Looking for a healthier twist to a classic strawberry jam? This strawberry chia jam is loaded with sweet refreshing berries and thickened with chia seeds. This is a great quick and easy jam recipe that doesn't use all the added sugar.
This spreadable strawberry chia jam is one we make when we have a surplus of fresh berries on hand. Spread this on your pancakes, waffles, toast, sandwiches, and more. A way to sweeten up your day without excess sugar.
So whether you create a vegan breakfast spread or a classic nut butter and jam sandwich, this chia jam recipe might be a huge hit in your home.
This Strawberry Chia Jam Recipe Is...
- Ready in a little over an hour
- Quick prep
- Stores well in the fridge
- No canning required
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- No Extra Sugar Needed
How to Make Strawberry Chia Jam
Full steps are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. This is a quick walk through for readers to reference.
- Start by taking your chia seeds and place in a bowl.
- Pour your water on top, lightly stir and then allow the chia seeds to sit for an hour on the counter.
- You want the chia seeds to thicken into a paste. Once it is nice and thick you can move on.
- In a blender or food processor you will pulse your strawberries and chia seeds together. Then add in the sweetener.
- Once creamy and smooth, it is ready.
Helpful Tips for Strawberry Chia Jam
Fresh Or Frozen Strawberries
You can use fresh or frozen strawberries for this recipe. If I use frozen I place the frozen berries in a bowl and set it by the chia seeds. So as the chia seeds are thickening the berries are slowly thawing. It is okay to mix them up even if they are not completely thawed.
Chia Seeds
Make sure to allow time for the chia seeds to thicken. If you don't you will have a watery mess. The thickened chia seeds will replace excess sugar in this fresh jam recipe.
Variations For Strawberry Chia Jam
Fruit
You can use any type of fruit you would like. I find that berries work wonderfully for making jam. I have even done like a strawberry and raspberry jam together and it was outstanding. Feel free to play around with how to flavor your jam.
Sweetener
When you are adding a sweetener it is important to use a liquid sweetener. Stevia, honey, or even maple syrup all work great for adding some sweetness to your jam. You can pick any other you want. Flavor to taste.
Strawberry Chia Jam FAQs
Can you can this fresh jam?
Because there are no preservatives in this jam, it will not can and offer a shelf stable result. You will only want to store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
Can I double this recipe?
If you plan to serve a crowd or want to gift some jam to loved ones you are more than welcome to make a larger batch. If need be just work in batches when pulsing the ingredients together.
What if my jam is too thin?
Too thin means either too much juice came from the strawberries or you needed to allow your chia seeds to swell and soak longer. To fix this soak more chia seeds and you can just stir in with the jam, or blend them in with the rest of the jam to thicken it.
Strawberry Chia Jam
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp chía seeds
- ½ cup water
- 2 cups strawberries fresh, hulled
- 1 tbsp of liquid sweetener such as stevia, optional
Instructions
- Mix the chía seeds and water in a small container.
- Let the mixture sit for at least an hour, until it thickens into a thick paste.
- Pour the chía seed paste, the fresh strawberries and the sweetener (optional) into a blender.
- Pulse until smooth.
- Now your jam is soft and ready to use.
Notes
- This chia jam is a great topping for pancakes, waffles, or crepes – along with a dollop of dairy free whipped cream.
- Keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 3- 5 days.
- Variations – You can substitute other berries or fruits for the strawberries to make a variety of jam flavors.
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