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A beautiful hexagonal glass jar filled to the brim with vibrant, red festive jam, ready to be sealed.

Christmas Jam Recipe (The Only Guide You'll Need)

This festive Christmas Jam recipe combines sweet strawberries and tart cranberries with warm holiday spices. Perfect for gifting or serving with cheese, it's a simple, delicious preserve to make this holiday season.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 half-pint jars
Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Condiment
Cuisine: American
Calories: 50

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 2 cups frozen sliced strawberries Do not thaw.
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice Freshly squeezed is best.
  • 1 box (1.75 oz) powdered fruit pectin
  • 5 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground allspice
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot or Dutch Oven
  • 1 Water Bath Canner
  • 8 8-ounce Canning Jars with lids

Instructions
 

  1. Wash jars, lids, and bands in hot, soapy water. Place jars in a water bath canner, cover with water, and bring to a simmer (180°F). Keep them hot until ready to use.
  2. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine cranberries, frozen strawberries, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  3. Stir in the powdered pectin. Return to a full, rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, stirring constantly.
  4. Add the sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved and bring back to a hard, rolling boil.
  5. Boil hard for exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim off any foam.
  6. Carefully ladle the hot jam into the hot jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and wipe jar rims clean.
  7. Center lids on jars and screw on bands until fingertip tight.
  8. Place jars in the canner, ensuring they are covered by at least 1-2 inches of water. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 10 minutes. Turn off heat, let jars stand for 5 minutes, then remove to a towel-lined counter to cool for 12-24 hours.

Notes

Check seals after 24 hours. The lid should not flex when pressed. Any unsealed jars should be refrigerated and used promptly.
The jam will thicken considerably as it cools.
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