December is the month of Christmas and it is the time of celebration. You can make your celebration more special and enjoyable with good food. And the Christmas celebration is incomplete without the Christmas jam.
Christmas jam is delicious with vibrant flavors and amazing fragrance. Besides, it can be a thoughtful gift during this festive season. You can either prepare the spiced Christmas jam to enjoy toast, cheese, or desserts or to gift your close one in this festive period.
After reading this article you will learn how to prepare the spiced Christmas jam recipe at home. Additionally, we will provide you with storage tips so that you can store the jam for a long time and low-sugar Christmas jam options. So, keep reading till the end.
Ingredients for Spiced Christmas Jam
Various fruits and spices are the main ingredients to make the perfect spiced Christmas jam. Let us tell you the ingredient list.
- Mixed Berries – 2 cups (such as strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries)
- Peeled and Chopped Apples – 2 cups
- Dried Cranberries – ½ cup
- Chopped Pears – 1 cup
- Grated Fresh Ginger – 1 tablespoon
- Sugar – 4 cups (You can adjust according to your sweet preference)
- Ground Cinnamon – 1 tablespoon
- Ground Nutmeg – ½ teaspoon
- Ground Cloves – ½ teaspoon
- Allspice – ½ teaspoon
- Fresh Orange Juice – ½ cup
- Lemon Juice – 1 tablespoon
- Orange Zest – 1 orange
- Fruit Pectin – 1 packet
- Vanilla Extract (optional) – ¼ teaspoon
How to Prepare Spiced Christmas Jam: 8 Mandatory Steps
Preparing homemade jam is a simple process after knowing the proper details about the preparation steps. We will present 8 mandatory steps to make this spiced jam at home in easy words. Every step is important. So, pay attention properly and learn 8 mandatory steps to prepare this delicious easy holiday jam.
Step 1: Preparing the Fruits
Seasonal jam is generally prepared with seasonal fruits. Hence, you can prepare this Christmas jam with various fruits available in winter. Oranges, apples, pears, cranberries, and other berries are commonly used to prepare this Christmas jam recipe. You can also add your favorite fruits to this list.
- After collecting the fruits, wash them properly.
- Remove the peel of the apples and pears.
- Then, cut them and remove the seeds.
- Chop the apples and pears into small pieces.
- Now, check for any damage on the surface of the berries. Remove damaged berries.
- You need to chop up the dried cranberries to make their texture accurate for the jam.
Step 2: Cooking the Mixture of Fruits
After preparing the fruits, you have to cook them to prepare the jam.
- Take a large and heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Combine all the fresh and dry fruits in the saucepan.
- Add the orange juice, and orange zest to the fruit mixture.
- Start cooking over medium to low heat.
- While the fruits become soft, mash them to create the perfect consistency of jam. You can use a potato masher to mash the fruits.
- Cook the mixture for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Stir the mixture occasionally.
Step 3: Adding the Spices
When the fruits become soft and start to release juices, you have to add spices to flavor the jam.
- Add ground cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice, and lemon juice to the mashed fruit mixture.
- Stir the mixture for an even distribution of spices.
- Simmer the mixture for an additional 5 minutes.
- Be conscious about stirring in this stage. Otherwise, it can be burnt.
Step 4: Sweetening the Jam
The flavor of the spices infuses into the mashed fruit mixture nicely. It’s time to add the sugar.
- Add sugar to the mixture.
- Dissolve the sugar appropriately by stirring.
- Sugar not only provides sweetness but also helps in preservation.
- Boil the mixture for 5 – 10 minutes.
- During this period, the jam starts to become thick in consistency.
Step 5: Adding the Pectin
- After boiling, add pectin to the jam.
- Pectin is a gelling agent that helps to make the consistency thicker.
- Cook the mixture for 5 to 1o minutes more.
- Stir continuously throughout the process.
- Keep your eyes on the texture.
Step 6: Applying the Drop Test to Determine the End Point
Jam is not so solidy or not so liquidy in texture. So, determining the end point of heating is very important in jam processing.
- Take a spoonful of jam on a cold plate.
- Cool the jam for 1 minute.
- Now, run your index figure through the jam.
- If the jam wrinkles and doesn’t go back together, you can be sure that the jam is ready to be packaged.
Step 7: Filling the Jars with Jam
Once the spiced festive jam has reached perfect consistency, turn off the heat. Allow the jam to be cooled partially.
- The glass jars in which the jam will be stored and their lids need to be sterilized properly.
- Fill the slightly cooled jam into the sterilized and dried glass jars.
