Christmas Jam

Christmas jam is a wonderful companion for breakfast, lunch and dinner because, while it pairs well with butter and bread, you can also serve it with meat. With just four ingredients, this delicious and delightful jam recipe is a great starting point for those who are new to the art.

If you haven’t tried canning before but are curious, it may help to start with a little Canning 101. While you don’t have to can the jam, it will last longer if you do—and even then, your Christmas jam may not hang around because it’s so darned good!

Ingredients for Christmas Jam

• Strawberries: You can use either fresh or frozen strawberries for this recipe. Strawberries are one of the sweeter berries, so they play well with tart cranberries.
• Cranberries: Harvested in the fall, cranberries are common on tables during the fall and winter season. They’re the quintessential ingredient in this recipe for Christmas jam.
• Sugar: Either granulated white sugar or turbinado sugar works best in this recipe, as both have a neutral flavor that allows the berries to sing. It’s also worth noting that pectin reacts with sugar, so unless you use a no-sugar or lite pectin, you won’t want to cut the sugar in this recipe.
• Liquid fruit pectin: A plant-derived soluble fiber, fruit pectin helps “set” the jam. If you want to avoid the sulfites present in liquid pectin, you can use powdered pectin, but you’ll need to tweak how you use it (check the recipe variations, below).

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the berries

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Grind the strawberries and cranberries in a food processor or grinder.

Step 2: Bring the mixture to a boil

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Transfer the berry mixture to a Dutch oven, then add the sugar. Bring the pot to a full boil and continue boiling for one minute.

Step 3: Add the pectin

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Remove the pot from the heat and immediately stir in the pectin. Return the pot to the heat and bring it to a full boil, stirring constantly for one minute. Remove the pot from the heat and allow it to cool for five minutes, then skim off any foam.

Step 4: Transfer the jam to jars

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Carefully ladle the hot jam into preheated 1/2-pint jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace at the top.

Step 5: Process the jam

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Remove any air bubbles, wipe the outsides of the jars clean and place on the lids. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water canner.

Editor’s Tip: To remove the air bubbles, use a nonmetallic utensil to stir the jam. Using a metal utensil may scratch the glass jar and cause it to crack.

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Christmas Jam Variations

• Change up the fruits: Christmas jam often includes orange zest, and although it’s not traditional, you may consider using apples, pineapple or peaches instead of strawberries for this recipe.
• Add a hint of spice: Warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, allspice and cloves are a delicious addition and right on track with the wintery theme.
• Use powdered pectin: You can substitute powdered pectin for liquid pectin, but you’ll want to add it to the fruit mixture before boiling it. That said, liquid and powdered pectin are used in different ratios, so you may first want to follow a recipe like this cran-raspberry jam to get a hang of it.

How to Store Christmas Jam

As long as the jar hasn’t been opened, Christmas jam can be stored at room temperature for up to two years. Once it’s opened, store the jam in the fridge and use it within one month.

Make sure your refrigerator’s temperature is set between 35° to 40°F, and while it’s acceptable to store jam on the side door shelves, it’s not ideal. Instead, tuck the jam onto one of the shelves in the main compartment.

Can you freeze Christmas jam?

Yes, but not all canning jars are suitable for freezing. To help determine which are best, check out our ultimate guide to freezing food. At the very least, ensure that the jars are thick-walled and don’t have any sharp angles. You’ll also want to place the jam in the fridge first so it can gradually change temperature.

Christmas Jam Tips

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What can I serve with Christmas jam other than bread?

Although spreading Christmas jam on biscuits or pairing it with charcuterie boards are classics, there are plenty of other options. Try swirling it into yogurt, oatmeal or salad dressing, or dabbing it in the center of thumbprint cookies.

What should I gift with Christmas jam?

A homemade Christmas jam makes a heartfelt edible gift idea. If you go this route, consider creating a basket and filling it with other charcuterie board items like cured meats and cheeses.

Can I make this Christmas jam recipe without pectin?

While it’s possible to make nearly any jam without pectin, it’s more of an intuitive process that may take you some practice. Also, it helps to use fruits that are naturally high in pectin, like apples, cranberries, pears and citrus fruits. To do this, simply simmer the fruits, and as the water evaporates, you’ll notice the jam thickening naturally.