Description

This Crockpot Christmas Jam is a festive, slow-cooked fruit preserve that combines fresh cranberries, strawberries, and apples with warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Sweetened with a mix of granulated and brown sugar and enhanced with orange juice and zest, this jam offers a rich, tangy flavor perfect for the holiday season. Slow cooking in a crockpot allows the fruits to break down gently, creating a thick, luscious jam with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale

Fruits

2 cups fresh cranberries
2 cups chopped strawberries
1 cup chopped apples (peeled and cored)

Sweeteners and Spices

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Other Ingredients

1/2 cup orange juice
Zest of 1 orange
1 packet (1.75 oz) fruit pectin (like Sure-Jell)

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Instructions

Prepare Fruits: Rinse the cranberries thoroughly and remove any stems or damaged berries. Chop the strawberries and apples into small pieces to ensure they cook evenly.
Combine Ingredients: In your crockpot, mix together the cranberries, strawberries, chopped apples, sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, orange juice, and orange zest. Stir well to coat the fruits evenly with the sugars and spices.
Add Pectin: Sprinkle the fruit pectin over the top of the fruit mixture. Do not stir immediately; allow the pectin to sit on top for 5-10 minutes to start dissolving.
Mix Pectin Into Mixture: After the rest period, gently stir the mixture until the pectin is fully incorporated and the mixture is uniform.
Slow Cook the Jam: Cover the crockpot with its lid and set to low heat. Cook for 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally every hour to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking, until the jam thickens and fruits break down.
Adjust Consistency: Check the jam’s texture. For a smoother jam, use a potato masher or an immersion blender to blend to your preferred consistency.
Cool the Jam: Turn off the crockpot and allow the jam to cool for about 30 minutes to thicken further.
Jar the Jam: Pour the jam into clean, sterilized jars, leaving appropriate headspace. Seal the jars tightly.
Store: Let the jars cool completely at room temperature before refrigerating. Enjoy your homemade Crockpot Christmas Jam!

Notes

Use fresh, ripe fruits for the best flavor and texture.
Stir occasionally during cooking to avoid burning on the crockpot sides.
Adjust the sugar quantity according to your sweetness preference.
The orange zest and juice add brightness but can be omitted if unavailable.
Use sterilized jars to prolong shelf life when storing in the refrigerator.
This jam can be thickened further by additional cooking time or more pectin if desired.