Festive Delights: Homemade Christmas Jam Recipe
With the holiday season just around the corner, it's the perfect time to start thinking about homemade gifts that spread warmth and joy.
One delightful option is Christmas Jam, a delicious blend of cranberries and fresh strawberries infused with the warm flavors of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. This jam is not only a treat for your taste buds but also makes for a thoughtful and heartfelt present for your loved ones. So, let's dive into the recipe and learn how to make this delightful Christmas Jam.
Ingredients:
- - 1 bag of cranberries (12 ounces)
- - 2 quarts of fresh strawberries
- - 5 pounds of sugar (approximately 11-11 ½ cups)
- - 2 packets of liquid fruit pectin (3 ounces each)
- - 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- - 1 teaspoon of ginger
- - ¼ teaspoon of cloves
- - ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
Directions:
1. Begin by preparing your canning equipment. Fill a water bath canner halfway with water and add a splash of white vinegar. This vinegar helps prevent cloudiness on your jars. Place your clean jelly jars into the canner and bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat to keep the jars hot while you prepare the jam.
2. Start by pulsing the cranberries and strawberries in a food processor or blender until you achieve your desired consistency. For a smoother texture, you can use a stick blender.
3. Transfer the fruit to a large pot, preferably around 8 quarts in size. Add the sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Mix everything together until well combined.
4. Place the pot on the stove and bring the mixture to a boil. Let it boil for 1 minute while stirring continuously.
5. Remove the pot from the heat and add the fruit pectin. Stir it thoroughly into the mixture.
6. Return the pot to the stove and bring it to a boil again, ensuring that all the ingredients are well incorporated. Allow it to boil for 1 additional minute.
7. Now it's time to fill your jars with the jam. Leave about ¼ inch of headspace at the top of each jar to allow for expansion. To ensure a good seal, wipe the rim of each jar with a paper towel lightly soaked in white vinegar to remove any residue.
8. Place the lids and bands on the jars, tightening the bands finger tight.
9. Carefully place the filled jars back into the water bath canner, ensuring that the water covers the jars by at least an inch. Bring the water to a boil and let the jars process for 10 minutes.
10. After the 10 minutes have passed, turn off the burner and let the jars sit in the canner for an additional 5 minutes.
11. Remove the jars from the canner and place them on a clean towel to cool. As they cool, you may hear a satisfying "ping" sound, indicating that the jars are properly sealed.
12. Once the jars have cooled and are sealed, remove the bands, wipe them clean, and label each jar with its contents and the date.
This recipe yields approximately 10 half-pint jars of delectable Christmas Jam.
The vibrant red color and the harmonious blend of flavors make it an ideal accompaniment to toast, scones, or even as a filling for pastries. It's also a fantastic gift idea that will surely bring a smile to the faces of your friends and family.
So, this holiday season, spread the joy with your homemade Christmas Jam. Enjoy the process of creating this delightful treat, and may it bring warmth and happiness to all those who taste it.
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