What a wonderful and heartfelt homemade gift idea! Christmas Jam is more of a concept than a single recipe—it’s a beautiful, spiced, often red-and-green-flecked preserve that captures the flavors of the season. It’s famously associated with the Mennonite Central Committee’s “Christmas Jam,” which uses cranberries and rhubarb.
Here are a few classic versions you can make, filling your kitchen with the most incredible holiday aroma.
Version 1: The Classic Cranberry-Rhubarb Christmas Jam
This is the most traditional version, inspired by the MCC. The tartness of the cranberries and rhubarb is perfectly balanced with sweet sugar and warm spices.
Ingredients:
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4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
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2 cups frozen diced rhubarb (no need to thaw)
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1 cup water
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1 tsp orange zest (from about 1 orange)
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½ cup fresh orange juice
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1 package (1.75 oz / 49g) powdered fruit pectin
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5 cups granulated sugar
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½ tsp ground cinnamon
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¼ tsp ground nutmeg
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¼ tsp ground cloves (optional)
Instructions:
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Cook Fruit: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine cranberries, rhubarb, and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 10-15 minutes, until the cranberries have popped and the rhubarb is very soft.
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Mash (Optional): For a smoother jam, you can use a potato masher to break down the fruit further. For a chunkier jam, leave it as is.
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Add Pectin: Stir in the orange zest, orange juice, and the entire package of powdered pectin. Bring the mixture back to a full, rolling boil that you cannot stir down.
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Add Sugar & Spices: Add the sugar and spices all at once. Return to a full, rolling boil, stirring constantly. Let it boil hard for exactly 1 minute.
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Skim and Jar: Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with a spoon. Ladle the hot jam into clean, sterilized jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Wipe the rims, apply lids and rings, and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes (for long-term storage).
Version 2: Easy Christmas Spice Jam (With Pre-Packaged Fruit)
This is a simpler, “cheater” version that uses pre-prepared fruit for a foolproof, delicious result.
Ingredients:
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1 (16-oz) can whole-berry cranberry sauce
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1 (21-oz) can cherry pie filling
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1 (8-oz) can crushed pineapple, undrained
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2 tbsp lemon juice
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1 tsp cinnamon
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½ tsp ground allspice
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¼ tsp ground cloves
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1 (1.75 oz) package powdered fruit pectin
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3 cups granulated sugar
Instructions:
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In a large pot, combine the cranberry sauce, cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple, lemon juice, and spices. Use a potato masher to break up the cherries and cranberries a bit.
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Stir in the powdered pectin. Bring to a full, rolling boil over high heat, stirring frequently.
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Add the sugar all at once and return to a full, rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
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Remove from heat, skim off foam, and ladle into sterilized jars. Process in a water bath for 10 minutes.
Version 3: No-Pectin Spiced Apple-Cranberry Jam
This version relies on the natural pectin in the apples and cranberries.
Ingredients:
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3 cups apples (peeled, cored, and finely chopped – Granny Smith are great)
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2 cups fresh cranberries
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1 orange (zest and juice)
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½ cup water or apple cider
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3 cups granulated sugar
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1 tsp cinnamon
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½ tsp ground ginger
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¼ tsp ground cardamom
Instructions:
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Combine apples, cranberries, orange zest, orange juice, and water/cider in a large pot. Bring to a simmer and cook until the fruit is very soft, about 15-20 minutes.
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Add the sugar and spices, stirring until dissolved.
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Bring back to a boil, then reduce heat to a steady, rolling simmer. Cook, stirring often to prevent sticking, for 20-30 minutes, or until the jam thickens and passes the “plate test.”*
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Ladle into jars and process.
*The Plate Test: Place a small plate in the freezer. Drop a small spoonful of jam onto the cold plate. Wait 30 seconds; if the surface wrinkles when you push it with your finger, it’s set.
Gifting Your Christmas Jam:
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Jars: Use 4-oz or 8-oz jelly jars. They are the perfect size for gifting.
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Labels: Create a cute label with the name “Christmas Jam” and the year.
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Decoration: Place a circle of festive fabric between the lid and the ring for a charming touch.
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Presentation: Gift a jar alongside a loaf of homemade bread, scones, or a box of nice crackers.
No matter which version you choose, you’re giving a jar full of holiday spirit and love. Happy jam-making