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Home » Recipe Type » Sauces, Dips & Frostings » Easy Homemade Cranberry Jam

Easy Homemade Cranberry Jam

By: Rosemary Published: November 19, 2022

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This Homemade Cranberry Jam is an easy jam recipe, made with just 6 ingredients and no pectin. It’s thick with a delicious not too sweet taste. Perfect on toast, biscuits, pancakes or even as a filling.

Homemade cranberry jam in a jar.

I have to admit I love making homemade jam, especially since I don’t like using pectin. Letting jam thicken with it’s own natural pectin is the best way to go in my opinion.

In Italy homemade jam is usually presented in a Homemade Crostata, the perfect way to show off your jam making techniques.

Table of Contents

  • Recipe Ingredients
  • What is zest?
  • What is the difference between Cranberry Jam and Cranberry Sauce?
  • How to make Cranberry Jam
  • What is the difference between Jam and Jelly?
      • Never Miss a Recipe!
  • Different ways to use Cranberry Jam
  • How to store the jam
  • More Homemade Jam Recipes
  • Easy Homemade Cranberry Jam
    • Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 1x2x3x
    • Instructions 
    • Notes
    • Nutrition

Recipe Ingredients

  • Cranberries – either fresh or frozen (not dried)
  • Sugar – granulated
  • Water
  • Orange juice – fresh is best
  • Orange zest
  • Cinnamon

What is zest?

Zest is the top layer of any citrus fruit, orange, mandarin orange, lime and grapefruit. It contains the oils from the fruit and it helps to add a citrus flavour to a dish or recipe.

What is the difference between Cranberry Jam and Cranberry Sauce?

They are basically made the same way although cranberry jam is sweeter and may contain extras such as orange juice and spices. Some like to add extra spices such as cloves, allspice and nutmeg. Cranberry sauce is usually made with just sugar and water and is served with meat.

Jam with some on a biscuit.

How to make Cranberry Jam

In a large pot add the cranberries, sugar, water, orange juice, zest and cinnamon, stir to combine.

The ingredients in a black pot before and after mixing.

On high/medium heat, bring the ingredients to a boil stirring occasionally, lower heat to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes or until it thickens and all the berries have popped.

The jam boiled and thickened.

As the jam is cooking you can mash it with a potato masher or once the mixture has cooked and thickened you can use a blender, immersion blender or food processor to blend until smooth if desired. I used a potato masher and left the jam on the chunkier side. Spoon into clean airtight containers or jars.

What is the difference between Jam and Jelly?

Jelly is made with fruit or vegetable juice, which is made by boiling the fruit in water then until it is soft, then it is strained through a sieve or cheese cloth in order to separate the juice from the peel, pulp and seeds.

Jam on the other hand is made with the whole fruit or vegetable, of course the stem, seeds and stones are removed. It is thick but not as firm as Jelly. It can be jarred as a chunky jam or blended to a smoother jam.

Jam in a jar and some on a spoon.
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    Different ways to use Cranberry Jam

    Serve the jam on toast, scones, bagels, muffins, pancakes, waffles or even as a filling in a cake. Use it on a baked brie or why not serve it over a scoop of ice cream.

    How to store the jam

    The jam should be stored in tight fitting glass jars or an airtight container and refrigerated, it will keep for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. It can also be frozen, Cranberry jam will keep in the refrigerator for three weeks. You can freeze completely cool jam, place in a freezer safe container or jar. It will keep for 6-8 months in the freezer.

    This easy Cranberry Jam recipe is a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas menu, I hope if you give it a try you let me know what you think. Enjoy!

    Jam on a biscuit.

    More Homemade Jam Recipes

    • Very Cherry Cherry Jam
    • Homemade No Pectin Apricot Jam
    • Homemade Strawberry Jam without Pectin
    Jam in a glass jar.

    Easy Homemade Cranberry Jam

    Rosemary Molloy
    This Homemade Cranberry Jam is an easy jam recipe, made with just 6 ingredients and no pectin. It's thick with a delicious not too sweet taste.
    5 from 7 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1.5 cups
    Calories 757 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 12 ounces fresh cranberries (or frozen) (3½ cups)
    • 1¼-1½ cups granulated sugar
    • ⅓ cup water
    • 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
    • 1 tablespoon orange zest
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

    Instructions
     

    • In a large pot add the cranberries, sugar, water, orange juice, zest and cinnamon, stir to combine.
    • On high/medium heat, bring the ingredients to a boil stirring occasionally, lower heat to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes or until it thickens and all the berries have popped.
    • As the jam is cooking you can mash it with a potato masher or once the mixture has cooked and thickened you can use a blender, immersion blender or food processor to blend until smooth if desired. I used a potato masher and left the jam on the chunkier side.
    • Spoon into clean airtight containers or jars. Enjoy!

    Notes

    The jam should be stored in tight fitting glass jars or an airtight container and refrigerated, it will keep for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. It can also be frozen, Cranberry jam will keep in the refrigerator for three weeks. You can freeze completely cool jam, place in a freezer safe container or jar. It will keep for 6-8 months in the freezer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 757kcalCarbohydrates: 196gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.05gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 219mgFiber: 9gSugar: 177gVitamin A: 178IUVitamin C: 43mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword cranberry jam, homemade cranberry jam, homemade jam
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      Breakfast / Brunch, Christmas, Fall/Winter, fruit, Sauces, Dips & Frostings, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving

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      1. Adina says

        January 23, 2023 at 10:47 pm

        5 stars
        Just made this and I am very pleased with the result.Perfect taste,not too sweet,subtle hints of orange and cinnamon.This is my new go to cranberry jam recipe.Thank you!

        Reply
        • Rosemary says

          January 24, 2023 at 6:32 pm

          Hi Adina, thanks so much, so glad you liked it. Take care!

          Reply
      2. susan says

        January 1, 2023 at 4:20 pm

        5 stars
        I love your recipes, due in no small part to my love of authentic Italian flavors after having spent some years in Europe and falling in love with Italy!
        I’m a vegan now, but I modify to suit my diet to the horror of some authentic cooks. But i genuinely love carefully crafted recipes and respect the old world versions!
        Stews, beans and now your cranberry jam are becoming my current favs!
        Thanks so much,
        Susan

        Reply
        • Rosemary says

          January 4, 2023 at 4:24 pm

          Hi Susan, thanks so much, glad you like the recipes. I think Vegan probably isn’t too difficult in Italian cooking, they do eat a lot of veggies. Take care and Happy New Year!

          Reply

      Hi, I'm Rosemary.

      Living in Italy I learned to cook authentic Italian dishes using whole ingredients, fresh veggies and delicious spices. So take a seat and have a taste! Read More

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