Festive Christmas Jam Recipes For Easy Holiday Gifting

Are you searching for the perfect homemade holiday gift that feels heartfelt and special but doesn’t require days of complicated effort? It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday rush, wanting to give something meaningful to friends, family, and neighbors, but feeling overwhelmed by the lack of time and complicated ideas. You want a gift that says “I care” without adding more stress to your already packed schedule.

Christmas jam is a festive preserve made from a sweet-tart blend of cranberries and strawberries, infused with warm holiday spices like cinnamon and cloves. It’s the perfect easy, homemade gift to share with friends and family, capturing the cozy, delicious taste of the holiday season in a beautiful, giftable jar. We’ve gathered our tried-and-true recipes that are simple to follow and guaranteed to delight everyone on your list.

What Makes Christmas Jam So Special?

The classic Christmas Jam flavor comes from a perfect balance of sweet strawberries and tart cranberries, brightened with orange zest and warmed with festive spices like cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Its magic lies in how these simple ingredients come together to create something truly unique and memorable for the holiday season.

• The Flavor: It hits all the right notes—sweet, tart, a hint of bright citrus, and the warm, comforting aroma of holiday spices. It’s perfect on toast, scones, or even as a glaze for meats.
• The Color: The combination of cranberries and strawberries creates a stunning, vibrant ruby-red color that looks absolutely beautiful in a glass jar.
• The Aroma: The moment you start simmering the ingredients, your kitchen will be filled with the unmistakable scent of Christmas.
• The Texture: You can make it as chunky or as smooth as you like, but the classic version has wonderful little pieces of fruit that give it a rustic, homemade feel.

Our Fail-Proof Classic Christmas Jam Recipe (Perfect for Gifting!)

A classic Christmas Jam recipe combines cranberries, strawberries, sugar, citrus, and spices. The key steps are preparing the fruit, cooking it to a boil, adding pectin and sugar to set the jam, and processing it in sterilized jars for preservation. This is our foundational recipe, perfected over the years to give you the ideal set and flavor every single time. It’s designed for water-bath canning, so your heartfelt gifts will be shelf-stable and can be enjoyed long after the holidays are over.

1. The Classic Strawberry & Cranberry Christmas Jam

Save this classic recipe to your ‘Holiday Baking’ board!

Ingredients:
* 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
* 1 1/2 cups diced strawberries
* 1/2 cup orange juice
* 1 tbsp grated orange zest
* 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
* 1/4 tsp ground cloves
* 1/4 tsp ground allspice
* 1 box (1.75 oz) powdered fruit pectin
* 5 cups granulated sugar
* 1/2 tsp butter (optional, to reduce foaming)

Instructions:
1. Prepare Jars: Sterilize 6 half-pint canning jars and lids according to manufacturer’s directions. It’s crucial to keep them hot in simmering water until you are ready to fill them.
2. Combine Ingredients: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, combine the cranberries, strawberries, orange juice, orange zest, and all the spices. Add the optional butter at this stage.
3. Cook Fruit: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Once boiling, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the cranberries have popped and the fruit is soft and broken down.
4. Add Pectin: Vigorously stir in the entire box of powdered pectin until it’s completely dissolved. Bring the mixture back to a full, rolling boil—one that you cannot stir down.
5. Add Sugar: Add all 5 cups of sugar at once. Continue to stir constantly to dissolve the sugar and prevent scorching. Return the jam to a full rolling boil and boil hard for exactly 1 minute.
6. Jar the Jam: Remove the pot from the heat. If any foam has formed on the surface, carefully skim it off with a spoon. Ladle the hot jam into your prepared hot jars, making sure to leave 1/4-inch of headspace at the top.
7. Seal and Process: Wipe the jar rims with a clean, damp cloth to ensure a good seal. Center the lids on the jars and screw on the bands until they are “fingertip-tight”—snug, but not overly tight. Place the jars in a water bath canner, ensuring they are covered by at least 1-2 inches of water. Process for 10 minutes, adjusting for your altitude if necessary.
8. Cool and Check: Carefully remove the jars from the canner and place them on a towel-lined countertop. Let them cool, undisturbed, for 24 hours. You should hear the satisfying “ping” of the lids sealing. After 24 hours, check the seals by pressing on the center of the lid; it should be concave and not flex.

Pro-Tip: For a clear jam, don’t skip the step of skimming the foam. The optional butter significantly reduces the amount of foam you’ll need to remove before jarring. This simple trick makes for a more beautiful finished product.

3 More Festive Christmas Jam Variations to Try

While the classic recipe is a holiday staple, sometimes you need a different method or flavor profile. These well-tested variations address common needs, whether you’re short on time, want to avoid pectin, or prefer not to deal with canning.

1. Easy Slow Cooker Christmas Jam

Pin this hands-off recipe for a busy holiday season!

Ingredients:
* Same as the classic recipe.

Instructions:
1. Combine all ingredients except for the sugar and pectin in your slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on the HIGH setting for 2-3 hours, or until the fruit is completely soft and the cranberries have burst.
3. Use a potato masher or immersion blender to break down the fruit to your desired consistency. Stir in the pectin until it’s fully dissolved, then add the sugar and stir again until no granules remain.
4. Turn the slow cooker back to HIGH. Prop the lid open with a wooden spoon to allow steam to escape. Cook for another 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the jam has thickened to your liking.
5. Carefully ladle the hot jam into sterilized jars. You can either process them in a water bath for long-term storage or allow them to cool completely before storing in the refrigerator or freezer.

