A festive homemade Christmas Jam made with strawberries, cranberries, orange, and warm holiday spices. It’s sweet, slightly tart, beautifully ruby-red, and perfect for toast, biscuits, pancakes, cheese boards, or holiday gifts.
Christmas Jam
This homemade Christmas Jam tastes like the holidays in every spoonful. Fresh strawberries and tart cranberries are cooked with orange juice, cinnamon, ginger, and a hint of cloves until thick, glossy, and spreadable.
It is easy enough for a weekend breakfast but festive enough to make as a homemade Christmas gift. Serve it on toast, warm biscuits, English muffins, pancakes, waffles, or alongside baked Brie and crackers.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, chopped
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 package (1.75 oz / 49 g) powdered fruit pectin
Instructions
1. Prepare the fruit
First, wash the strawberries and cranberries. Hull and chop the strawberries into small pieces.
If you’re using frozen fruit, there is no need to thaw it completely. However, slightly thawed fruit will cook a little faster.
2. Start cooking
Next, add the strawberries, cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves to a large saucepan.
Place the pan over medium heat and cook for about 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
As the fruit softens, gently mash some of it with a potato masher. Leave some small pieces of fruit for a chunky homemade texture.
3. Add the pectin
Once the fruit mixture is bubbling and the cranberries have started to burst, gradually stir in the powdered pectin.
Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.
4. Add the sugar
Then, add the granulated sugar all at once.
Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves completely.
Bring the jam back to a full rolling boil and boil for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
5. Add vanilla
After 1 minute, remove the saucepan from the heat.
Stir in the vanilla extract. If there is foam on the surface, gently skim it off with a spoon.
6. Check the consistency
Let a small spoonful of jam cool for a minute or two. It should become thick and spreadable as it cools.
If the jam still seems very thin, return it to the heat and simmer for another 1–2 minutes.
7. Cool and store
Finally, spoon the hot jam into clean, sterilized jars, leaving a little space at the top.
Allow the jars to cool at room temperature before sealing and refrigerating.
The jam will continue to thicken as it cools.
Recipe Notes
Fruit: Fresh or frozen strawberries and cranberries both work well.
Texture: For a smoother jam, use an immersion blender briefly before adding the pectin. For chunky jam, simply mash the fruit lightly.
Orange: Fresh orange juice and zest give the jam its bright holiday flavor.
Spices: Cinnamon, ginger, and cloves create a classic Christmas flavor. You can adjust the amounts to taste.
Vanilla: Add vanilla after removing the jam from the heat to keep its flavor fresh.
How to Serve Christmas Jam
Serve this festive jam with:
- Toast
- English muffins
- Warm biscuits
- Sourdough bread
- Pancakes
- Waffles
- French toast
- Oatmeal
- Cheesecake
- Baked Brie
- Crackers and cheese
- Holiday cookies
It also makes a beautiful homemade Christmas gift when placed in small jars with festive labels and ribbons.
Storage
Store Christmas Jam in an airtight container or sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 2–3 weeks.
For longer storage, use a tested water-bath canning recipe and follow proper canning procedures rather than simply storing the jars at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
Approximate nutrition per 1 tablespoon:
- Calories: 35
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Sugar: 8g
- Protein: 0g
- Fat: 0g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Sodium: 0mg
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the ingredients and serving size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen fruit?
Yes. Frozen strawberries and cranberries work very well. You can use them directly from frozen, although cooking may take a little longer.
Can I make Christmas Jam without strawberries?
Yes. You can make a cranberry-orange jam using mostly cranberries, although the texture and sweetness will be different.
Can I make it less sweet?
You can reduce the sugar slightly, but don’t drastically reduce it when using regular powdered pectin because sugar can affect the final texture.
Why is my jam runny?
Jam can appear thin while hot and thicken considerably as it cools. If it remains too thin after cooling, it may need additional cooking or a properly measured amount of pectin.
Can I freeze Christmas Jam?
Yes. Once completely cooled, place the jam in freezer-safe containers, leaving some room for expansion. Freeze for up to about 6 months for the best quality.
Can I give Christmas Jam as a gift?
Absolutely. Spoon the cooled jam into clean, attractive jars and add a festive ribbon or label. For room-temperature gifts, however, use a tested canning method and recipe rather than simply filling jars with cooked jam.
Final Thoughts
Christmas Jam is one of those easy holiday recipes that makes an ordinary breakfast feel special. The combination of sweet strawberries, tart cranberries, fresh orange, and warming spices creates a bright and festive spread that works just as well on a breakfast table as it does on a holiday cheese board.
Make a batch for Christmas morning, serve it with warm homemade bread, or package it in small jars for a thoughtful homemade gift.
