Sparkling Holiday Jam Recipe

This vibrant Sparkling Holiday Jam Recipe combines the summer sweetness of strawberries with the festive tartness of cranberries for a jewel-toned spread perfect for gifting. Simmered to a glossy ruby finish and preserved in a water bath, this high-yield preserve captures the essence of the season in every jar, offering a bright, tangy burst of flavor on morning toast or holiday cheese boards.

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Sparkling Holiday Jam Ingredients

• 2 ½ quarts Strawberries: Coarsely chopped. You can use fresh berries or thawed frozen ones; they provide the sweet, fruity base that balances the tart cranberries.
• 1 (12 ounce) package Fresh or Frozen Cranberries: Coarsely chopped. These add the “holiday” flair, a stunning red color, and natural pectin to help the texture.
• 2 (2 ounce) packages Powdered Fruit Pectin: Essential for ensuring the jam sets properly given the volume of fruit. Do not substitute with liquid pectin as the chemistry differs.
• 1 teaspoon Margarine: Adding a small amount of fat prevents the mixture from foaming up excessively during the rolling boil, ensuring a clear, “sparkling” final product.
• 5 pounds White Sugar: Acts as both a sweetener and a preservative. It interacts with the pectin to create the gel structure.
• Canning Jars and Lids: You will need approximately 8-10 half-pint jars.
• Water Bath Canner: A large pot with a rack to process the jars.

How To Make Sparkling Holiday Jam

1. Sterilize Equipment: Place your glass jars and lids in a large pot of boiling water. Let them boil for at least 10 minutes to sterilize. Keep them in the hot water until you are ready to fill them to prevent cracking.
2. Combine Fruit Base: In a large, non-reactive saucepan or Dutch oven, combine the chopped strawberries, chopped cranberries, powdered pectin, and the teaspoon of margarine.
3. First Boil: Place the pan over high heat and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil (a boil that doesn’t stop bubbling when stirred), stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
4. Add Sugar: Quickly stir in the entire 5 pounds of sugar. Return the mixture to a full rolling boil.
5. Final Cook: Once boiling, cook for exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove the pot from the heat immediately. Skim off any residual foam with a metal spoon if necessary.
6. Fill Jars: Carefully ladle the hot jam into the hot sterilized jars, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace at the top to allow for expansion. Wipe the jar rims clean with a damp cloth to ensure a good seal, then place the lids and rings on finger-tight.
7. Process: Place the filled jars into a boiling water bath, ensuring they are covered by at least an inch of water. Process for 5 minutes. Remove carefully and let cool on a towel-lined counter for 24 hours to set.

Recipe Tips

• Chopping Cranberries: Cranberries can be tough to chop by hand. A few pulses in a food processor is the most efficient way to get them coarsely chopped without turning them into a puree.
• The Margarine Trick: While optional for flavor, the margarine is highly recommended for aesthetics. It breaks the surface tension, significantly reducing the cloudy foam that often forms on strawberry jams.
• Altitude Adjustments: If you live above 1,000 feet, you will need to increase the processing time in the water bath. Add 1 minute for every 1,000 feet of additional altitude to ensure safety.
• Setting Time: Jam can take up to 48 hours to fully set after canning. If it looks runny right out of the canner, be patient and let it rest undisturbed.

What To Serve With Holiday Jam

• Cream Cheese: Pour over a block of cream cheese and serve with crackers for a classic holiday appetizer.
• Thumbprint Cookies: The stiff set and bright red color make this excellent for filling shortbread cookies.
• Turkey Sandwiches: Use it as a condiment on leftover Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey sandwiches instead of cranberry sauce.
• Fresh Biscuits: The tartness cuts through the richness of buttery, warm biscuits.

How To Store Holiday Jam

• Pantry: Properly sealed and processed jars can be stored in a cool, dark pantry for up to 1 year.
• Refrigerator: Once opened, the jam must be refrigerated and should be consumed within 3 weeks.
• Check Seals: Before storing, press the center of the lid. If it pops back, the jar did not seal and should be refrigerated and used immediately.

Sparkling Holiday Jam Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 99 kcal
• Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Protein: 0g
• Nutrition information is estimated per serving based on 96 servings.

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