Christmas Jam Recipe
65 CommentsUpdated Jan 23, 2026
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If you’re looking for the perfect homemade jam filled with tasty holiday spices, then this Christmas Jam is a must-try.
Featured Comment
I made this and the whole family loved it. Used it instead of gravy over the turkey and mashed potatoes. I did add the zest of one orange and a squeeze of about a quarter of that orange. Tasted great.
– mike
Also known as Amish Christmas jam, this sweet treat is typically made with fresh fruit 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.
The 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 jam irresistible.
- Brown Sugar: Adds the perfect amount of sweetness to this strawberry cranberry jam.
How to make Christmas Jam
- Add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cook on high while the flavors blend and your kitchen starts to smell amazing.
- Blend carefully until you get a jam-like texture—don’t overdo it.
- Pour into jars and let it cool; it will thicken naturally as it sets.
How to serve
- Christmas jam always tastes amazing served on toast, biscuits, or any bread of your choice.
- A dollop can also be put onto slow cooker 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 over a brick of cream cheese and serve with crackers at your holiday party.
Sarah’s Tips & Variations
Frozen fruit can be used as an alternative if fresh fruit is unavailable.
This recipe does not have pectin for cranberries naturally have pectin in them which is what causes the jam to thicken up while it cools.
If you do not have brown sugar on hand, you can use white sugar at a 1:1 ratio.
Christmas Jam Recipe
Equipment
- 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.
- Let cool before storing.
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Storing Tips
This is not a canning recipe. Canning recipes typically call for a few extra ingredients (lemon juice) and steps (hot jars).
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.
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.
More Slow Cooker Jams and Sauces
Banana Jam and Slow Cooker Applesauce are sweet, simple spreads perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Warm Berry Compote and Cranberry Apple Butter bring rich, seasonal flavor to toast, waffles, or ice cream.
Slow Cooker Apple Butter, Pumpkin Butter, and Blueberry Butter are smooth, spiced, and great for gifting or enjoying by the spoonful.
Went to my sister’s and we made this. We did the recipe as written. Took her kitchen aid hand blender to it. Made short work of it. Made 3 jars for me. She used smaller jars and made 5 jars. It is a little tart because cranberries are tart.. This will be our new thing at Christmas . Will absolutely make again.
My second time making this everyone loves it
That is great to hear Lee!
Should I let frozen fruit thaw before cooking
No, you can throw it in frozen.
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.
Oranges would probably work too. Orange and cranberry is a favorite combo of mine. I’m a sucker for the local supermarket bakery’s orange cranberry muffins LOL!
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.