Lesson Learned: Slow cookers don’t evaporate moisture like a stovetop pot. Propping the lid open in the final stage is crucial for the jam to thicken properly. Without this step, you might end up with a delicious syrup instead of jam!

2. Spiced Apple Christmas Jam (No Pectin Needed)

Want an all-natural jam? Save this no-pectin recipe!

Ingredients:
* 4 cups peeled, cored, and finely diced tart apples (like Granny Smith)
* 1 cup fresh cranberries
* 1 cup water
* 1/2 cup orange juice
* 3 cups sugar
* 1 tsp cinnamon
* 1/2 tsp nutmeg
* 1/4 tsp ground ginger

Instructions:
1. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine the diced apples, cranberries, water, and orange juice.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is very soft and has broken down.
3. Add the sugar and all the spices, stirring continuously until the sugar is completely dissolved.
4. Increase the heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. The jam is ready when it has thickened and passes the freezer plate test. (To do this, place a small plate in the freezer before you start. A dollop of hot jam placed on the cold plate will wrinkle when you push it with your finger).
5. Ladle into hot, sterilized jars and process as directed in the classic recipe for shelf-stable jam.

Pro-Tip: Tart apples like Granny Smith are naturally high in pectin, which is why this recipe doesn’t require any added commercial pectin to set properly. This makes it a fantastic, all-natural option.

3. Festive Freezer Jam (No Canning Required)

The easiest jam ever! Pin this no-cook freezer jam recipe!

Ingredients:
* 2 cups crushed strawberries
* 1 cup crushed cranberries
* 4 cups sugar
* 1 box powdered pectin specifically for freezer jam
* 3/4 cup water

Instructions:
1. Thoroughly mash the strawberries and cranberries together in a large bowl. A potato masher works perfectly for this. Mix in the sugar and let the fruit mixture stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. While the fruit sits, combine the freezer jam pectin powder and the water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Boil for exactly 1 minute.
3. Pour the hot pectin mixture over the fruit mixture. Stir continuously for 3 minutes, making sure the sugar is completely dissolved and everything is well combined.
4. Immediately ladle the jam into clean, freezer-safe containers or jars, leaving about 1/2-inch of headspace to allow for expansion.
5. Cover the containers with lids and let them stand at room temperature for 24 hours to fully set.
6. Once set, the jam is ready! Store it in the freezer for up to a year, or in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Lesson Learned: You must use pectin specifically labeled for freezer or “no-cook” jams. Regular pectin is activated by heat and will not set properly in this uncooked recipe. Always double-check the box!

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to Perfect Christmas Jam

To ensure your jam-making adventure is a success, keep these essential tips in mind. This quick summary is perfect for a last-minute check before you begin.

• Balance is Key: The iconic Christmas jam flavor comes from the perfect harmony of sweet strawberries, tart cranberries, and bright citrus. Don’t be tempted to alter these core ratios too much.
• Don’t Skip Sterilizing: For shelf-stable jam that you can gift with confidence, properly sterilizing your jars and processing them in a water bath is non-negotiable for safety.
• Know Your Pectin: Always use the right tool for the job. Use regular pectin for traditional canned jam and specially marked “freezer jam” pectin for any no-cook versions. They are not interchangeable.
• The Freezer Test Works: To check if your jam is set without guessing, use the freezer plate test. Place a small plate in the freezer when you start. A dollop of hot jam on the cold plate should wrinkle when you push it, indicating it has reached the right consistency.
• Gifting Made Easy: You don’t need fancy packaging. A simple ribbon or piece of twine tied around the lid and a handwritten tag can turn a humble jar of jam into a cherished and personal holiday gift.

People Also Ask About Christmas Jam Recipes

Have more questions? Here are direct answers to some of the most common queries about making festive holiday jam.

What is in Christmas jam?

Christmas jam typically contains a festive mix of fruit and spices. The most common ingredients are cranberries and strawberries, which create a sweet and tart flavor base. It’s often enhanced with orange zest and juice for brightness, and warmed with holiday spices like cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.

What not to do when making jam?

Avoid common mistakes like using old or expired pectin, which won’t set properly. Don’t reduce the sugar in a traditional recipe unless you’re using a special low-sugar pectin, as sugar is crucial for both preservation and texture. Finally, never undercook the jam; it needs to reach a full, rolling boil to activate the pectin and set correctly.

What is the secret to good jam?

The secret to good jam is using fresh, quality fruit and achieving a proper set. The key technique is to bring the fruit, pectin, and sugar mixture to a rapid, rolling boil that you cannot stir down. You must hold it at this intense boil for the time specified in the recipe, usually one full minute, to ensure the pectin activates for a perfect, jammy consistency.

What is the easiest jam to make?

Freezer jam is often considered the easiest jam to make. It doesn’t require any cooking of the fruit or the sometimes intimidating water bath canning process. You simply mash the fruit, mix it with special freezer jam pectin and sugar, and let it set at room temperature before storing it in the freezer.

Final Thoughts

There is something uniquely special about giving and receiving a homemade gift during the holidays. It carries a warmth and thoughtfulness that simply can’t be bought. This Christmas jam is more than just a sweet spread for toast; it’s a jar full of holiday cheer, a simple gesture that shows you care. Whether you make the classic version or try a fun variation, you’re creating a delicious memory that your loved ones will cherish.

What are your favorite holiday treats to make and share?