I usually make cranberry jam as gifts for coworkers and friends during the holidays. This year I got a request for sugar free cranberry jam from one of my coworkers who recently found out she was diabetic. I have never made a sugar free jam, and didn’t even know if I could make jam without sugar. Well after a few tries I got the perfect holiday treat.
I decided to add chia seeds to thicken up the mixture and cinnamon for flavor. The key to making sugar free cranberry jam is making sure the mixture is not soupy; you want to make sure all the cranberries have broken up. There should be almost no water left or just a small amount so you don’t scorch the bottom of the pan. There you have it sugar free jam or jelly, because I am still trying to figure out the difference between jam, jelly, marmalade and compote.
Cranberry Cinnamon Chia Jam Recipe:
3 ½ cups cranberries
2 ½ cups water
1 cup sugar substitute (I used splenda)
1-2 cinnamon sticks (If you don’t have any use ½ tbsp. cinnamon to taste)
¼ heaping cup chia seeds
Recipe Directions: Add cranberries and water to a medium sauce pan; turn heat on high and bring to a boil. Let cranberries boil for 5-6 minutes. Turn heat to medium and add cinnamon sticks and splenda to pot. Let the mixture cook until all the cranberries have broken up and most of the water has evaporated (it should not be soupy), about 20-30 minutes. Once done turn off heat and stir in chia seeds, let set until the jam thickens. Store jam in jars or airtight container and place in fridge.
This chia jam looks absolutely gorgeous! What a wonderful gift idea! That was so sweet that you made a sugar free version for your coworker, she must have appreciated it so much! This sounds beyond delicious!
Damn delicious jams!!!
lovin to starting a day with it…..
Lol thanks so much he he he 🙂
how nice of you to cater to your co-worker’s needs! I don’t eat wheat, and I have a gluten intolerant daughter, and the Christmas baskets we’re getting from work are filled with cookies, pretzels, and mince pies… I’d be very surprised if they dug out a gluten free one for me (some people got theirs already, so I snuck a peek!)…
I’m going to be taking it straight to the local homeless shelter, like I did with the huge fruitcake we got last year, makes them happy and it makes me happy to make them happy.
So good on you for being so caring as to try a few recipes before you get one that’s really nice for your diabetic co-worker.
Hi there! This looks like a great recipe for holiday gifts as most of my family eats sugar free! I’m wondering how much jam this makes? Is this just for one large jar?? Thank you!
This sounds delicious. Do you have a carb count please.