This easy strawberry chia jam recipe comes together in a flash. It blows store-bought jam out of the water and is the perfect way to top off toast, oatmeal, vanilla ice cream, and more. Combine it with natural peanut butter for a healthier way to make those jelly sandwiches, too. It’s a great option for turning fresh strawberries and chia seeds into your own jam, and the best part is that it takes only minutes to make!
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Healthy: Compared to traditional jam, this fresh fruit strawberry chia seed jam is a much healthier way to get those sweet and spreadable flavors on your favorite foods.
- Simple: Why go for store-bought stuff when you can whip this healthy jam up in seconds? It’s the delicious way to eat better for the whole family.
- Wholesome ingredients: Made with fresh strawberries, pure maple syrup, and chia seeds, you can feel good about serving it to the ones you love.
Nutrition For Mental Health
Did you know that strawberries are 91% water? Raw strawberries (3.5 ounces or 100 grams) contain 7.7 grams of carbohydrates (2 grams of fiber), 0.3 grams of fat, and 0.7 grams of protein. They are rich in antioxidants, specifically, anthocyanins (pelargonidin), ellagic acid, ellagitannins, and procyanidins. Strawberries are also a good source of potassium, manganese, folate, and vitamin C. A cross-sectional study including US adults found that when dietary intake of anthocyanins increases, depressive symptoms decrease.
Ingredients + Substitutions
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this chia seed jam. There is no added sugar, making it a healthier choice, though it is plenty sweet on its own to satisfy your cravings!
- Strawberries: To make this homemade strawberry chia jam, you will want fresh strawberries. If you can’t find fresh strawberries near you because they’re out of season, you can always use frozen strawberries. They should thaw out first, though, for your best results.
- Chia seeds: Chia seeds bring the magic to this homemade chia jam. They plump up from the liquid and create that thick, jam texture without using loads of sugar. Did you know that there are white and black chia seeds? Either will work for this berry chia jam recipe!
- Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup is a wonderful way to sweeten things up without adding refined sugar. If you don’t have maple syrup, you can use monk fruit sweetener, stevia, or even dates to adjust the sweetness to your liking.
A full list of ingredients with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Recipe Variations
Want to make some changes? Or maybe you’re missing an ingredient? No problem! Here’s how you can vary this recipe!
- Zest: Lemon zest will give your strawberry chia jam a nice tangy flavor.
- Vanilla extract: You can add vanilla extract for more warmth.
- Spices: Try cinnamon or cardamom to vary the recipe a little.
How To Make Strawberry Chia Seed Jam
While some chia seed jam recipes require you to use a saucepan on the stovetop, this one does not. In fact, all you need is a muddle and a fridge to make this healthy jam!
- Add the strawberries and water to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Once strawberries soften, mash with a fork or a potato masher.
- Add chia seeds, maple syrup, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and stir until thoroughly combined.
Would you like to save this?
- Remove from the heat and let sit for another 3-5 minutes (it will thicken up).
- Serve on a warm piece of sourdough toast.
Serving Suggestions
This easy chia seed jam with strawberries is perfect spread on top of your favorite toast or bagel. That being said, if you are looking for something more substantial, here are some pairing suggestions.
- Drinks: Sip on a Strawberry Matcha Latte, Mango Green Tea Latte, or Banana Almond Smoothie.
- Muffins: Try these Pecan Banana Muffins, Blackberry Banana Muffins, or Vegan Pumpkin Muffins.
- Oatmeal: This strawberry chia seed jam would be tasty stirred into a bowl of Creamy Oatmeal, Easy Banana Oatmeal, or Strawberry Oatmeal Recipe.
Storage Tips
Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. (In my house, this doesn’t last as long because we put it on just about everything. But it’s a good excuse to make more!)
FAQ
Chia seeds have tons of fiber, making your homemade jam healthier and more filling. On top of that, they help create the perfect consistency for jam, making it spreadable and delightful on pretty much everything you love.
Chia jam can last between 4-5 days in the fridge. It depends on how airtight your container is, though more likely, you will wind up eating it all much more quickly than that.
Yes, they certainly can replace pectin since they soak up liquids. This means that on top of the health benefits of chia seeds, you will have a pure and nutritious homemade jam.
In this recipe, you do not need to soak the chia seeds. They will plump up on their own when combined with all the other ingredients. You’ll need to let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes in your fridge before you get to enjoy it.
If you tried this Strawberry Chia Jam Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Recipe
Strawberry Chia Jam
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup strawberries, washed + halved (measure after cutting)
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add the strawberries and water to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Once strawberries soften, mash with a fork or a potato masher.
- Add chia seeds, maple syrup, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and stir until thoroughly combined.
- Remove from the heat and let sit for another 3-5 minutes (it will thicken up).
- Serve on a warm piece of sourdough toast.
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
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Reference
Chen, W. L., & Zhao, J. (2023). Association between dietary anthocyanidins intake and depression among US adults: a cross-sectional study (NHANES, 2007-2010 and 2017-2018). BMC psychiatry, 23(1), 525. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05029-8
I love how easy this is!
It is and it works with any berry you like!