Christmas Cranberry Jam: A Festive Holiday Spread

I couldn’t make all these jams for Christmas gifts without creating a Christmas jam! For Jewel of the Sea, one of our horses at Rumsar Ranch, I knew I wanted something red to complement Lulu’s Strawberry Rhubarb Jam (her baby’s pairing). But as I stared at my pantry, all I had were apples and pounds of sugar. No red in sight. Then November hit, and with it came cranberries.

Let’s be honest—I’m not a huge fan of cranberries unless they’re in juice form. I also didn’t want to make basic cranberry sauce, but I had to work with what I had. A friend introduced me to a "Christmas Jam" recipe that used cranberries and apples. Perfect! I could use up my apple stash, get the festive red colour, and try something new. Spoiler alert... I still have too many apples.

This jam turned out to be one of the most popular at our Christmas party, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s sweet, tangy, and full of holiday spice—a perfect addition to your festive spread.

The Recipe: Christmas Cranberry Jam (4-5 half-pint jars)

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: ~1 hour

Ingredients:

• 16 oz fresh cranberries

• 1 lb (about 2) apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced

• 1 cup water

• 2 tbsp freshly grated orange zest + ½ cup fresh orange juice

• 3 cups sugar

• 2 tsp cinnamon

• ¼ tsp cloves

• ¼ tsp allspice

• ¼ tsp nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Cook the Jam

• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, add cranberries, apples, water, orange zest, and orange juice. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until the cranberries start to burst (about 5 minutes).

• Stir in sugar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg. Continue to boil, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved.

2. Blend

• Remove the pot from heat and use an immersion blender to lightly blend the fruit (you’re looking for a chutney-like texture, some fruit should still be visible). Return the mixture to medium-high heat and cook until thickened or reaches 104–105°C on an instant read thermometer, stirring continuously.

3. Jar the Jam

• Carefully transfer the hot jam into sterilized jars. You can store it in the fridge for immediate use or process the jars according to canning best practices for long-term storage.

Lessons from the Kitchen

A Splashy Process

This jam cooks quickly and has a tendency to splash, especially as it thickens. My solution? Oven mitts and a grease guard to protect myself from burns and my kitchen from sticky chaos. It’s worth the extra precaution!

Texture is Key

I prefer jams with a bit of texture, so I used an immersion blender to lightly blitz the mixture. If you like a smoother consistency, feel free to blend longer, but always use an immersion blender—a stand blender can be dangerous with hot liquids.

A Festive Match for Jewel of the Sea

Jewel of the Sea’s Christmas Cranberry Jam was inspired by her elegant and vibrant personality. The bright red colour and spiced sweetness felt like the perfect tribute. Plus, pairing it with Lulu’s Strawberry Rhubarb Jam tied everything together beautifully. This festive spread added a touch of holiday cheer to our Christmas party—and the subliminal messaging of "Christmas Jam" didn’t hurt its popularity either!

Why You Should Try This Recipe

Christmas Cranberry Jam is a delightful way to capture the holiday spirit in a jar. It’s versatile enough to spread on toast, pair with cheese, or use as a glaze for meats. The combination of cranberries, apples, and warm spices makes it a festive favourite that’s sure to impress.

Have you tried making cranberry jam before? What’s your favourite holiday preserve? Let me know in the comments below!