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This homemade healthy strawberry jam is absolutely delicious, perfectly sweet, and made with real fruit. Making your own jam doesn’t have to be hard and will taste better than any store-bought kind.

strawberry jam in mason jar with chia seeds and strawberries in background

Tis’ the season for an abundance of fresh berries and vegetables! Just another reason to love summertime!

I love to take the kids strawberry picking in the spring, peach picking in the summer, and of course, apple and pear picking in the fall. All are such fun outings and I love showing the kids where some of their favorite foods come from.

With 4 little pickers, we can come home with a lot of fruit. Not to worry, we never waste any. I love to freeze extras for smoothies, popsicles and make homemade jams.

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BEST FRUIT FOR JAM

Can you really have a bad fruit spread? I don’t think so, but some fruits are definitely easier to make into jam. Using fresh or frozen berries is the easiest because it takes out the peeling and cutting steps.

Strawberry, blueberries, and raspberries are some of my favorite berries to use for jellies. You can use a combination of the three or use just one. The possibilities are endless!

Other fruits like apples, peaches, and pears can still be used to make jams; it will just take a little more work. I don’t know about you, but I am all for easy in my kitchen.

SUGAR-FREE JAM RECIPE

If you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle, sugar may be one of the first things to eliminate. This can be difficult to do as sugar is found in almost all processed foods. I love to make healthy desserts using natural sweeteners. Homemade jams and jellies are no exception!

A lot of fruits are sweet on their own, but most berries are not. Freshly picked berries are delicious, but when made into jelly, I like them a little sweeter. To avoid sugar-filled jelly, I use maple syrup or honey for a healthy alternative.

You can use organic sugars, coconut sugar, or even sugar substitutes. However, most sugar substitutes are not healthy for you. I find that adding a few teaspoons of pure maple syrup makes the most delicious jelly.

STRAWBERRY CHIA SEED JAM

I love to use chia seeds to thicken my homemade jam. You can use gelatin as well, but we personally love the texture that the chia seeds add.

Chia seeds are tiny black seeds from the plant Salvia hispanica. They are packed full of benefits and are known for providing natural energy. Chia seeds are high in antioxidants, fiber, protein, and calcium.

Chia seeds gel up as they sit in liquid, making them the perfect ingredient to thicken your homemade jam. A little goes a long way when you are using chia seeds, so be careful not to overdo it, or your jam will quickly become solid.

EASY HEALTHY STRAWBERRY JAM RECIPE

homemade strawberry jam in mason jar with gold spoon in it

For this recipe, you will only need 3 ingredients and no special tools! It is the easiest strawberry chia seed jam you will ever make and it is so delicious.

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INGREDIENTS

Fresh or frozen strawberries

Honey or maple syrup

Chia Seeds

INSTRUCTIONS

If using fresh strawberries, wash and remove the leaves.

Place the strawberries in a saucepan over low to medium heat. Allow the strawberries to melt or cook until strawberry juice starts to form.

Stir the strawberries often to prevent them from sticking or burning.

Once the strawberries are soft, use a fork to break them apart and smash them.

Remove saucepan from heat and add in maple syrup or honey.

Add in chia seeds and continue to stir.

Carefully pour the jam into a mason jar. If you want the jam to be completely smooth, you can pour it into a blender or use an immersion blender until jam is smooth.

As the jam cools, it will thicken up.

HOW LONG WILL HOMEMADE JAM LAST?

all natural strawberry jam in a small glass mason jar with a wood spoon of chia seeds and a white bowl of strawberries

With an airtight lid, the jam will last up to a couple of weeks in the refrigerator. To extend shelf life, can or freeze the strawberry jam.

It never lasts long in our house! We like to add it to oatmeal, spread it on sourdough bread, pancakes, or sandwiches.

HOMEMADE HEALTHY JAM

You can use this same recipe for any type of berries. Substitute the strawberries for blueberries or raspberries. You can even do a combination of berries for a different flavor.

Strawberry and blueberries mixed are one of our favorites!