Christmas Jam Canning Recipe with Strawberries and Cranberries

If you could capture the holiday season in a jar, this is it. Christmas jam is sweet, tart, spiced, and full of cozy flavors. You are basically mixing juicy strawberries, tart cranberries, a little citrus, and warm spices, then cooking them into a jam that makes your kitchen smell like the holidays.

Collage image of Christmas jam in jars with text overlay reading “Christmas Jam Canning Recipe.”

The best part is that it is beginner friendly. Even if you have never canned anything before, you can follow these steps and end up with jars that seal beautifully. Once you hear those little pops from the lids, you will know you nailed it.

Why You Will Love This Christmas Jam

It has the taste of the holidays thanks to cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon, and cloves.
It is perfect for gifting since jars of this jam look gorgeous with a ribbon.
It is beginner friendly because the steps are simple and clear.
It is versatile and can be spread on biscuits, used as cookie filling, or even brushed over ham.

Ingredients You Will Need

40 ounces frozen strawberries, crushed
1 pound fresh or frozen cranberries, crushed
2 tablespoons orange zest
1 quarter cup bottled lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
One quarter teaspoon ground cloves
5 pounds granulated sugar
2 pouches liquid fruit pectin (3 ounces each)

Ingredients for Christmas jam including strawberries, cranberries, orange, sugar, and spices on marble counter.

Equipment

Large saucepan
Water bath canner or a deep pot with rack
8 half pint jars with lids and bands
Canning funnel, ladle, and jar lifter
Clean towel and bubble remover or butter knife

How to Make Christmas Jam

Step 1 Wash Jars

Clean jars, lids, and bands in hot soapy water. Place jars in simmering water to stay warm until you are ready to fill them.

Step 2 Mix the Fruit

Add strawberries, cranberries, lemon juice, orange zest, cinnamon, and cloves to a large pot. Stir well.

Pot filled with cranberries, oranges, and spices ready to be cooked into Christmas jam.

Step 3 Add Sugar and Pectin

Pour in all the sugar and both pouches of pectin at once. Stir constantly to prevent clumps. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. Let it boil hard for one minute while stirring.

Fresh cranberries simmering in a pot for a homemade Christmas jam canning recipe.

Step 4 Skim Foam

Remove from the heat and skim any foam from the surface.

Spoonful of homemade Christmas jam with strawberries and cranberries, showing thick glossy texture and seeds.

Step 5 Fill Jars

Ladle hot jam into jars leaving one quarter inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles with a knife, wipe rims clean, place lids, and screw on bands fingertip tight.

Close-up of thick, chunky homemade Christmas jam with strawberries and cranberries in a jar.

Step 6 Process

Place jars in the canner with at least one inch of water covering them. Bring to a gentle boil and process for ten minutes.

Step 7 Cool and Seal

Turn off the heat and let jars sit in the water for five minutes. Lift them out and set them on a towel. Let cool for twelve to twenty four hours. Check lids by pressing down in the center. If it does not move, the jar is sealed.

Storing and Serving

Sealed jars last up to a year in the pantry.
Opened jars keep for three weeks in the fridge.
You can freeze the jam for up to a year if you skip canning.

This jam is delicious spread on biscuits, swirled into yogurt, added to cheeseboards, or used as a filling for thumbprint cookies.

Troubleshooting

If the jam does not set right away, wait a full day. It often thickens as it cools.
If jars did not seal, refrigerate and use within a few weeks or reprocess with new lids.
If you want less sugar, use a low sugar pectin instead of reducing the sugar in this recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use powdered pectin

Yes, but you will need to add it earlier in the cooking process with the fruit.

Can I reduce the sugar

Not without low sugar pectin. Sugar is what helps the jam set and stay preserved.

Can I use cherries or raspberries instead of strawberries

Yes, but keep the cranberries because they add tartness and natural pectin.

How do I get a chunkier jam

Lightly crush the fruit instead of blending it smooth.