Spiced Christmas Jam Recipe (Homemade Holiday Jam)

Discover how to make this easy Christmas Jam recipe, blending fresh cranberries, strawberries, and warm spices. Perfect for the holiday season, this homemade jam makes a great food gift and adds a sweet-tart flavor to your festive meals.

Happy holidays! There's nothing quite like the festive aroma of homemade Spiced Christmas Jam simmering on the stove to get you into the holiday spirit. This easy Christmas jam recipe not only captures the sweetness of strawberries and the tartness of fresh cranberries but also infuses the warmth of holiday spices. Making a batch of this homemade jam is a delightful way to preserve fruit and share the love with friends and family as thoughtful homemade gifts.

This special Christmas jam recipe is perfect as a condiment at your Christmas dinner or as a delicious topping for biscuits, cookies or toast during Christmas morning breakfast. It's also a bright addition to a charcuterie board with cheese, crackers, and other snacks. The delicious, sweet-tart blend of apples, fresh cranberries, strawberries, oranges, and seasonal spices embodies all the flavors we love associated with the Christmas season.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• How to Make Spiced Christmas Jam
• What to Serve with Spiced Christmas Jam
• Storage Instructions
• FAQ's
• Spiced Christmas Jam Recipe (Homemade Holiday Jam)

Ingredients

• Cooking Apples: Provides natural pectin and adds a subtle tartness to help the jam set.
• Lemon Juice and Zest: Adds acidity for balance and enhances the fruit flavors.
• Orange Juice and Zest: Introduces citrus notes and complements the berries.
• Caster Sugar: Sweetens the jam and acts as a preservative.
• Fresh or Frozen Cranberries: Adds tartness and a beautiful color to the jam.
• Fresh or Frozen Strawberries: Contributes sweetness and rich strawberry flavor.
• Fresh or Frozen Blueberries: Enhances the berry mix with additional sweetness and color.
• Fresh Ginger: Adds a warm, spicy undertone.
• Cinnamon Sticks: Infuses warm holiday spice flavors.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile with a hint of vanilla.
• Edible Glitter: Adds a festive sparkle to the jam.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Spiced Christmas Jam

Sterilize the Jars

• Wash jam jars thoroughly with hot, soapy water and rinse to remove all soap residue.
• Place jars upside down in an oven preheated to 140°C (285°F) for 20 minutes. Switch off the oven and leave the jars inside to stay warm until ready to fill. They will dry in the oven. Here's a great guide on 'How to Sterilize Jars' if you need more info.

Prep for Testing the Jam

• If you don’t have a jam thermometer, place 2-3 small plates or saucers in the freezer before you start boiling the jam. These will help test the jam’s setting point.

Cook the Apple Purée

• Combine the chopped apples, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of caster sugar in a large saucepan. Add 625 ml (2½ cups) water and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Cook for 20 minutes or until the apples are very soft. Mash with a potato masher or purée in a food processor, then strain through a fine sieve into a clean bowl.
• Wipe out the saucepan and return the apple purée to it. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until thickened and slightly reduced. Set aside to cool.

Prepare the Berry Mixture

• Place all the berries in a large saucepan. Add the remaining caster sugar and stir until the fruit is evenly coated. Let sit for 15 minutes.
• Add the lemon zest, orange zest and juice, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and cooled apple purée to the berries.

Chef’s Tip: Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan to prevent scorching.

Cook the Jam

• Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 30 - 45 minutes or until the fruit softens. Skim off any foam that forms on the surface of the jam.
• Attach a jam thermometer to the side of the pan, and reduce the heat to low. Stir frequently to make sure the jam doesn’t burn. Cook the jam for 1–1½ hours or until it reaches 104°C (219°F).

Tip: If you don’t have a jam thermometer, use this test to check the setting point

• Remove the pan from heat and spoon a small amount of jam onto a chilled plate from the freezer. Return the plate to the freezer for 2 minutes.
• Lightly push your finger across the jam. If it wrinkles and doesn’t run, it’s ready. If not, return the jam to the heat and boil for 2 more minutes before testing again.

Final Touches and Filling

• Remove the saucepan from heat and let the jam cool for 10 minutes. Discard the cinnamon sticks and ginger. Stir in edible glitter if desired.
• Spoon the jam into warm sterilized jars, leaving 0.6 cm (¼ inch) of headspace. Seal the jars immediately.

Storage and Setting

• Allow the jars to rest at room temperature for 12 hours or overnight to cool and set.
• Properly sealed jars can be stored in a cool, dark, dry place for 6–8 months. Test the seal by pressing down on the lid center—it should stay depressed if sealed correctly.
• Unsealed jars should be refrigerated and consumed within 3 weeks.

What to Serve with Spiced Christmas Jam

• Stir into Plain Yogurt: Mix a spoonful of jam into plain yogurt to cut the tanginess and create a nice little dessert.
• Top French Toast: Add some jam to French toast for a lovely Christmas morning breakfast.
• Sweet Grilled Cheese: Spread jam and sliced brie between two slices of bread, add fresh thyme leaves and a dash of ground black pepper, then grill for a gourmet sandwich.
• Thumbprint Cookies: Use the jam to fill the centers of thumbprint cookies for a festive treat.
• Food Gift Idea: Pair a jar of jam with a fresh baguette, crackers, a wedge of sharp cheese, olives, and nuts for a delightful hostess gift.

Storage Instructions

• Checking Seals: If processed using a boiling-water canner, check the seals once jars have cooled. The lids should be down in the center and stay down when pressed.
• Unsealed Jars: Refrigerate unsealed jars and use within 3 weeks.
• Properly Sealed Jars: Store properly sealed and processed jars in a cool, dark, dry place (pantry) for up to 8 months.
• Short-Term Use: If planning to use the jam within a couple of weeks, you can skip the canning process. Store the jam in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.
• Gifting: When giving as a homemade Christmas gift without processing, inform recipients to keep the jam refrigerated and use it within 2 weeks.

Tip: Detailed instructions for using a boiling-water canner can be found at US National Center for Home Food Preservation.

FAQ's

Spiced Christmas Jam is a delightful way to capture the sweetness of strawberries and the tartness of fresh cranberries, combined with the warmth of holiday spices. It's not just an easy Christmas jam recipe but also a perfect holiday gift that brings joy to both the giver and the receiver. So, gather your fresh fruit and spices, and start your jam session today!

Don't forget to share your homemade jam with loved ones and spread the festive cheer.

Happy cooking!

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The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.