Easy, homemade jam complete with chia seeds and all your favorite berries!
A sugar-free jam recipe is a funny idea, if only because it makes me wonder why anyone would bother putting sugar in jam in the first place. Jam is made from fruit! Naturally sweet! You never hear of anyone asking for sugar-free apples or sugar-free strawberries.
And yet, pick up any jar of jam at the grocery, and you’ll find it’s loaded with added sugar. Even sugar-free jams from major brands often just sub in artificial sweeteners.
Fortunately, this 5-Berry Sugar-Free Jam recipe is clean, natural jam the way it should be.
My dad has all these fond childhood memories of making jam with his grandmother on their farm. It was an all day process of picking, cooking, and preserving. He did not, however, pass this tradition down to my sister and me.
But I have good news.
Turns out, homemade jam did not die out with our great grandparents! You can still make it today in the comfort of your very own home. And you don’t even need a farm. (But if you do grow your own fresh fruits, all the better!)
Moreover, it doesn’t have to be a day-long process either. This sugar-free jam recipe takes just thirty minutes. Yep, just five fruits and thirty minutes is all you need to make clean, delicious, sugar-free jam!
Sugar-Free Jam Recipe
Homemade jam, without the added sugar? You bet! This recipe is our tasty way of encouraging you to ditch those mystery-ingredient-filled store-bought jams. Have no fear, we’ve got your back. Our simple sugar-free jam is made with ingredients you can recognize, so you can feel good about what you’re spreading on your morning toast.
Trust us, your tastebuds will thank you for making this wholesome homemade treat. Give it a try and we know you’ll soon be hooked on this sweet and spreadable wonder.
The Gist of our Jam Recipe
Oh, and this recipe doesn’t just remove unwanted ingredients. It also adds in something you won’t find in your grandma’s jam (or your grocery store’s): chia seeds! Yep, this 30 minute jam recipe is sugar-free and superfood-infused! Rich in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals, chia seeds are a must have superfood. After one batch of this jam, you won’t believe you ever had it without chia seeds.
So, besides the chia seeds, exactly which five berries make up this 5-berry jam? Those would be strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and dried açaà berries. For the first four, you can use either fresh or frozen berries.
To make this super simple sugar-free jam recipe, start by combining the berries and water in a large pot. Bring to a boil on medium heat, stirring often. Seriously, I can’t stress this enough, the stirring is an important part of the process!
Once the water comes to a boil, reduce to a simmer for about thirty minutes or until the berries have completely mashed. Again, make sure to keep stirring! This keeps the jam from burning!
After the thirty minutes, stir in the chia seeds and simmer for an additional three minutes. Allow the jam to cool completely before serving or storing in the refrigerator or freezer.
That’s it! If you always wanted to make homemade jam but didn’t think you had the time, this recipe will prove you wrong. With this sugar-free jam recipe, you’re just thirty minutes away from clean, healthy jam made with chia seeds and all of your favorite berries!
5-Berry Sugar-Free Jam Recipe | 30 Minute Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 cup raspberries fresh or frozen
- 1 cup strawberries fresh or frozen, tops removed
- 1 cup blueberries fresh or frozen
- 1 cup blackberries fresh or frozen
- 1/2 cup acai berries dried
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/2 cup chia seeds
Instructions
- Combine all the berries and the water in a large pot. Bring to a boil on medium heat, stirring often. Reduce to a simmer and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the berries have mashed. Make sure to stir often to prevent the jam from burning!
- Stir in the chia seeds and simmer for 3 minutes. Let cool completely before storing in the refrigerator or freezer.
Nutrition Information
Have you made this recipe?
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If you like this recipe, be sure to also check out this Clean Eating Blueberry Jam recipe.
Enjoyed this post? Discover more:
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Hi..I would love to try your Jam recipe but Acai Berries are way to expensive for me..A suggestion for what else I could use..Thanks?
Hi Rebecca, you can leave out the acai berries from the recipe if you’d like! You would just have a 4 berry jam instead!
Any way to follow this recipe but end with preserves?
If you prefer the chunkier texture of preserves, stir the mixture carefully and try not to mash the berries.
I meant how long will it lastin the refrigerator? I should proof read?
This should keep for a week in the refrigerator. However, you can freeze the jam for up to 6 months! Just make sure it’s in a sealed container. Personally, I like to put a piece of plastic wrap on top so it touches the jam making sure there are no air bubbles and the wrap touches the sides of the container. Then I make sure the lid is sealed very well. This will help prevent ice from forming and freezer burn!
Thank you!! I am making it now. I couldn’t find the Açaà berries. I will
have to order them. I am just using the four berries. So excited to try this.
If I would like to sweeten this jam a little what do you think would be best?? Honey, Palm Sugar or one of the other organic sugars??
Rebecca, Palm sugar, I recommend.
Thanks Gale..Nichole what do you think..
I agree with Gale! Palm sugar would be best. Honey will change the flavor a little bit. Palm sugar will allow you to taste the full flavor of the berries!
Will this jam work to preserve by canning? So it can be stored longer on a shelf In stead of freezer?
Lisa, I can’t say for certain since we haven’t tried canning this recipe.
HI NICOLE:
I MAKE A NO SUGAR MICROWAVE JAM AND USE CORNSTARCH AND CERTO TO THICKEN IT. COULD I USE CORNSTARCH INSTEAD OF CHIA SEEDS?
THANKS, BETTE
Bette, Cornstarch should be fine. We use chia seeds for their health benefits and as a natural thickening agent.
I am diabetic, can I use ground flaxseeds instead.
Dainty, Hmmmm…I’m not sure. Please check with your doctor to be sure.
Chia seeds are good for diabetes, too, but I already have flaxseeds, so I’m going to use that as thickener. Thanks for the idea!
Let us now what you think, Mary!
what should i put it in to freeze
Ruby, You can use a mason jar. Just be sure to leave about an inch at the top.
what is best to freeze the jam in and should i use glass jars
Glass mason type jar.
I’m not a berry fan, but I love apricot and pineapple jams, could the fruit be exchanged for some other kind?
Yes, you can substitute different fruits. If using fresh pineapple you may need to reduce the amount of water needed. You could also use dried apricots for more flavor and texture.
What if u have an acai juice concentrate. What would be your ratio?
If using the concentrate, I would reduce the water to 1/4 cup and add about 3 tablespoon of the concentrate with the water.
How much water is needed?
1/3 cup water is needed.
Hi! I really want to try this recipe but i cant seem to find dried acai berries , how about acai powder? Does that work ? BEcause i really want to put incorporate it – i feel tehy would sweeten it – or do you recommend another dried berry that may be a sub and make it swee lt and yummy like dried cranberry or even better dried cherry? Thank you
We haven’t tried your suggested but would love to know if you do. Please keep us updated.
Can i use dry berries instead???
Unfortunately, dried berries will not work for this jam.
What about sweetening with some dates?
Hi Chris! sweetening with dates is definitely an option!
Can I just use one cup blueberries if so how much water and chai seeds do I use
Use 4 1/2 cups blueberries if you aren’t using other berries and use the recommended amount of chia and water. 🙂
Do you cook fruit covered or uncovered?
Eugene, I’ve done both but generally use a lid
Gale, thanks. Lid or not is never mentioned anywhere on different web sites. I did lid first then no lid for last 15 minutes. My first time. Seems good consistently. Could be a shade sweeter, but son likes it. May add some cherries and dried apricots next time.