Here is how to make an easy Christmas jam recipe that is perfect for the holidays.
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This post is all about how to make refrigerator Christmas jam.
If you’re looking to capture the flavors of the holiday season in a jar, this best ever Christmas jam recipe is exactly what you need! This Christmas jam recipe with pectin brings together tart cranberries, sweet strawberries, and a touch of orange to create a perfectly festive spread.
It’s the ideal Christmas cranberry strawberry jam recipe for anyone who loves holiday cooking but wants an easy, no fuss method. Using powdered pectin makes it simple to get just the right consistency, so you end up with a jam that’s both delicious and perfectly set.
This easy homemade cranberry jam is designed as a small batch refrigerator jam—no canning required! Just mix, simmer, and store in the fridge to enjoy at breakfast.
Whether you’re spreading it on toast, using it as a holiday dessert filling, or gifting it in cute jars, this cranberry strawberry orange jam recipe is bound to become a favorite. So let’s dive into how to make this Christmas jam with cranberries and bring a little holiday magic to your table!
—In This Post—
- What is Refrigerator Christmas jam?
- Reasons to Love This Recipe
- Refrigerator Christmas Jam Ingredients
- How to Make Refrigerator Christmas Jam
- Tips for Making the Best Christmas Jam
- Storing Refrigerator Christmas Jam
- Serving Suggestions
- Recipe: Refrigerator Christmas Jam
What is Christmas Jam?
Christmas jam is basically a taste of the holidays in a jar! It’s a sweet and tangy fruit spread made from a mix of cranberries, strawberries, and sometimes a touch of orange and warm spices like cinnamon or cloves.
Imagine the coziness of winter, the festive tang of cranberries, and the sweetness of strawberries all coming together in one perfect bite–that is the essence of Christmas jam. It’s the kind of jam you can spread on toast, add to holiday desserts, or even give as a cute homemade gift!
Reasons to Love This Christmas Jam Recipe
Here are some reasons to love this Christmas jam recipe. With it’s brilliant color, this jam adds an extra touch of holiday cheer to any winter morning, snack, or meal.
- Refrigerator Christmas jam is easy to make. It’s a refrigerator jam, so no complicated canning—just mix, cook, and store the jam in the fridge.
- The jam has festive color and flavor. The blend of berries, citrus, and spices tastes like pure holiday magic in a jar.
- It’s versatile. Use Christmas jam on toast, in cookies, with cheese, or as a glaze for meats—it’s as versatile as it is delicious.
- It’s great for gifting. Pack it in little jars with a ribbon, and you’ve got the perfect homemade holiday gift.
Refrigerator Christmas Jam Ingredients
Here is a list of the ingredients that you’ll need to make delicious refrigerator Christmas jam.
- Strawberries (2 cups). These add the perfect amount of sweetness and balance the tart cranberries. You can use fresh or frozen, just make sure to chop them up! If you want to deepen the flavor or use whatever berries you have on hand, try mixing in blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries to make the jam even richer and more colorful. Simply replace ½ to 1 cup of the strawberries with blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries. Each berry adds its own unique flavor!
- Cranberries (2 cups). Cranberries give that signature holiday tang. Fresh or frozen both work here, and they cook down beautifully to create the base of your jam.
- Orange (one large, zested and juiced). The zest adds brightness, and the juice helps bring everything together. It adds a subtle citrus flavor that just feels festive.
- Water (1/2 cup). This helps get everything simmering and cooking down smoothly.
- Sugar (3 1/2 cups). It sweetens up the tartness of the cranberries and strawberries. It seems like a lot, but you need it to balance the flavors.
- Cinnamon (1/2 tsp). This is where the cozy vibes come in. Cinnamon adds warmth and makes the jam smell amazing while it’s cooking.
- Ground Cloves (1/4 tsp, optional). Ground cloves are optional but worth it if you want that extra holiday spice kick. It’s subtle but really makes a difference.
- Ground Cardamom (1/4 tsp) and Ground Nutmeg (1/4 tsp): These spices add another level of warmth. Cardamom is aromatic and a little spicy, while nutmeg adds a rich, earthy sweetness. Perfect if you want to enhance those holiday spice vibes.
- Ginger (1 tsp grated fresh or 1/4 tsp ground): If you love a bit of zing, ginger is the way to go. It pairs perfectly with cranberries and gives the jam a little extra depth without being overpowering.
- Vanilla Extract (1 tsp). Stir this in at the end for a creamy, sweet finish. Vanilla really rounds out the flavors and gives the jam a cozy, dessert-like touch.
- Powdered Fruit Pectin (1 package, 1.75 oz). Powdered fruit pectin, such as Sure Jell, is the magic ingredient that thickens the jam. It’s super easy to use and helps your jam set perfectly.
How to Make Refrigerator Christmas Jam
Making this refrigerator Christmas jam is super easy, and you’ll love how it fills your kitchen with those cozy holiday smells. Here is how to make refrigerator Christmas jam.
1—Prepare the fruit.
First, you’ll want to prepare all the fruit. Core the strawberries to remove the leaves and center. Then chop the strawberries and cranberries (or whatever berries you’re using), zest the orange, and squeeze out the juice into a bowl.
2—Make the jam.
Grab a large saucepan and add the chopped berries, orange zest, juice, and water to it. Bring it all to a boil, then let it simmer for about 10 minutes. You want the fruit to soften and break down a bit so it can start turning into that jammy goodness. At this point, your kitchen should start to smell amazing from the citrus and berries.
