Description
A festive homemade Christmas jam recipe that blends cranberries, orange, and warm holiday spices into a magical preserve perfect for gifting or holiday breakfasts.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups fresh cranberries
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup orange juice
- ½ cup water
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
- 1 packet (1.75 oz) fruit pectin
Instructions
- Rinse and prepare cranberries, discarding damaged ones.
- Combine cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and water in a large saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat until cranberries burst and mixture thickens (10-15 minutes).
- Stir in cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and pectin, mixing well.
- Continue cooking 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until jam thickens and coats spoon.
- Test gel by placing a spoonful on a chilled plate—if it wrinkles, it’s ready.
- Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice if desired, and ladle into sterilized jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace.
- Seal jars and process in boiling water bath for 5-10 minutes. Cool completely before storing.
Notes
For best results, don’t overcook the jam. Frozen cranberries can be used if fully thawed before cooking. Always sterilize jars properly before canning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Preserves
- Method: Canning
- Cuisine: Holiday
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 52
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 1mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13.5g
- Fiber: 1.2g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg