Simple Recipe for Preserving Spiced Cranberry Jelly

Simple Recipe for Preserving Spiced Cranberry Jelly

Make Your Own Natural Cranberry Jam

Swap your store-bought jam with this homemade, delicious, and simple cranberry jam! Here's the lowdown on making some incredible, pectin-free cranberry goodness with a few twists.

Winter months often mean more indoor activities, like keeping the fire blazing, crafting unique items, and preserving seasonal produce. Making jam is a fun and rewarding way to pass the time and keep your pantry stocked. Cranberries are aSuite 1658Icon整个卷声音发布

Crans are always a favorite around the holiday season. We use them for cranberry sauces, jellies, and even pickled ones. This year, we'll mix things up and try some new cranberry recipes, like this homemade Cranberry Jam. Here's a fun spin on the classic jam, without any out-of-season fruits, but just as tasty as the traditional Christmas jam.

This cranberry jam boasts a delightful combination of sweet, tart, and spicy flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Plus, it only needs a few ingredients and doesn't require any added pectin. What's not to love?

Cranberry Jam Recipe

Ingredients:

Main ingredients

• Fresh cranberries (preferably, but frozen can work too)
• Sugar (adjust to your sweetness preference)
• Lemon juice (fresh or bottled works fine)
• Spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves)
• Orange zest
• Water

Optional ingredients

• Strawberries (for added sweetness and complexity)
• Other exotic spices (cardamom, nutmeg, etc.)

Instructions:

Jar Prep

1. Wash jars, lids, and canner in hot, soapy water.
2. Place jars in a canner full of water and heat on medium heat to sterilize.

Jam Preparation

1. Combine cranberries, sugar, lemon juice, spices, and water in a large saucepan.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar.
3. Mash up the ingredients (using a potato masher, immersion blender, or the back of a fork) to achieve a more jam-like consistency. The cranberries will burst easily by themselves.
4. Boil the mixture until it reaches a gel-like stage, which is about 15 minutes. To check if it has thickened, spoon some jam onto a frozen plate and let it sit for a minute. If it's thick enough, it's gelled properly.
5. Stir the orange zest into the finished jam.
6. Ladle hot jam into prepared jars, leaving 1⁄4" of headspace.
7. Remove bubbles with a plastic spatula and adjust headspace if needed.

Preserving the Jam

1. Wipe jar rims, center the lid, and finger-tighten the ring.
2. Cool jars to room temperature and either refrigerate for immediate use or within three weeks, freeze for up to six months, or process the jars for canning.

Canning Process

1. Place jars in a water bath canner, ensuring they're completely covered by water.
2. Bring the water to a boil, place the lid on the canner, and process the jars for 15 minutes.
3. Remove the lid from the canner and let the jars sit for an additional 5 minutes before removing them to a towel-lined counter.
4. Wait 12-24 hours before checking for proper seals. Remove rings and store sealed jars of jam for up to 18 months.

Cranberry or Cranberry Sauce?

You might wonder if cranberry jam is the same as cranberry sauce. They're similar, but cranberry sauce is typically thicker and more tart. This jam is smoother, making it perfect for spreading on fresh honey oat bread, buttermilk biscuits, or even muffins.

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Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutesCook Time: 20 minutesCanning Time: 15 minutesTotal Time: 40 minutes

Make the most of your fresh cranberries year-round with this simple yet mouthwatering cranberry jam recipe. Packed with sweet, tart, and just the right amount of spice, this jam is perfect for spreads, gifts, or even as a beautiful centerpiece of a holiday table.

Ingredients

• 4 Cups Fresh Cranberries
• 6 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
• 3 Cups Sugar
• 2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons Ground Ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cloves
• 1 1/2 Cups Water
• Zest of One Orange

Instructions

1. Prepare jars, lids, and canner by washing jars and lids in hot soapy water and placing them in the canner to bring to a simmer, covered, over medium heat.
2. In a large saucepan, combine cranberries, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar.
3. Boil the mixture until it reaches a gel-like stage, about 15 minutes. Stir the orange zest into the finished jam.
4. Carefully ladle hot jam into prepared jars, leaving 1⁄4" of head space. Remove air bubbles with a plastic spatula, and adjust headspace as needed.
5. Wipe jar rims, center the lid, and finger-tighten the ring.
6. Cool jars to refrigerate or freeze or continue by processing jars in a water bath canner.
7. To process, place jars in a water bath canner, making sure they're completely covered with water. Bring the canner to a boil. Process jars for 15 minutes, adjusting for altitude.
8. Remove the lid from the canner and let the jars sit for an additional 5 minutes before removing them to a towel-lined counter.
9. Wait 12 to 24 hours before checking for proper seals. Remove rings and store properly sealed jars of jam for up to 18 months.

Notes

Jars can be refrigerated for up to three weeks. Jars can be frozen for up to six months. Properly canned jars will keep for at least 18 months at room temp in a cool, dark place.

Adjustments for Altitude:- 0-1,000 feet: 15 minutes- 1,001-3,000 feet: 20 minutes- 3,001-6,000 feet: 25 minutes- 6,001 feet+: 30 minutes

This homemade, natural cranberry jam recipe is a delightful addition to your food-and-drink lifestyle, especially during winter months when preserving seasonal produce is popular in the home-and-garden sphere. With only a few ingredients, including fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, lemon juice, and spices, you can easily create this jam at home without pectin. Cooking the jam on the stove and canning it allows you to store it for several months, making it perfect for gifting or adding to your pantry.

As part of your lifestyle, you can experiment with different recipes and twists on traditional cranberry jam, such as adding optional ingredients like strawberries or exotic spices. This easy recipe is a great way to swap out store-bought jam for a healthier, more flavorful option that's perfect for spreading on your favorite breads, biscuits, or muffins.

Switch up your food-and-drink routine this winter by incorporating homemade cranberry jam into your canning projects and giving it as gifts to loved ones. Don't forget to check out other recipes and tips in our lifestyle, food-and-drink, and home-and-garden sections for more seasonal inspiration!

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