There’s something magical about making homemade jam during the holiday season — the aroma of bubbling berries filling your kitchen, the sparkle of jars lined up on the counter, and the satisfaction of creating something beautiful to share. This Christmas Jam combines the lush sweetness of strawberries with the gentle tartness of cranberries, resulting in a vibrant spread with a subtle, tangy twist. Perfect as a thoughtful hostess gift, a flavorful topping for toast, or even spooned over cream cheese with crackers for a party appetizer, this jam is as versatile as it is delicious.
Ingredients for Festive Berry & Cranberry Christmas Jam
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2 packages frozen strawberries (about 3 lbs / 1.36 kg total)
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2 lbs (900 g) cranberries, fresh or frozen
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8 cups (1.6 kg) granulated sugar
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1 1/2 boxes liquid fruit pectin (3 envelopes)
How to Make Festive Berry & Cranberry Christmas Jam
Test Kitchen Tip:
We used roughly two 1 1/2 lb (680 g) bags of frozen sliced strawberries for this recipe.
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Place all strawberries and cranberries into a very large pot along with the sugar.
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Heat over medium, cooking until the cranberries begin to pop and break down.
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Using a potato masher, crush the fruit thoroughly, breaking up any large pieces of strawberry. As the mixture cooks, a foamy layer will form — much of it will settle naturally, but if there’s excess foam, skim it off just before adding the pectin.
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Stir in the liquid pectin.
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Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
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Skim off any foam that rises to the surface.
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Remove from heat and allow the jam to cool for 5 minutes.
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Pour the hot jam into clean, sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) of headspace at the top.
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Cap the jars and process them in a hot water bath for 15 minutes.
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Turn the jars upside down and let them cool overnight, ensuring the lids are sealed tightly.
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Note: If your pot isn’t large enough to hold all the fruit (remember, the mixture bubbles vigorously), make a half batch instead and use 2 pouches of liquid pectin.
A Sweet Gift Straight from Your Kitchen
This jewel-toned jam is the perfect marriage of sweet and tart, making it an instant holiday classic. Whether spread on warm toast, swirled into yogurt, layered in desserts, or gifted in a festive jar, it’s a little taste of Christmas in every bite. One batch will have you hooked — and your friends and family will be hoping you make it year after year.
