🍇 Christmas Red Jam (Flexible Recipe)
Makes 4–6 half-pint jars | Prep: 15 min | Cook: 30–40 min | Total: ~1 hr
🛒 Choose Your Red Fruit Base:
Pick one or blend a mix:
4 cups cranberries (tart & traditional)
4 cups raspberries (sweet-tart, fragrant)
4 cups pomegranate arils (jewel-like, antioxidant-rich)
4 cups red currants (elegant & bright)
2 cups strawberries + 2 cups cherries (sweet combo)
🧂 Pantry Staples:
3–4 cups granulated sugar (adjust to taste and fruit tartness)
¼ cup fresh lemon juice (balances sweetness, boosts pectin)
1–2 tsp lemon zest (brightens flavor)
1 cinnamon stick (or ½ tsp ground cinnamon)
½ tsp vanilla extract (optional, for warmth)
1 packet (1.35 oz) powdered fruit pectin (for reliable set — optional if using high-pectin fruit like cranberries)
🎁 Gift Tip: Add a sprig of rosemary or whole cloves for visual flair!
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1️⃣ Prep & Sterilize
Wash jars, lids, and bands in hot soapy water.
Place jars in a large pot of boiling water for 10 mins to sterilize.
Keep warm until ready to fill.
2️⃣ Cook the Fruit
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine your chosen fruit, sugar, lemon juice, zest, and cinnamon stick.
Let sit 30 mins to draw out juices (called "macerating").
3️⃣ Simmer Into Jam
Bring mixture to a low boil over medium heat, stirring often.
Cook 20–30 minutes, until fruit breaks down and thickens.
If using pectin: Stir in after 15 mins and bring to a full rolling boil for 1 minute.
4️⃣ Test for Set
Use the wrinkle test: Chill a plate in freezer. Drop a spoonful of jam — push it with your finger. If it wrinkles, it’s ready!
Remove cinnamon stick.
5️⃣ Jar It Up
Carefully ladle hot jam into sterilized jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace.
Wipe rims clean, place lids on, screw bands fingertip-tight.
6️⃣ Process for Shelf Stability (Optional)
For long-term storage: Process jars in boiling water bath 10 mins.
Remove and let cool overnight — listen for the pop of sealing lids.
🍽️ For fridge use only: Skip canning; store in fridge up to 3 weeks.
🌈 Flavor Variations for Every Taste
Cranberry-Orange Spice
Add 1 tbsp orange zest + 2 whole cloves
Pomegranate-Vanilla
Simmer with split vanilla bean
Raspberry-Cinnamon
Swirl in ground cinnamon at the end
Strawberry-Rose
Add ½ tsp food-grade rose water before jarring
🎁 Creative Ways to Gift Your Christmas Red Jam
🎀 Holiday Jar Ideas:
Tie with velvet ribbon and a pine sprig
Attach a wooden spoon or recipe card
Bundle with tea or shortbread cookies
Label with fun names: “Jingle All the Way Jam,” “Santa’s Secret Spread”
📬 Bonus: Include serving suggestions — “Perfect on brie-stuffed puff pastry!”
❤️ Final Thought: More Than Jam — It’s a Gift of Time & Love
In a world of fast shopping and instant everything, there’s something deeply meaningful about giving something handmade.
Each jar of Christmas Red Jam holds not just fruit and sugar…
But hours of stirring, the scent of cinnamon in the air, and the quiet joy of creating something beautiful.
So turn on some carols, pour yourself a glass of wine, and let your kitchen fill with warmth and color.
Because the best gifts aren’t bought.
They’re stirred, sealed, and shared with love. 💝