Ah, Christmas Jam — a festive, flavorful preserve perfect for gifting or enjoying through the holiday season! It’s typically a spiced fruit jam that captures the warmth and cheer of Christmas with seasonal fruits and spices like cinnamon, cloves, and citrus zest.
Here’s a simple recipe idea that you can customize:
🎄🍓 Christmas Jam (Spiced Mixed Fruit Jam)
📋 Ingredients (Makes about 4 half-pints)
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3 cups mixed fruit (e.g., strawberries, cranberries, apples, pears, or a combination) — chopped if needed
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2 cups granulated sugar (adjust to taste and fruit sweetness)
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Juice of 1 lemon
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1 tsp ground cinnamon
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1/2 tsp ground cloves
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1/2 tsp ground ginger or freshly grated
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Zest of 1 orange or lemon
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Optional: 1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger or dried cranberries for texture
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prep fruit
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Wash and chop fruit into small pieces if needed.
2. Combine ingredients
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In a large pot, combine fruit, sugar, lemon juice, spices, and citrus zest.
3. Cook jam
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Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.
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Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the jam thickens and fruit breaks down (about 30–40 minutes).
4. Test for doneness
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Place a spoonful of jam on a chilled plate. If it wrinkles when pushed with a finger, it’s ready.
5. Jar it up
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Pour hot jam into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Seal and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes if you want to preserve.
🎁 Serving & Gifting Ideas
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Perfect on toast, biscuits, or cheese boards.
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Gift in pretty jars with ribbons and holiday tags.
Would you like a cranberry-orange Christmas jam recipe, or a no-cook refrigerator jam version?
