Main image of Easy Berry Chia Seed Jam

Easy Berry Chia Seed Jam

35 min

Homemade staple

Spread

Breakfast

Make-ahead

10 ingredients or less

One-bowl / one-pot
This recipe has no added sugar, and it really doesn't need it. The sweetness comes naturally from the berries and the thickening comes naturally from the chia seeds that gel from the juices released by the berries when they thaw.

Servings

(1 Tbsp per serving)

Total

35 min

Prep

2 min

Cook

3 min

Rest

30 min

Free from

Soy symbol

soy

Peanut symbol

peanut

Treenut symbol

tree nut

Sesame symbol

sesame

Gluten symbol

gluten

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (150 g)
    frozen raspberries*
  • 1 cup (150 g)
    frozen blueberries*
  • 2 Tbsp (21 g)
    chia seeds
  • 1 Tbsp (15 mL)
    apple juice
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Directions

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  1. Place the berries in a medium bowl and microwave at 600W for about 3 minutes, stopping to stir every minute. Alternatively, thaw book the berries in a saucepan on medium heat.
  2. When the berries are defrosted, some of its juice will naturally be released. Mash with a fork, allowing some chunks to remain.
  3. Add the chia seeds and juice, and stir to combine. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes for the chia seeds to gel, stirring once halfway.
  4. Transfer to your jar, and enjoy on toast, on oatmeal, in breakfast parfaits, and more!

Notes

  • * Using frozen berries are preferred to fresh because they release some juice when defrosted - this juice is then absorbed by the chia seeds to gel.

Storage

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Nutrition info

We believe that focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food. Instead, our philosophy is to Nourish the Cells & the Soul. If you require specific nutrition information due to a medical condition, please consult with a dietitian or physician. The nutritional information provided is composed with the utmost care. However, we cannot guarantee the correctness of the displayed values, see also our disclaimer.

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Discussion & Rating

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Lindsay - July 16, 2021, 3:41 a.m.

I love making this jam. It is such an easy recipe to make and the result is delicious. I love mine on oatmeal and toast!

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Linda - July 9, 2021, 11:45 p.m.

I love this recipe! It’s so simple to make, sugar free and delicious. I have it with my morning oatmeal every day😘

PUL Team - July 15, 2021, 5:07 a.m.

So lovely to hear, Linda, we're thrilled the jam is being enjoyed 🤗

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Katherine Broberg - July 9, 2021, 8:30 p.m.

I made this yesterday with fresh picked strawberries from our neighbor’s garden. Most delicious “jam” you’ll ever make!

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Victoria - July 8, 2021, 9:55 p.m.

I love the simplicity of this recipe! I made it even lazier by using a triple berry frozen mix (1 cup) that I microwave for 1 minute, then add in 1 tablespoon of chia seeds. I love that there's no sugar added and there's a bit of fiber from the chia. I literally make this every 1-2 weeks.

PUL Team - July 12, 2021, 7:54 a.m.

Thanks a bunch for sharing this, Victoria! So happy to hear you're enjoying the jam ✨

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Latoya - July 8, 2021, 7:09 p.m.

Very simple and not complicated. My daughter's favorite jam!! I don't use anything else. Full of flavor, no additives, and zero guilt. 10 out of 10!!

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Puneetha - July 6, 2021, 9:59 a.m.

Love this jam! So healthy and easy to make. And an amazing substitute for store brought jam. And more so, as my toddler approves, she just finished the whole batch I whipped together this morning!
I used freshly squeezed lime juice instead of apple juice and that worked out well.

I have tried a lot of your recipes, thanks for such wholesome meal ideas. :)

PUL Team - July 8, 2021, 5:27 a.m.

Thank you for taking the time to share your review, Puneetha! So glad you and your little one are enjoying the jam 😃

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Zee - June 10, 2021, 8:04 p.m.

What can be used in lieu of Apple juice? Can I use plain water If I don't have any kind of juice handy?

PUL Team - June 11, 2021, 1:36 a.m.

Hey Zee, great question. Yes, you could try with water, or perhaps some freshly squeezed juice from fruit such as an orange or lemon to help enhance the flavour☺️

Zee - June 12, 2021, 6 a.m.