3—Add the spices.
Once the fruit is soft, stir in the sugar, cinnamon, and cloves (and any optional spices like nutmeg or ginger if you’re feeling adventurous). Bring the jam back to a boil, and stir to make sure all the sugar dissolves.
Then, add the pectin to the pan to help the jam thicken, stir, and cook for about a minute at a rolling boil. This is where it all comes together into the perfect jam consistency.
3—Test the jam.
Finally, take the jam off the heat and let it cool slightly. You can do a quick test of how well the jam has set by spooning a little on a chilled plate—if it sets and wrinkles when pushed with a spoon, then you’re good to go. If the jam is still runny, then cook it for a minute or two longer.
4—Store the Christmas jam.
Pour the Christmas jam into clean sterilized jars or food storage containers, let the jam cool to room temperature, and then place the jars in the fridge.
And that’s it! You’ve got yourself a batch of homemade Christmas jam that’s ready to spread on toast, use in holiday recipes, or give as gifts. It’s easy, festive, and totally delicious!
Tips for Making the Best Refrigerator Christmas Jam
To make the best refrigerator Christmas jam, there are a few tips that will really take it to the next level.
First off, use fresh ingredients whenever possible. Fresh cranberries, strawberries, and citrus will give your jam the brightest flavor.
If you’re using frozen berries (which also works too), just make sure they’re fully thawed and drained before you start cooking. It helps the jam come together more smoothly.
Don’t skip the pectin! This is what helps your jam to set perfectly. Just make sure you’re using the right amount and follow the directions for adding it—boiling it for that full minute is key to making the jam thicken.
Also, keep stirring the jam while it’s cooking to avoid any burning at the bottom of the pot, especially after you add the sugar.
Storing Refrigerator Christmas Jam
Store the Christmas jam in the refrigerator so it stays fresh and delicious. Once you’ve poured the jam into clean jars, let it cool completely to room temperature.
After that, just screw the lids on tightly and pop the jars in the fridge. The jam should last up to a week in the refrigerator, so you’ll have some time to enjoy it with all your favorite holiday treats!
If you want to make a big batch or give some as gifts later, you can freeze the Christmas jam too—just store it in an airtight freezer container. Be sure to leave a little space at the top of the container (about ½ inch) because the jam will expand as it freezes.
The jam should keep in the freezer for up to 6 months, and you can thaw it in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to use it.
Note: Keep in mind that refrigerator Christmas jam is not a shelf stable, canned jam. It should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer at all times until you’re ready to use it.
Serving Suggestions
Refrigerator Christmas jam is a versatile and festive treat that can be enjoyed in many delicious ways this season. Spread the jam on warm toast or bagels for breakfast, pair it with scones or biscuits for an afternoon tea, or use it as a filling for cookies and pastries.
Christmas jam makes a fantastic addition to charcuterie boards and cheese boards, complementing a variety of cheeses, and it can be drizzled over roasted meats for a flavorful glaze.
For a sweet brunch, serve Christmas jam on pancakes or waffles, or layer it in yogurt and granola for breakfast parfaits. You can even gift it in cute food jars or use it to add flavor to smoothies and ice cream.
These serving ideas ensure that your Christmas jam adds a touch of holiday cheer to every meal!
Recipe: Refrigerator Christmas Jam
Refrigerator Christmas jam is a delightful, festive jam typically made with a blend of berries and citrus fruits. Store the jam for up to a week to enjoy with your favorite breads and pastries.
Here’s a recipe to get you started. Enjoy this delicious jam spread on toast, scones, or even as a holiday gift!
Easy Refrigerator Christmas Jam
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries hulled and chopped —or a blend of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries (2 cups total)
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries thawed and coarsely chopped
- 1 large orange zested and juiced
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves optional
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1.75 oz package powdered fruit pectin such as Sure Jell
Instructions
- Wash the strawberries and cranberries (or other berries) thoroughly. If using frozen fruit, make sure to thaw them. Coarsely chop the cranberries and strawberries, or other berries for the jam. Zest the orange, and then juice it.
- In a large saucepan, combine the chopped strawberries, cranberries, orange zest, orange juice, and water.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let it cook for about 10 minutes, or until the fruits are soft and start to break down.
- Stir in the granulated sugar, cinnamon, cloves (optional), and other spices. Bring the mixture back to a boil, stirring constantly until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Stir in the powdered pectin, making sure it dissolves completely.
- Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil (a boil that doesn’t stop bubbling when stirred), and cook the jam for 1 minute. Then remove the jam from heat.
- To check if the jam has set, place a small spoonful on a chilled plate. Let it cool for a minute and then run the back of a spoon through it. If it wrinkles slightly and holds its shape, it’s ready. If it’s too runny, then cook the jam for another minute or two.
- Remove the jam from the heat and let it cool. Pour the cooled jam into clean jars, leaving a little space at the top. Let the jars cool to room temperature, then cover them with lids and refrigerate the jam.
Notes
Looking for more delicious jam recipes?
- Strawberry Refrigerator Jam
- Refrigerator Apricot Jam | Easy 3 Ingredient Quick Jam
- How to Make Cherry Refrigerator Jam | Easy Homemade Cherry Jam
This post was all about how to make Christmas jam.
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