Christmas Jam
Sweet strawberries and tart cranberries come together to make one delicious jam! Simply add a cute tag with ribbon and you've got the perfect gift for the holidays!
Servings: 14 half pints
Ingredients
- 2 (20 oz.) pkg frozen unsweetened whole strawberries
- 1 lb. fresh cranberries
- 5 lbs. granulated sugar
- 2 (3 oz.) pouches liquid fruit pectin
Instructions
- Have your sterilized jars, rims, bands and canning tools ready.
- Working in batches, pulse the strawberries and cranberries in a food processor. Pulse until desired consistency, smooth or chunky, I prefer chunks of fruit in my jam.
- Pour the processed fruit and sugar into a large heavy-bottom pot over medium high heat; stir to combine. Bring the fruit and sugar mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in pectin. Allow the jam to cool for 5 minutes, and then skim off the foam.
- Ladle the hot jam mixture into sterile half-pint jars, leaving a 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe jar rims clean, cover with hot lids and screw down the bands fingertip tight.
- Process the jars for 10 minutes in a water bath.
- Cook’s Note: The processing time listed is for altitudes of 1,000 feet or less. Add 1 minute to the processing time for each 1,000 feet of additional altitude.
- Once sealed, add a cute label for gift giving.
Notes
Adapted from A Family Feast
I have recooked my gym twice now and it just will not set what is the proper consistency for this? Is it like normal jams where should stick to the spoon or should it be a little runny
I’m sorry Megan, I’m not sure what went wrong? You should not have to re-cook the jam. Once it reaches a full boil, begin timing for 1 minute, remove from heat and stir in pectin. At this point, the jam will be slightly thickened, but not set. Once processed and cooled completely, the jam should set up. I will note that I left my fruit chunky and I live at sea level. ~ Dusty
Can i use fresh strawberries and how much?
Yes, you can use fresh strawberries. You will need 6 cups.
Can I download the label? Thanks
Hi Becky, I used a flower punch on red cardstock and made custom labels at Avery.com. Merry Christmas!
I have made 4 batches my friends want more. Only at Christmas. Great way to enjoy the holidays.
Hi Bev, That’s AWESOME! Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
I have fresh strawberries to use that I’d like to use in this recipe. I noticed you said it would take 6 cups of fresh strawberries. Can I use frozen cranberries even if I use fresh strawberries? Will that cause the recipe not to work correctly?
Hi Melody,
You will need 8 cups of fresh strawberries to equal 2 (20 oz.) frozen strawberries. Yes, you can use frozen cranberries, just give them a quick rinse under cold water. You will need 4 cups of frozen cranberries in this recipe. I would PULSE them together, you don’t want to over-process, you want to have some chunks of fruit in the jam. Hope this helps. Let me know how it turns out!
Dusty
Thank you so much for responding so quickly, and for giving me the correct amounts for both fruits. I can hardly wait to try making this! I haven’t canned very much, so here is another experiment. ha ha! I’ll do my best to remember to let you know how it turns out.
Melody