Strawberry Chia Seed Jam
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.Making your own healthy strawberry chia seed jam is easy and delicious! My simple recipe uses only 5 ingredients for a refreshing, nutrient-packed fruit spread. Ideal for anyone looking for an easy, healthy homemade jam – it makes the perfect addition to toast, waffles, pancakes, parfaits, cheese boards, and more! Naturally sweet and versatile, this kid-friendly jam is going to be a staple in your household.
I love making my own condiments from scratch, especially when it is so quick and convenient. Store bought jams often have a lot of sugar and unnecessary ingredients, so I prefer being able to control what I use. My homemade chia jam with strawberries is sweet, flavorful, and loaded with all the good stuff!
As soon as I made this jam for the first time, I knew it would become a regular thing! My kids actually prefer this chia seed jam over traditional options. Luckily it only takes me a few minutes to prepare so I can always have some on hand for my family.
We love using it in classic ways like for peanut butter jelly sandwiches, but have also found it to be a fun and tasty topping and spread in more unique ways. Lately I’ve been swirling some into my strawberries and cream oatmeal! I share more of my favorite serving ideas later on in this post!
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
Chia seed jam isn’t identical to your classic jam, it’s better! Chia seeds have so many health benefits: they are a great source for fiber, protein, iron, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants (source), which is why they are a favorite ingredient of mine. In addition to their nutritional benefits, they act as a natural thickener, which helps to create some pretty scrumptious homemade jam!
Unlike other jams that require more preparation and special knowledge on the subject, my version is the ultimate hack for beginners! This recipe is ready in just 8 minutes, following a few simple steps. Plus, the jam is easy to store with no canning involved.
It also happens to be super healthy. Most store bought jams contain about 30-50 calories and 8-12 grams of sugar for just one tablespoon, and my recipe has about 40 calories and only 3 grams of sugar a two tablespoon serving!
While I am in love with this strawberry chia jam recipe, the base is also super customizable! You can use it to create all sorts of jam flavors with other berries and stone fruits. I love switching things up each week so that my family never gets bored!
With its vibrant color and sweet yet subtly tangy taste, my jam is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Make it smooth, chunky, or somewhere in between – it is totally up to you!
Overall, this jam recipe is healthy, beginner-friendly, kid-approved, and easy to interchange with other fruits for new flavors. Keep reading to learn exactly how to make this recipe and all my top tips.
🥘 Ingredients
Only a handful of simple ingredients are required to make my strawberry jam with chia seeds. Here’s what I use in this recipe:
Strawberries: I use two cups of frozen strawberries for this delicious strawberry chia seed jelly!
Orange Juice: This adds a boost of sweetness and acidity to the jam. I have also used lemon juice here and it works well. The citrus has natural preservative properties and helps to extend the shelf life of this jam. The acid also helps activate the pectin in the fruit, which helps the jam set better.
Sweetener: I use maple syrup to add a little boost of sweetness, but you can also make this 5-ingredient strawberry chia jam with no sugar at all! The strawberries and orange juice are naturally sweet. Other options include using agave or honey (but then this recipe won’t be vegan-friendly).
Chia Seeds: The chia seeds are the secret trick to thickening this jam! They absorb all the liquid and become jelly-like in texture.
Water: I use about ¼ cup of water to heat my strawberries and help break them down into the base for this jam.
Sea Salt: I find that the salt really helps to bring out the flavor of the fruit but you can omit it if you prefer.
🔪 How To Make Strawberry Chia Seed Jam
If making jam intimidates you, never fear! My strawberry chia seed jam recipe is actually super easy! Here are the steps for how to make chia seed jam at home:
Soften Berries: First, I add the frozen strawberries, water, and salt to a medium sized saucepan and cook over medium heat until it softens (about 5 minutes).
Mash: Once soft, I use a potato masher to mash the mixture to get the consistency I want. I like it smooth with a few small chunks.
Mix In Remaining Ingredients: Now, I add the orange juice, sweetener, and chia seeds and stir well.
Let Cool & Enjoy: I remove from heat and allow it to cool. It thickens more as it cools and can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge in between uses. Enjoy!
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for this recipe is to let it sit overnight in the fridge before using.
This chia strawberry jam thickens more as it cools, and will be even thicker the next day! While you can use it sooner, I really like to make it ahead of time and let it thicken overnight.
This gives the chia seeds enough time to properly work. They will absorb excess liquid and form a gel-like texture. This not only makes the overall consistency of the jam better, but also makes it easier and more enjoyable to eat the seeds as they will be softer.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Sweetness Level: The sweetener is optional, only use it if your fruit isn’t sweet enough.
- For Fresh Fruit: If you use fresh fruit instead of frozen, you may need to add more water since frozen fruit contains more liquid.
- Customize Consistency: Mash until you get it to the consistency you like. I prefer it to be pretty smooth with a few small chunks.
- Monitor Closely: I always keep an eye as the berries cook. If the strawberry mix starts to reduce too much or burn, I add 2-4 tablespoons of water. You do not want this to burn as that will impact the flavor and create a more difficult clean up process.
- Do Not Can: Chia seed jam is not recommended for canning. The pH level is different from traditional jam and can be unsafe.
- For Babies: If you intend to make this chia jam for babies and toddlers, ensure that the fruit is mashed really well and omit the sweetener.
