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The perfect balance of sweet and tart! Although the grocery store shelves are full of festive jams and jellies in the holiday season, nothing beats the flavor of homemade conserves and this spiced cranberry orange jam is especially festive and worth making. You only need four ingredients to make your own Thanksgiving or Christmas jam that’s ideal for gift-giving. This easy Christmas marmalade is fabulous on toast, muffins, biscuits, and even more. Make lots because it’s delicious on sandwiches with leftovers, too!
The sweet tart flavor of cranberries and oranges pair with the sweetness of sugar and the earthy warmth of cinnamon to make this gorgeous Christmas jam recipe.
Enjoy jam-making? You might also like strawberry jalapeno jam or this homemade mixed berry jam. Jalapeno hot honey is also fun to make.
Why You’ll Love It
An easy recipe: Even if you’ve never made jam before, you will find this cranberry jam recipe really simple to make.
Festive and fun: The cranberry and orange flavors make a fine festive pairing and the cinnamon is also really good in these. This jam is special enough to serve on Christmas morning.
Great for gift giving: Make an extra batch for friends and family and add cute little labels to the jars.
Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan-friendly: Just fruit, sugar and cinnamon are in this delicious homemade jam.
Spiced Cranberry Jam Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Cranberries: A bag of frozen cranberries is ideal for this recipe.
Orange juice: I juiced 2 large navel oranges. Fresh OJ is best.
White sugar: To add sweetness.
Ground cinnamon: Goes well with the fruit flavors in the jam.
How to Make Cranberry Orange Jam
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cook the jam: Put all the ingredients in a medium saucepan and cook until jammy, stirring occasionally.
Let it cool: Remove from the heat and cool the jam mixture for a few minutes.
Pack it into jars: Transfer the jam into clean jars, put the lids on and let the jam cool to room temperature before refrigerating or freezing.
Free Printable Holiday Jam Gift Tag
Substitutions and Variations
No cinnamon: Feel free to leave the cinnamon out if you don’t want to use it. Or you can use a different spice, perhaps nutmeg, ground cloves or ground allspice. Fresh ginger also works but a little goes a long way.
Sweeten it up: Add ¼ cup of extra sugar and another tablespoon of orange juice for a sweeter result. Or you could try brown sugar in place of the white.
Different fruit: Swap half the cranberries for strawberries to make strawberry cranberry jam. You can also add a splash of apple juice or apple cider.
Extra zesty: Add some orange zest or orange peels to the jam, or a zip of lemon juice.
Smoother jam: Use a potato masher to break the ingredients down more if you want a smooth rather than chunky result.
Serving Suggestions
For breakfast or brunch: Spread on bread or toast, jam is always a winner. It’s also amazing with puff pastry waffles and banana pancakes.
As part of a cocktail: Did you know you can make the most delicious cocktail using jam? Swap the blackberry jam for this spiced cranberry orange jam in this prosecco-based cocktail for a festive flair!
In cookies: Kolache cookies with jam and raspberry jam buttercream sandwich cookies are just 2 examples of cookies made better with homemade jam!
As part of a cheeseboard: Jam pairs beautifully with cheese, so add it to a cheese platter.
How to Store Christmas Jam
Store: Keep the jam in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 weeks.
Freeze: You can freeze it for up to a year.
Thaw: Defrost your jam in the refrigerator overnight.
Top Tips
Breaking down the berries: The cranberries will take about 10 minutes to start breaking down. When they do, use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to squish them against the side of the saucepan to aid the process.
Use the right jars: Glass jars with tight-fitting lids are best. I used these 4-ounce jars.
Keep it chilled: As it’s homemade, it’s best to keep the jam refrigerated or frozen until use.
Spiced Christmas Jam FAQs
The recipe calls for 10 ounces, which is about 2½ cups.
Yes. I’d recommend Swerve granular because it works well in baking and the measurement is 1:1.
Since they’re cooked and broken down in the jam, it doesn’t make much difference. I used frozen fruit and the result was a really delicious Christmas jam, but you can use fresh if they’re available.
It’s a good idea, as sterilization helps prevent yeast, bacteria from spoiling the jam. Either wash in hot soapy water (the lids too) and put in a 320°F oven for 10 minutes or remove the seal (if they have one) and boil for 2 or 3 minutes in a hot water bath or boiling water bath.
Cranberry Holiday Jam Recipe
Spiced Cranberry Orange Jam
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ Cup orange juice, fresh juice of 2 navel oranges
- 10 Ounces cranberries, frozen
- ½ Cup white sugar
- 1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the frozen cranberries, orange juice, sugar and cinnamon.
- Over medium heat, cook the cranberries stirring often for 14 minutes or until jammy. For the last minute of cook time, turn the heat to low and stir the mix thoroughly to make sure all of the berries are broken down – the cranberries will not begin to break down for about 10 minutes, so use the back of a spatula to smash the cranberries after this to help the process.
- Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Transfer the jam into 3 clean jars and secure the lids. Wait until the jam has cooled to room temperature and transfer to the fridge if enjoying immediately or in the freezer if storing.
Notes
Use the right jars: Glass jars with tight-fitting lids are best.
Keep it chilled: As it’s homemade, it’s best to keep the jam refrigerated or frozen until use.
Nutrition
Spiced cranberry jam is a great recipe for the holiday season. You only need 4 ingredients and some basic supplies to make it. Why not keep some for yourself and give some as gifts this Christmas season? Everyone loves thoughtful homemade gifts, especially when they taste this good!
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
This jam is holiday magic in a jar! Sweet, tart, and so perfect on toast or with Thanksgiving leftovers. I’ll be making extra for gifts!