Raw Cranberry Apple Chia Seed Jam
|This unprocessed apple and cranberry jam made with chia seeds is fast and easy to make. You don’t have to cook down the cranberries in tons of sugar to tone down the bitterness of the cranberries. This fresh raw recipe includes apples, a bit of honey (or maple syrup to make it vegan) and warm spices of cinnamon, ginger, and clove that infuse into the jam and cut the bitter-tartness of the cranberries.
If you want a real food version of the tired old cranberry sauce in a can, this is it! It will add a soft spiced yet simple taste that will complement your meals throughout the holiday season.
This superfood jam includes chia seeds that gel when they are soaked in liquid. Chia seeds are an energy booster as they are concentrated with healthy omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, calcium, antioxidants, and fiber. Try a teaspoon or two of chia seeds in these healthy smoothie recipes.
Raw cranberries have higher levels of phytochemicals than cranberries that have been processed through cooking. Cranberries are a fantastic superfood with higher antioxidant levels than strawberries, raspberries, and even spinach. Packed full of vitamin C and only 25 calories for a ½ cup, cranberries are good for the immune system and can fight off bacteria found in the lining of the stomach and urinary tract.
This superfood jam continues with the apples. Don’t peel your apples because most of the vitamins are found in the apple skin, especially quercetin that can fight off tissue damage that is linked to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Try a gallop of this jam on your pancakes, toast or oatmeal. It added a nice sweet-tartness to this Easy Overnight Pumpkin Quinoa-Oatmeal.
Another great thing about fresh cranberries is that they will stay ripe in the refrigerator for up to 2 months! If you are trying to incorporate more fresh food into your diet, cranberries can be a cost-effective superfood that will not go to waste in a couple of days! Cranberries can also be stored in the freezer. This jam will also taste delicious with frozen cranberries.
Ingredients
- ½ cup cranberries
- 1 large apple, diced
- ½ tablespoon or to taste of honey (raw is best). Although not raw, maple syrup can be used as well.
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon fresh or dried ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon cloves
- ¼ cup water
- 1teaspon chia seeds
Instructions
- Place all ingredients; accept for the chia seeds into a food processor. Blend well. Transfer the mixture into a jar and mix in the chia seeds. Let the jam sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. I’ve found that the jam is best when it has chilled in the refrigerator overnight.
Double the recipe for a Thanksgiving feast.
Make real food, real fast during the holidays!
Shared with these support communities: Mostly Homemade Mondays, Waste Not Want Not Wednesday, Think Tank Thursday, Foodie Friends Friday, Foodie FriDIY, Gluten Free Fridays, Let’s Get Real Friday, Healthy Living, Beautifully Bohemian, Healthy Living, Savoring Saturdays.
Great idea for cranberry apple chia seed jam. Since I’m vegan, I wonder if I how dates or pineapple would be as the sweetener instead of honey. If it turns out to be good, I’ll let you know. Nancy @ obloggernewbie.blogspot.com
Hi Nancy, you can add maple syrup as listed in the post. Yes, let me know if dates or pineapple work! You may get a different flavor from the pineapple. The dates may have a more neutral flavor.
This looks so yummy!! I love cranberries, but needed to find more ways to use them, thanks for sharing! I’d love it if you added this to my December linkup!
Yes! I will do that! Love your website. It is very nice to connect with you!
What a fun recipe! Just perfect for this festive season. Thanks for sharing on the Healthy Living Link Party!
This looks amazing!
This sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing it at Savoring Saturdays!