Chia Seed Jam

Refined Sugar-Free Chia Seed Jam Recipe

I love jam, and spreading it over toast or adding it to protein cheesecake and strawberry shortcake is one of my favorite things to do with it! However, most store-bought jams are full of lots of sugar and additives that I don’t love. So for the past few years I’ve been skipping the store-bought options and have been making this healthy, homemade chia jam instead!

This is actually one of the oldest recipes on my site, so this jam has been tested and tweaked to perfection for years. It’s the easiest (most delicious) recipe ever. You can use fresh fruit if you’re trying to use up summer produce, or just make it with frozen fruit any time of the year. I always love keeping a batch on hand for healthy breakfasts and snacks, or it’s also a fun summertime gift! 

You’ll Also Love: Berry Overnight Oats

Why You’ll Love This Recipe  

• Simple Ingredients – There’s no refined sugar or additives. Six simple ingredients are all you need, and you probably have most of them on hand! 
• Super Quick – All the ingredients combine and cook in one pot with virtually zero prep work and foolproof steps. You’ll have homemade chia seed jam ready to eat in 15 minutes or less! 
• Bold Berry Flavor – I use mixed frozen berries for a bright, sweet, fruity flavor that pairs well with a variety of recipes. 
• Versatile – Swap the berries, adjust the sweetness, and add this jam to different recipes. The options are endless, meaning you never get bored and it never goes to waste! 

RELATED: Red Wine Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients

• Mixed Frozen Berries – I use a blend of blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, but any mixed or plain blend will work. Fresh berries also work just as well if you have them on hand. I like to buy lots of fresh berries when they’re in season and freeze them for later. Check out my guide for how to freeze blueberries! 
• Lemon Juice – The acidity balances the sweetness and activates the natural pectin in the fruit, helping the jam thicken. 
• Vanilla Extract – This enhances the sweetness and adds extra depth that you just don’t get with store-bought jams. 
• Chia Seeds – The star of the show! A great source of healthy fats and fiber, chia seeds make this jam extra nutritious and help thicken it, eliminating the need for extra pectin. White or black chia seeds work. 
• Honey – This enhances the natural sweetness of the berries and adds subtle floral notes. Maple syrup tastes great, too. 
• Salt – Trust me on this! Your chia seed jam won’t taste salty. The salt simply enhances the rest of the flavors. 

How to Make Chia Seed Jam 

Once you realize how easy this recipe is to make, there’s no reason not to try it! All you need is a small pot. Here’s how to make Chia Seed Jam: 

1. Combine and cook – Add the berries, lemon juice, and vanilla to a small pot over medium-high heat. Let the mixture cook, stirring often, until the berries are hot and begin to soften. 
2. Mash – Reduce the heat to low, and mash the berries to your desired consistency. I like to leave a few small chunks! Use a fork or potato masher for easy mashing. 
3. Simmer – Stir in the remaining ingredients, and let the jam simmer, stirring frequently, until it thickens. 
4. Cool – Turn off the heat, and let the jam cool completely. 

Tips

• Don’t thaw your berries. If using frozen berries, add them to your pot straight from the freezer. Any extra liquid will cook off as the jam simmers. 
• Adjust the sweetness at the end. Since every bag of frozen berries is a little different, taste the jam before serving. If it’s more tart than you’d like, stir in another drizzle of honey.
• Let it cool completely. The jam thickens quite a bit as it cools because the chia seeds continue absorbing liquid. If it seems a little loose when you turn off the heat, that’s completely normal.
• Make a double batch. If your family is anything like mine, this jam will disappear quickly! I often make extra so there’s always a jar in the refrigerator for breakfasts and snacks throughout the week.

You’ll Also Love: The BEST Vegan Caramel Sauce

Variations

Strawberry Chia Jam – Use all frozen strawberries for a classic homemade strawberry jam. Since strawberries are naturally sweeter, you may find you need a little less honey. Start with 2 tablespoons, and add more as needed. 

Blueberry Chia Jam – Use all frozen blueberries to create a thick blueberry jam that’s perfect for spreading on toast or swirling into oatmeal. Add a little extra lemon juice to brighten the flavor.

Raspberry Chia Jam – Use all raspberries for a vibrant, slightly more tart jam. If you prefer a smooth texture, press the cooked berries through a fine-mesh sieve before stirring in the chia seeds.

Blackberry Chia Jam – Using all blackberries creates a slightly tart jam with a unique flavor. It’s delicious with biscuits, yogurt, or Greek yogurt cheesecake! 

Cinnamon Berry Jam – Stir in ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon while the berries cook for a warm flavor that’s especially good during the fall and winter.

Vanilla Almond Berry Jam – Replace the vanilla extract with ¼ teaspoon of almond extract for a slightly nutty flavor that pairs really well with cherries, raspberries, and blackberries.

Citrus Berry Jam – Add 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon or orange zest along with the juice to brighten the berries and give the jam a fresh, vibrant flavor.

Naturally Sweetened or No Added Sugar – For a lower-sugar option, reduce the honey or leave it out entirely if your berries are sweet enough. Taste the jam after cooking, and adjust as needed.

My Favorite Ways to Use

I love using this chia seed jam to make healthier peanut butter and jelly, or in this case, jam sandwiches for my littles using my homemade sandwich bread. However, it’s also delicious with a variety of breakfasts and snacks. Some other tasty ways to use chia jam include: 

• Spreading it over toast, biscuits, cottage cheese bagels, or homemade gluten-free bagels 
• Swirling it into Greek yogurt or cottage cheese. It’s fab over blueberry & yogurt breakfast bowls! 
• Layering it into yogurt parfaits with healthy homemade granola and fresh berries
• Spooning it over warm oatmeal, baked oats, or overnight oats, like my blueberry oatmeal bake or strawberry overnight oats
• Adding it to fluffy sourdough pancakes, almond flour waffles, crepes, or healthy French toast
• Layering it over cheesecake, pound cake, angel food cake, or vanilla ice cream 

The options are truly endless! I’ve even caught my kids enjoying it with just a spoon. 

How to Store 

Once cool, leftover chia seed jam will keep fresh in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months! There’s no need for fancy canning equipment or complicated steps. I simply spoon it into mason jars and use canning storage lids.  

I like dividing the jam between a couple of small jars instead of storing it all in one large container. That way, I can keep one jar in the refrigerator for everyday use and stash the other in the freezer until I need it. It makes meal prep a little easier and helps the jam stay fresher longer.

If planning to freeze leftovers, I always leave a little space at the top of the jar to allow room for the mixture to expand. To use frozen jam, I let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, I give it a quick stir to redistribute the ingredients, and it tastes as good as new! 

Healthy Berry Recipes to Make Next

• Vegan Berry Lemon Curd Tart
• Frozen Granola Yogurt Cups
• Strawberry Chocolate Yogurt Bites
• Strawberry Chia Seed Popsicles 
• Gluten-Free Blueberry Bread
• Lemon Blueberry Muffins

More Ways to Use Chia Seeds

• Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
• Easy Blueberry Chia Overnight Oats
• Chia Seed French Toast w/ Peach Compote
• Matcha Chia Seed Energy Bites
• Strawberry Banana Chia Seed Smoothie
• Banana Cashew Butter Chia Seed Smoothie