If you’re looking for the perfect homemade jam filled with tasty holiday spices, then this Slow Cooker Christmas Jam is a must-try. Skip the powdered pectin and the need to bring things to a full rolling boil and go for this dump-and-go fresh fruit recipe.
Other fruit recipes we love are Slow Cooker Banana Jam, and Blueberry Butter!
What is Christmas jam?
Also known as Amish Christmas jam, this sweet treat is typically made with fresh fruit, strawberries, cranberries, brown sugar, and spices. If you live near an Amish community, then you can grab a few jars from one of their shops. If not, you can try making this homemade jam, especially with this easy recipe.
You can make Christmas jam and pass some out in decorated half pint jars as Christmas gifts, but don’t forget to keep some for yourself!
Recipe Ingredients
- Cranberries: You can find fresh cranberries at your local grocery store during the late fall and early winter season.
- Strawberries: Fresh strawberries help mellow out some of the sweet tart flavor from the cranberries.
- Spices: Ground ginger, ground cloves, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg are classic wintertime seasonings that make this spiced Christmas jam irresistible.
- Brown Sugar: Adds the perfect amount of sweetness to this strawberry cranberry jam.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Add strawberries, cranberries, and all other ingredients into the crock pot.
Step Two – Stir everything together until the fresh fruit is well coated with the brown sugar and spices.
Step Three – Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours. Be sure to keep the lid on during the entire cooking process.
Step Four – When the cooking time is up, use an immersion blender (or blender or food processor) and pulse the fruit mixture until a jam forms.
How to serve Christmas Jam
- Christmas jam always tastes amazing served on toast, biscuits, or any bread of your choice.
- A dollop can also be put onto Greek yogurt, oatmeal, or served in the middle of a charcuterie board.
- Serving a bit on top of a scoop of vanilla ice cream also sounds delicious. Add a touch of fresh orange zest for even more holiday flavor.
- Pour the Christmas jam over a brick of cream cheese and serve with crackers at your holiday party.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, especially as cranberries and strawberries phase out of season. You may only be able to find frozen strawberries and frozen cranberries in your local grocery store.
No. Canning recipes typically call for a few extra ingredients (lemon juice) and steps (hot jars); however, you can store the jam in mason jars for a couple of weeks in the fridge or freezer. This is what is referred to as freezer jam.
As mentioned above, it can be stored in mason jars or in an airtight plastic container. Make sure it has cooled down and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze. If freezing, be sure to leave an inch of room at the top of the jars for the jam will expand as it freezes.
Cranberries naturally have pectin in them which is what causes the jam to thicken up while it cools.
Yes. If you do not have brown sugar on hand, you can use white sugar at a 1:1 ratio.
Yes. This Christmas jam recipe is simple and doesn’t call for much more than your slow cooker and a blender, food processor, or immersion blender.
A lower sugar jam may result in it being a bit more tart, but if that’s what you like, go for it!
Decorate your prepared jars with festive ribbon and jam sticker if you can. Perfect gift idea for the holiday season. Be sure to tell your recipient that the jam needs to be refrigerated or frozen.
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Slow Cooker Christmas Jam Recipe
Equipment Needed:
- Blender or immersion blender
Ingredients:
- 24 oz. fresh cranberries (about 6 cups)
- 16 oz. fresh strawberries
- 1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
- 2 cups brown sugar
Instructions:
- Add everything to the slow cooker and stir.
- Cook on HIGH for 4 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- When the cooking time is up, add the contents from the slow cooker into a blender. Pulse until a jam forms. DO NOT OVER BLEND OR YOU WILL MAKE CRANBERRY BUTTER. You can use an immersion blender if you choose.
- The jam will thicken a lot while it cools, don't fret. Cranberries have pectin in them.
- Add the hot jam to jars or plastic freezer containers. Serve within 2 weeks or freeze. This is not a canning recipe.
Recipe Notes:
- This is not a canning recipe; this is a freezer jam (or fridge jam).
- If you do not have brown sugar on hand, you can use white sugar at a 1:1 ratio.
- Frozen cranberries and frozen strawberries can be used if you can’t find fresh.
- The Christmas jam can be stored in mason jars or in an airtight plastic container. Make sure it has cooled down and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze. If freezing, be sure to leave an inch of room at the top of the jars for the jam will expand as it freezes.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Made the jam today n it is wonderful for Christmas. Used frozen strawberries and fresh cranberries following the recipe as is. Great taste and texture. Will use Christmas morning on scones with clotted cream and of course share some of it with family. Thank you for this recipe.
I am allergic to strawberries, so I made this but replaced them with 3 pears and an apple. It came out good, prob less tart than others report due to sweetness of fruits used.
Its very tart and the cloves are a little much, my husband who doesn’t like anything sweet likes it-was ok over vanilla ice cream, but would prefer this to be a little sweeter for toast. This is my first time making this kind of jam- would prefer to water bath process this for preserving
it’s good, but it’s very tart. next time maybe more sugar and a bit less cloves
I made this jam and it’s really delicious. It made about 4 cups of jam. I’m not a huge fan of cloves so I will probably reduce that to a 1/4 or 1/8 tsp. I’ll be making another batch for giving as I ordered small mason jars from Amazon
Thanks for letting me know about how much it makes. Glad you tried it!
Made this today, I used blackberries instead of strawberries! It’s so amazing…
Thinking of not only biscuits or scones but could definitely be use with a pork tenderloin.
Thank you so much
I’m so glad you made it!
Recipe looks so good. Would you be able to tell me how many cups this recipe makes? Would love to give this as a gift, but I am not sure if I need to double the recipe or not.
I did not measure, I apologize. Next time I make it, I will.
How many Mason jars will this fill?
Someone posted it made 4 cups.
Hi, Look forward to trying this jam. But would it be ok if I did use a cold bath method to can the jam?
I am not a canning expert, I have no idea what makes a jam safe to can. I apologize.