Christmas Cranberry Strawberry Spice Jam Recipe
This Christmas Jam is a flavorful and festive preserve made from fresh cranberries and strawberries, spiced with warm cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. Slow-cooked to perfection and gently blended, it creates a thick, spreadable jam ideal for holiday breakfasts, gifts, or pairing with cheeses and desserts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 3 cups of jam 1x
- Category: Preserves and Jams
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits
- 24 oz. fresh cranberries (about 6 cups)
- 16 oz. fresh strawberries
Spices
- 1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
Sweetener
- 2 cups brown sugar
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Add fresh cranberries, strawberries, brown sugar, and all the ground spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger) into the slow cooker. Stir thoroughly to mix all ingredients evenly.
- Slow Cook: Set the slow cooker on HIGH and cook for 4 hours. Do not open the lid during this time to ensure proper cooking and thickening.
- Blend to Jam: After cooking, transfer the contents carefully into a blender or use an immersion blender directly in the slow cooker. Pulse gently until a jam-like consistency forms; avoid over-blending to prevent turning the mixture into cranberry butter.
- Cool and Thicken: Allow the jam to cool; it will thicken significantly due to the natural pectin in cranberries. This cooling process is crucial for the perfect texture.
- Store: Once cooled completely, transfer the jam into sterilized jars or containers and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or process for longer shelf life.
Notes
- Do not open the slow cooker lid during cooking to maintain temperature and texture.
- Use fresh cranberries and strawberries for the best flavor and consistency.
- Be careful when blending to avoid over-processing; you want jam, not butter.
- Cooling thickens the jam naturally because of pectin in cranberries.
- Store homemade jam in sterilized jars and refrigerate.
Keywords: Christmas jam, cranberry jam, holiday preserves, slow cooker jam, strawberry cranberry jam, festive jam, homemade jam
