Mixed Berry Chia Seed Jam

With spring on its way out and summer on its way in, berry season is near! This mixed berry chia seed jam is the perfect way to use up fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Sweetened slightly with whole-food ingredients like honey and maple syrup, this chia jam is much healthier than store-bought varieties, and tastes better, too.

You'll love this jam not only because it's healthy, but it's super easy to make, too. I make multiple batches a year and use it with my breakfast and in my baked goods!

ingredients you need for the jam

As delicious as it is, this mixed berry chia seed jam doesn't require a lot of ingredients. I told you, it's super easy and quick to make!

• mixed berries: I used a frozen mixed berry medley with strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, but you can use whatever berries you'd like! This recipe is completely customizable. If you want to make strawberry jam, only use strawberries. Blueberry jam? Just use blueberries! The fruit is totally up to you.
• lemon juice: This adds some summer-time flavor to the recipe and compliments the tartness of the fruit. I don't recommend leaving this out! It adds freshness to the recipe (and not to mention, your kitchen will smell amazing)!
• honey: This is the first natural sweetener used in the recipe. The amount you use is up to you, depending on how sweet you like your chia seed jam. If you like a sweeter jam, use 1 tablespoon honey.
• pure maple syrup: This is the second natural sweetener used in the recipe, and adds a touch more flavor, too. Again, feel free to add 1 tablespoon for a sweeter taste. Make sure you use pure maple syrup, not the corn syrup kind!
• ground cinnamon: While it may sound unusual to some, cinnamon goes perfectly with the fruit flavors in this jam and emphasizes the flavors. I promise, it doesn't make the jam taste like cinnamon!
• chia seeds: It wouldn't be chia seed jam without chia seeds! This is a crucial ingredient because it acts as the thickener in the jam. When chia seeds are placed in liquid, they absorb the moisture and expand. The longer they sit in the mixture, the thicker it becomes! Chia seeds are also a superfood, adding a lot of fiber, protein, and healthy Omega-3s to this recipe.
• salt: Just a pinch of salt allows the star flavors to truly shine!

how to make mixed berry chia seed jam

We're all seemingly short on time these days, but this mixed berry chia seed jam only takes 15 minutes to make. I love to make it over the weekend so I can enjoy it all throughout the week!

Step 1: Heat the berries and mash

Pour your berries into a medium saucepan and heat them on the stove to soften them. Go ahead and break them up with a fork or potato masher to get rid of the big chunks and make it more of a jam consistency. Then, add the lemon juice, honey, syrup, and cinnamon. Stir to combine.

Step 2: Add the chia seeds and salt

As the chia seed jam simmers on the stove, add in the chia seeds and sprinkle of salt. Stir thoroughly to incorporate the seeds, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The chia seeds will continue to absorb the fruit juice and will thicken as it simmers!

Step 3: Remove from heat and cool

After about 10 minutes of thickening on the stove, remove the mixed berry chia seed jam from heat, and allow it to cool. The jam might continue to thicken slightly, but will soon reach its stopping point.

Step 4: Transfer to airtight container

Once the mixed berry chia seed jam has cooled, transfer it to a glass jar or other airtight container for storing. Enjoy the jam immediately, or keep it for later!

extra tips for making the jam

How much jam does this recipe make? This recipe yields about 1 cup of chia seed jam, or as much as 1 ¼ cup depending on your berries. You can double the recipe to make 2 cups, or halve it if you only need ½ cup-- which is the perfect amount for these vegan lemon-raspberry jam-filled cupcakes!

If you prefer an unsweetened version... omit the honey and maple syrup! This recipe is plenty sweet with just the fruit and still tastes wonderful without the honey and syrup.

If you prefer a sweeter version... just add more honey and/or maple syrup. One of the best things about making this homemade mixed berry chia seed jam is you can customize it to exactly your preference. 1 tablespoon honey and 1 tablespoon maple syrup will make this a bit sweeter for you.

Can I make this vegan? Yes! It's nearly there. Instead of using honey, use an additional ½ tablespoon of maple syrup.

What else could I add to the recipe? You can try adding vanilla extract, almond extract, or even orange extract if you want some additional flavor! I've used vanilla extract before and it pairs very nicely.

How can I use the jam? There are so many options! I love using the mixed berry chia seed jam on my almond butter and chia jam toast. It's also a great filling for cupcakes, cakes, muffins, and more!

How long does the jam last? The jam should last a few weeks in your fridge, or you can freeze it for up to a few months. Just make sure you are storing the mixed berry chia seed jam in an airtight container.

If you make this mixed berry chia seed jam, let me know what you think by leaving a review below. I'd love for you to take a photo and tag me on Instagram, @savorthespoonful, so I can see!

Recipe