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Sweet Christmas Cranberry Jam Recipe

4.6 from 65 reviews

This Sweet Christmas Cranberry Jam recipe combines fresh strawberries and cranberries with warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves to create a fragrant and delicious holiday preserve. Utilizing liquid fruit pectin, the jam cooks quickly to a perfect consistency, ideal for spreading on toast or gifting during the festive season.

Ingredients

Scale

Fruits

  • 6 cups fresh or frozen strawberries (about 1 1/2 pounds)
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (approximately 1/2 pound)

Sweeteners and Spices

  • 5 cups sugar (around 2 1/2 pounds)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves

Other

  • 2 sachets liquid fruit pectin (2 pouches of Certo brand at 170ml each)

Instructions

  1. Puree the Berries: Begin by pureeing the fresh or frozen strawberries and cranberries in your food processor. Puree in batches if needed to accommodate the size of your processor. Transfer the pureed mixture to a large saucepan.
  2. Add Sugar and Spices: Measure and add the sugar, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves to the saucepan with the pureed berries. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
  3. Boil the Jam: Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a full, rolling boil where constant bubbling is visible even when stirring. Boil this mixture for one full minute.
  4. Add Pectin and Boil Again: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the liquid fruit pectin thoroughly. Return the saucepan to heat and bring the mixture back to a full rolling boil. Boil for an additional full minute, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
  5. Skim Foam and Fill Jars: Remove the pan from heat and let the bubbling settle. Use a spoon or ladle to skim off and discard any foam that has formed on the surface. Proceed to fill sterilized jars with the hot jam for storage or gifting.

Notes

  • Frozen berries can be used without thawing, but puree in batches as needed.
  • Boiling time is critical to ensure proper gelling; maintain a full rolling boil as described.
  • Skimming foam improves the clarity and texture of the finished jam.
  • Use sterilized jars and seal properly for safe long-term storage.
  • This jam is perfect for holiday gifts or enjoying on toast, scones, or biscuits.

Keywords: Christmas jam, cranberry jam, strawberry cranberry preserves, holiday jam, spiced jam, fruit pectin jam, easy jam recipe