Thank you for your response. I made it today and it’s come out extremely tart. I added lemon instead of any juice and that made it worse and consistency is a bit watery and not thick like the video. Any ideas on how I can fix both consistency and taste? I really need my kids to eat this but in current state they won’t 😕

PUL Team - June 12, 2021, 11:49 p.m.

Hi Zee, oh no, how frustrating! Just to double-check, was no liquid added? I have some thoughts on why it may be overly watery: perhaps it hasn't sat for long enough to thicken, too much liquid (maybe from the berries) was added, or not enough pectin. Two ideas to help are you could let the jam continue to naturally thicken in the fridge or add ​more chia seeds to absorb some of the excess liquid.

For the tartness, adding a sweetener of your choice, such as liquid syrup or sugar, should help! You could add a touch of vanilla or cinnamon as well if desired after giving it a taste. Do let us know if this helps! Fingers crossed the wait will be worth it 😃

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Cris S - June 5, 2021, 5:21 p.m.

Wow, jam without sugar? Just wow, I'm sincerely impressed! 😁 Too bad it doesn't last longer, I'd make stocks of it!

PUL Team - June 5, 2021, 11:52 p.m.

Hehe so glad to hear you enjoyed this jam, Cris 🤗 You might be able to get away with storing it a bit longer in the fridge although it may lose some freshness ✨

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Maylene - May 26, 2021, 4:10 a.m.

I am so glad I found your youtube channel. Plants are what got me there first. I scrolled some more and found this. I never knew this existed until you. Added bonus is your soothing voice. I love a good nut and jelly sandwich but the sugars in jelly makes me so guilty. My son loves nutella and this is perfect. No added sugar and wholesome. Thank you so much!

PUL Team - May 26, 2021, 5:16 a.m.

We're so glad to have you in our PUL family, Maylene, thank you! So glad your little one enjoyed it too ✨😃

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Oksana - April 17, 2021, 7:57 p.m.

Chia seeds need to be ground up so you can absorb the nutrients in them better. Also, cooking those berries destroys much of the vitamins in them. Not sure how much healthier this is compared to store bought jams 🙁

PUL Team - April 19, 2021, 11:16 a.m.

Hey Oksana! Indeed, if you're looking to absorb most of the nutrients from chia seeds, it's best to enjoy them ground, but luckily chia seeds are also great for us for the fiber they provide 😊 Because of the way chia seeds gel up, they really great for our gut health. Compared to store-bought jams, this recipe has much less sugar. Most store-bought jams use plenty of added sugar to sweeten the jam, whereas this recipe is sweetened naturally with fruits. In any case, you can always use any jam you enjoy - consider this just an option 😉

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Kat Reynolds - April 16, 2021, 10:39 p.m.

I cannot believe how easy, how fresh and how wonderful this recipe is! I continually use it for my own jellies and super gifts (quick)! I often substitute other berries/fruits and use lemon or lime juice, a dollop of honey or even a sweeter vinegar for the juice. Exceptional!

PUL Team - April 19, 2021, 2:28 a.m.

Aww we appreciate this so much, Kat, and are so glad you're enjoying the recipe!

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Louise Magnusson🇸🇪 - March 29, 2021, 10:11 a.m.

I’ve always avoided jam and marmalade, as they normally contain too much sugar and/or other strange preservatives (due to my type 1 diabetes). It hasn’t really bothered me, as I enjoy fruits and berries au naturel. However, I’m so glad that I found this recipe! It gives variety to my porridge toppings without any high sugar content. I use honey instead of apple juice, as I don’t consume the latter regularly. I still have to grow accustomed to the chia seeds😬
Question to PUL: would it work to freeze fresh, diced fruits/berries in order to use them according to the recipe? Sometimes I don’t find pre-frozen stuff that I would like...

PUL Team - April 2, 2021, 11:15 p.m.

Thank you for the review, Louise! Freezing your own berries or fruit of choice should work just fine. Indeed it would be best to peel/chop them before freezing if needed :)

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Swarnali Banerjee - March 22, 2021, 8:41 a.m.

Awesome job Sadia!

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