Easy Berry Chia Seed Jam (Print View)

A quick, naturally sweetened fruit spread made with mixed berries and chia seeds. Ready in 15 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Fruit

01 - 2 cups mixed berries (fresh or frozen; strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)

→ Sweetener

02 - 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey, to taste

→ Thickener

03 - 2 tablespoons chia seeds

→ Flavor

04 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
05 - 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

# How-To Steps:

01 - Place the berries in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the berries begin to break down and release their juices, about 5 minutes.
02 - Use a fork or potato masher to mash the berries to your desired consistency, whether chunky or smooth.
03 - Stir in the maple syrup (or honey), chia seeds, vanilla extract, and lemon juice (if using).
04 - Remove from heat and let the mixture sit for at least 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The jam will thicken as the chia seeds absorb liquid.
05 - Taste the jam and adjust sweetness with additional sweetener if necessary.
06 - Transfer the jam to a clean jar. Allow to cool completely before sealing and refrigerating.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in fifteen minutes flat, which means impromptt brunch guests will think you've been planning this for days
  • The chia seeds do all the thickening work for you, turning fruit into spreadable gold without any refined sugar or mysterious canning ingredients
02 -
  • This jam needs to live in your refrigerator always, because the natural ingredients mean it's not shelf stable like those processed jars with expiration dates years in the future
  • If you want it smoother than your mashing skills can achieve, blitz the cooked berries in a blender before adding the chia seeds, but don't say I didn't warn you about the extra dishes
03 -
  • If your berries are particularly sweet, start with one tablespoon of sweetener and taste before adding more
  • A splash of water can help frozen berries break down faster if they're stubborn about releasing their juices

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