- Don’t forget to leave ½ inch of headspace at the top.
- Then close the lids of the jars and seal the jars.
- After sealing the jars, submerge the jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
- Remove the jars from the water bath and cool them completely.
- Check the jars and be sure the sealing process is done correctly.
Step 8: Let the Jam Set
The last step is to set the jam. You will require at least 24 hours to set the jam properly. The 24-hour setting will allow the flavors to meld perfectly. Then you can enjoy the jam or use it as one of the Christmas food gifts. You can store the jam for a few months in a dark, cool, and dry place.
4 Special Storage Tips for Holiday Jams
We haven’t used any artificial chemicals to preserve the jam. Therefore, you have to maintain a proper storage guide. In this section, we are going to provide 4 special storage tips according to our research.
- Proper Storage Guide
You have to use sterilized glass jars and lids to store the jam. After filling the jam into the jars, make sure the jars are properly sealed. Then, keep the jars in a cool, dark but dry place. Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the jars.
- Refrigerate the opened Jars
After opening a jar, keep the jars in the refrigerator. Then, you can use this jam for up to 3 months. Always use a clean and dry spoon to remove the jam from the jar.
- Freeze the Jars of Jams
Freezing helps to store the jam for a longer period. If you want to store the jam for up to 1 year, you can freeze the jam. During freezing, the jam expands in volume so don’t forget to leave some space in the jar for expansion.
- Label the Jars
Label the manufacture date on the jar, it will help to count the storage period.
Low-Sugar Christmas Jam Options
Sugar provides sweetness and also helps in preservation. But, high-sugar jam is not healthy. So, we have listed some sugar-free options for this spiced Christmas jam.
- Use Natural Sweeteners
Natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, and corn syrup are not as harmful as granulated sugar. So, you can use these natural sweeteners instead of sugar.
- Use Low-Sugar Pectin
Low-sugar pectin is available in the market. You should use low-sugar pectin to reduce the sugar level in the jam.
- Use Date Pulp
Dates are naturally sweet. You can use date pulp instead of sugar to prepare low-sugar Christmas jam.
- Rely on the Sweetness of the Fruits
Fruits like berries are naturally sweet. Therefore, you can rely on the sweetness of fruits without using any sweetening ingredients.
FAQs
What Are the Best Fruits for Christmas Jam?
Apple, orange, pear, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, dates, etc. are the best fruits for Christmas jam.
How Long Can We Preserve This Holiday Jam?
We can preserve this holiday jam unopened at a cool place for 1 to 2 months. If we open the jar and store them in the refrigerator, we can use them for up to 3 months. But, if we freeze the jars, then we can preserve them for up to 1 year.
Can I Make Christmas Jam Without Pectin?
Yes, you can make Christmas jam without pectin. Various fruits are naturally rich in pectin like apples. You can use a large amount of apple to prepare jam without pectin.
Spiced Christmas Jam Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Mixed Berries Such as Strawberries, Raspberries, or Blueberries
- 2 Cups Peeled and Chopped Apples
- ½ Cup Dried Cranberries
- 1 Cup Chopped Pears
- 1 Tablespoon Grated Fresh Ginger
- 4 Cups Sugar You can adjust according to your sweet preference
- 1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
- ½ Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- ½ Teaspoon Ground Cloves
- ½ Teaspoon Allspice
- ½ Teaspoon Fresh Orange Juice
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 1 Orange Orange Zest
- 1 Packet Fruit Pectin
- ¼ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract Optional
Instructions
- First, wash the fruits
- Remove the peel and chop the apple and pear
- Then, cook the fruits mixture over medium flame
- Mash them and cook for 10 minutes
- After releasing fruit juice, add spices and again cook for 5 minutes
- When the spice is evenly distributed in the fruit mixture, add sugar and bring a boil for 5 – 10 minutes
- Lastly, add pectin and again cook for 5 minutes
- Stir the jam throughout the process
- Now, apply drop test and measure the end point
- If the jam wrinkles and don’t run back to its place, the jam is ready to fill
- Fill the jam in the jars and set them for 24 hours. Then, enjoy the jam
- You can store the jars in cool, dark, dry place
Nutrition
Conclusion
The spiced Christmas jam recipe is a great way to celebrate the month of Christmas. You can enjoy your holiday snacks with this jam. Additionally, a jar of Christmas jam could be a great gift to impress your friends.
Prepare this delicious winter jam and enjoy it throughout the year by maintaining proper storage guidelines. So, why are you waiting for? Hurry up! Christmas month is coming. Gather all required ingredients and start cooking. Merry Christmas!
