If you love jam on toast but not all the added sugar found in store-bought jam, try this raspberry chia jam instead. This simple recipe blows traditional jam out of the water with fresh berries, chia seeds, and no added sugar that gives you a delicious homemade jam in a nutritious way. Packed with healthy fats and a splendid gelatinous texture, you’ll want to smear it on everything you eat!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tangy and sweet: Bursting with the flavors of fresh berries, this healthy alternative to other regular jam has that sweet yet tart taste that makes it a win on toast, in Greek yogurt parfaits, and for plenty of other things too.
- Nutritious: With chia seeds as a main ingredient, you’re getting a bounty of nutrition in this raspberry chia seed jam. Heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, and plentiful plant-based protein mean that you can feel good about eating it while enjoying blissful fruity flavors.
- Easy peasy: There’s really nothing to making this fruit spread, your healthy alternative, to spreading more sweet tastes on everything you eat!
What Is Chia Jam?
Chia jam is slightly looser in texture than traditional jam, though it does thicken up in the fridge thanks to those chia seeds. It’s still spreadable, an ideal way to top off oatmeal or banana bread for a healthy breakfast.
Ingredients + Notes
This easy chia seed jam is sure to be a favorite in your home. Best of all, you don’t need to be a canning expert to make and store it. Be aware, though, that this raspberry chia jam tastes so good it will go fast!
- Raspberries: Fresh raspberries are ideal for making raspberry chia jam. These cups of raspberries are so full of blissful berry taste!
- Chia seeds: Chia seeds are the other main ingredient in this easy recipe. They plump up in liquid and create a special texture that makes it ideal for spreading or topping onto your favorite breakfast foods or desserts.
- Water: Water helps get your chia seeds to plump up and take on that texture that will ultimately turn this all into jam.
- Maple syrup: The problem with traditional jam is that it is full of refined sugar. By using maple syrup, you have a healthy alternative that creates delicious jam.
- Vanilla extract: I love the warmth vanilla extract brings to sweet creations. Since raspberries can be a little tart and tangy, this helps balance their flavors with the right amount of sweetness.
- Salt: Salt is another ingredient that helps mellow the sweetness so that this raspberry chia jam comes out with nothing but the most delicious taste!
Step-by-step Instructions: Raspberry Chia Seed Jam
There’s no need to cook this over medium heat or any heat. This recipe simply combines fresh ingredients, and they become a marvelous jam made from freshness!
1. Mash raspberries in a bowl with a potato masher (a fork can work too).
2. Add in water, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt and thoroughly stir.
3. Let sit for at least 30 minutes in the fridge before use.
4. Give it a good stir prior to use.
Full Recipe Video
Raspberry Chia Jam Recipe Variations
Whether you need to substitute something or want to try this raspberry chia jam another way, these recipe variations will help you out.
- Frozen Raspberries: I know that fresh raspberries aren’t always easy to find in certain areas at different times of the year. You can still make this homemade chia seed jam by using frozen raspberries. You should let them thaw out first, though and drain them, so they don’t make your jam too runny.
- Alternative Sweeteners: If you don’t have maple syrup, you can add coconut sugar, brown rice syrup, or date syrup. You could even puree dates to put in it, too, which would certainly add a wonderful flavor to this base recipe.
Uses For This Raspberry Chia Jam
- Toast: Few things beat jam on toast! Just like a traditional jam, this easy chia seed jam is the perfect thing to spread on top.
- Oatmeal: Drop a little of this homemade jam made with real fruit onto your oatmeal to liven things up. It also adds a pretty pop of color that will make you want to eat every last spoonful.
- Smoothies: Mix this raspberry chia seed jam into your smoothies or add it on top for the ultimate treat.
- Ice Cream: Instead of using sugary toppings, sneak in more fresh fruits by topping ice cream with this raspberry chia jam.
- Yogurt: If you have vegan plain Greek yogurt, you can turn it into a flavorful experience by adding this chia jam. Make a vegan Greek yogurt parfait, layering in this rosy red raspberry jam recipe for an exciting snack.
- Pancakes: Rather than adding syrup, the tart and sweet taste of this raspberry chia jam is perfect on top of everyone’s favorite breakfast dish!
Storage Tips
Small batches are the way to go with this raspberry jam. Here’s how you can keep it fresh for your best enjoyment!
Fridge
You’ll want to put your raspberry chia jam into an airtight container like a sealed jar. Doing so will allow it to keep for about a week to 10 days.
Freeze
I don’t recommend freezing this recipe because it will change the texture. It is so quick to make there really isn’t a point in freezing it.
FAQ
Not only are they filled with potent antioxidants, but also, chia seeds help create that wonderful jammy texture. They easily thicken things up so you don’t need to worry about having enough pectin.
If you keep your chia jam in a sealed jar, it could last up to 10 days. In my house, though, we’ve never had it last that long since it is always gone well before then.
Yes, chia seeds are, in fact, a perfect pectin replacement. They hold about 30 times their weight in water, plumping up to thicken your raspberry jam.
It’s best to make your raspberry chia jam in small batches. Chia seeds have low acidity. This means that when canning, it can raise the pH level and may create an unsafe situation with botulism toxin. Make enough for what you need, and since it’s so easy to make in just minutes, it will take you no time at all to make more!
More Chia Recipes
Recipe
Raspberry Chia Jam
Ingredients
- 2 cups raspberries, washed & mashed
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Mash raspberries in a bowl with a potato masher (a fork can work too in a pinch).
- Add in water, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt and thoroughly stir.
- Let sit for at least 30 minutes in the fridge before use.
- Give it a good stir prior to use.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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This looks so great!
Thanks!