipe for Christmas jam with ingredients and potential substitutes:
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 2 cups fresh strawberries
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 orange, zested and juiced
You can swap frozen berries for fresh ones if needed. For a lower-sugar version, try using a sugar substitute designed for jam-making.
Spices (optional):
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
- Pinch of ground cloves
Feel free to adjust spices to your taste. You might also add a splash of vanilla extract for extra warmth.
Other items you’ll need:
- Large pot
- Wooden spoon
- Jars for storing
If you don’t have canning jars, clean glass jars with tight-fitting lids will work for short-term storage in the fridge.
This recipe makes about 3-4 small jars of jam. It’s perfect for gifting or enjoying with your family during the holidays. The bright red color and festive flavors make it a true Christmas treat!
Instructions
Start by gathering your ingredients. You’ll need fresh cranberries, strawberries, sugar, orange zest, and pectin.
Wash and chop the fruit. Mix it with sugar and orange zest in a large pot. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
Stir often as it boils for about 5 minutes. Then lower the heat to medium and keep cooking for 15 more minutes. The jam will start to thicken.
Take the pot off the heat and add lemon juice. Stir well. If you want thicker jam, you can add pectin now.
Let the jam cool for 5 minutes. Skim off any foam on top.
Pour your jam into clean jars. Leave a little space at the top. Put the lids on tight.
If you want to store your jam for a long time, process the jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
Your Christmas jam is now ready! It makes a great gift or a tasty spread for your holiday breakfast.
Tips, Tricks & Storing
When making Christmas jam, use all 5 pounds of sugar in the recipe. This helps create the right consistency and sweetness.
Try using Christmas jam instead of cranberry sauce on your holiday dishes. It has similar flavors but isn’t as tart.
Make a big batch and give jars as gifts. Your friends and family will love receiving homemade jam for the holidays.
Store unopened jars of Christmas jam in a cool, dark place like a pantry. They’ll keep for up to a year this way.
Once you open a jar, keep it in the fridge. Use it within 1-2 months for the best flavor and quality.
For easy spreading, take the jam out of the fridge 15-20 minutes before you want to use it. This softens it up nicely.
Get creative with how you use your jam. It’s great on toast, but also try it:
- Swirled into yogurt
- As a topping for cheesecake
- Mixed into oatmeal
- As a glaze for ham or pork
Label your jars with the date you made the jam. This helps you keep track of how old it is.