📖 Variations
This easy chia seed jam works best with certain fruits over others. Avoid using citrus, you’ll want a more traditional method for those. Try any of the following flavors:
Raspberry Chia Jam: Aside from strawberries, this is my other favorite option! Swap out the frozen strawberries for frozen raspberries. Plus, they break down really easily so you barely have to mash them.
Blackberry Chia Seed Jam: I love using blackberries to change things up! It tastes great on toast, and the rich, sweet flavor pairs nicely with peanut butter or sunflower seed butter. If you like a little crunch from the blackberry seeds, this one’s for you!
Peach Chia Seed Jam: Replace the strawberries with some frozen peaches, mashing well to get to the consistency you prefer. I love peach jam for the summer time!
Other Flavor Options: This jam method would also work well with blueberries, plums, apricots, cherries, mango, and lychee.
Herbal Infusion: Simmer some fresh basil or mint into the water for a refreshing, bold taste! You can either finely chop the leaves or just remove the whole leaves before mashing.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Use my vegan strawberry chia seed jam any way you like as part of your breakfast, lunch, or snack! Some of my favorite ways include:
- Spread on toast with coconut butter, pumpkin seed butter, or your favorite nut butter
- On vegan bagels along with butter or tofu cream cheese
- A topper for vegan French toast, oat milk pancakes, or vegan protein waffles
- Layered in yogurt parfaits (this strawberry yogurt is my favorite)
- Served as a spread for low calorie biscuits
- Combined with a creamy spread of peanut butter for a healthy PB&J sandwich (I like to add some to my banana peanut butter sandwich!)
- Served with apple slices, bananas, or mixed into a fruit salad
- A topping for ice cream (my kids add it to this lychee ice cream for extra fruity flavor)
- Swirled into milkshakes, smoothies, oatmeal or even these peanut butter banana overnight oats
- As a spread or dip for charcuterie boards
🫙 Storage Instructions
Fridge: I store my chia seed strawberry jam in an airtight container or mason jar and keep in the refrigerator. It should last for up to 2 weeks, if you don’t gobble it up before then!
Freezer: Yep, my chia berry jam is freezer-friendly! I store it in a covered ice cube tray or airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the fridge when you are ready to use it.
❓Recipe FAQs
Why is my jam so watery?
Your chia seed jam might seem too runny and thin for a couple reasons. First, it could be that you have added too much water. Be sure to follow my measurements exactly as labeled in this post. Additionally, you may just need to give the jam more time to thicken. The chia seeds will become more gelatinous as they absorb liquid, helping to thicken up the jam. Lastly, you can mash your berries more if they are still on the chunkier side.
How do I prevent my jam from tasting too sweet?
I recommend tasting the jam mixture before adding any additional sweetener. Everyone’s preferences are different so this is a personal choice! Plus, strawberries will vary in sweetness levels so during strawberry season I find I really do not need any maple syrup added.
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📋 Recipe Card
Strawberry Chia Seed Jam
Making your own healthy strawberry chia seed jam is easy and delicious! My simple recipe uses only 5 ingredients for a refreshing, nutrient-packed fruit spread. It makes the perfect addition to toast, waffles, pancakes, parfaits, cheese boards, and more! Naturally sweet and versatile, this kid-friendly jam is going to be a staple in your household.
Servings: 8
Calories: 38kcal
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen strawberries you can also use fresh (see note); and you can use 2 cups of any other frozen fruit too (berries or stone fruit)
- ¼ cup water
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 tablespoons fresh orange juice can also use lemon
- 1-2 tablespoons sweetener of choice I used maple syrup (optional for added sweetness)
- 2-3 tablespoons chia seeds depending on how thick you want it
Equipment
Instructions
- Add the fruit, water and salt to a pot and cook over medium heat until it is softens. About 5 minutes. Once soft, mash it to get the consistency you want. I like it smooth with a few small chunks.2 cups frozen strawberries, ¼ cup water, 1 pinch sea salt
- Add the orange juice, sweetener and chia seeds if using and mix well. Remove from heat and allow to cool. It thickens more as it cools and will be even thicker the next day.1 tablespoons fresh orange juice, 1-2 tablespoons sweetener of choice, 2-3 tablespoons chia seeds
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container and serve!
Notes
- If you use fresh fruit, you may need to add more water since frozen fruit can be more liquidy. Watch it as it cooks and if it starts to reduce too much or burn, add 2-4 tablespoons of water. Keep adding as the fruit cooks, you want it soft and cooked through.
- Using fruit like berries or stone fruit works best since it gives that soft jam like consistency using this method. Other fruit like citrus work better with more traditional methods.
- If your fruit isn’t sweet enough you may want to add some sweetener.
- The salt brings out the flavor of the fruit, you can omit if you prefer.
- Nutrition facts will change depending on what fruit and sweetener you use.
- This makes about 1 cup, serving size is 2 tablespoons.
Nutrition
Serving: 2tbsp | Calories: 38kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g
This was such a great way to sneak in more healthy ingredients into my toddlers diet! Loved how easy this jam was to make!
Yay! That’s so great to hear!
We are seriously obsessed with this! I had never tried chia seeds for jelly or jam, and now you have inspired me!
Awesome!! Thanks so much!
I made the Strawberry Chia Seed Jam, and it was so simple and delicious. A healthier alternative to store-bought jam that tastes great on everything!
Thanks so much Ned! So glad you liked this!
Wow! the texture of this jam on toast is delightful. We loved the berry burst flavour.
Yay! So happy to hear that Seema!