Healthy Strawberry Chia Jam
This healthy strawberry chia jam is packed with natural sweetness and loaded with fiber, making it a delicious, guilt-free spread that’s perfect for breakfast or snacks. With just a few simple ingredients, it’s a quick and easy recipe that’s vegan, low in sugar, and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor.
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There are so many reasons to love this delicious healthy jam. Spread a little on your PB&J sandwich, toast, or even mix in a cup of vegan yogurt. This Instant Pot Dairy-Free Yogurt and our 5-minute vegan blender yogurt are great options.
Reasons you will love this recipe
- Quick and Easy to Make: This strawberry chia jam comes together in just minutes with minimal ingredients, making it a convenient and time-saving option for a homemade spread.
- Naturally Sweetened: Made with fresh strawberries and a touch of maple syrup, this jam is free from refined sugars, offering a healthier alternative to store-bought jams.
- Versatile Use: This jam is incredibly versatile—use it as a spread on toast, a topping for oatmeal or yogurt, or even as a filling for baked goods. It adds a burst of fresh, fruity flavor to any dish.
Ingredients you will need
This chia jam recipe is made with only wholesome and easy ingredients.
- Strawberries – Use fresh or frozen strawberries. Either one will work well.
- Chia seeds– These are used to help thicken the jam.
- Maple syrup – Sweetener is optional but recommended using maple syrup. Substitutions might include date syrup or agave nectar.
What are chia seeds?
Chia seeds are members of the mint plant and are tiny black seeds from the plant Salvia hispanica. They mostly grow in Mexico and the Southwest U.S.A. They don’t have much flavor, but when used to make foods, they add a ton of nutritional value and can act as a thickener.
Two tablespoons of chia seeds have 5 grams omega 3 fatty acids, 10 grams of fiber (helps stimulate weight loss), and 5 grams of protein.
They are loaded with antioxidants, may help with digestion and weight loss, and possibly even your bones due to their high calcium content.
Add chia seeds to foods that you’re already eating such as mixing them into recipes like our vegan muffin recipes and my homemade vegan banana oat pancakes, or top this Instant Pot dairy-free yogurt with them to add a little crunch and a lot of nutrients. Even use them as a thickener in recipes like this one!
How to make chia seed jam
The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.
STEP #1: Start with fresh or frozen strawberries. If using fresh berries, you’ll need to wash them and cut the tops off. I like to chop my berries into chunks to speed up the cooking process as well.
Place the berries in a medium-sized saucepan and cook on medium-high heat until the fruit begins to break down and bubble. I was tempted to add a little water but thankfully didn’t. No water needs to be added.
STEP #2: Stir occasionally, and use a fork or potato masher to mash the berries into the desired consistency. It takes about 7-10 minutes for the fruit to break apart and cook down and begin to bubble.
Add the chia seeds and maple syrup, and stir well as the fruit sauce begins to thicken. Carefully taste test to see if it is sweet enough. If not, add a little more maple syrup.
Remove from the heat and let it cool for 5-10 minutes. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
STEP #3: Serve immediately, or transfer the jam to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. It also freezes well.
Using your chia seed jam
- I love this jam spread onto a PB&J sandwich.
- Spread on a bagel or toast in the morning for a quick and healthy vegan breakfast.
- Use it as a topping on yogurt like our easy vegan blender yogurt sprinkled with a little oil-free healthy granola.
- Add it as a topping on banana oat pancakes or healthy gluten-free waffles.
- Dollop onto crackers, rice cakes, or melba toast for a delicious snack.
Recipe inspired by Gimme Some Oven’s recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use frozen strawberries to make chia jam. Simply thaw the strawberries before cooking, or cook them directly from frozen. Frozen strawberries work just as well and are a great option when fresh strawberries aren’t in season.
You can sweeten your strawberry chia jam with natural sweeteners like maple syrup, agave nectar, or honey (if not strictly vegan). You can also use mashed ripe bananas or dates for a more subtle, natural sweetness.
It typically lasts about 1 to 2 weeks when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The natural preservatives in the chia seeds and the acidity of the strawberries help extend its shelf life, but it’s best enjoyed fresh.
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Healthy Strawberry Chia Jam
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup optional
Instructions
- Start with fresh or frozen strawberries. If using fresh berries, you’ll need to wash them and cut the tops off. I like to chop my berries into chunks to speed up the cooking process as well.
- Place the berries in a medium-size saucepan and cook on medium-high heat until the fruit begins to break down and bubble. I was tempted to add a little water but thankfully didn’t. No water needs to be added.
- Stir occasionally, and use a fork or potato masher to mash the berries into the desired consistency. It takes about 7-10 minutes for the fruit to break apart and cook down and begin to bubble.
- Add the chia seeds and maple syrup, and stir well as the fruit sauce begins to thicken. Carefully taste test to see if it is sweet enough. If not, add a little more maple syrup.
- Remove from the heat and let it cool for 5-10 minutes. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Serve immediately, or transfer the jam to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. It also freezes well.
Video
Notes
- I love this jam spread onto a PB&J sandwich.
- Spread on a bagel or toast in the morning for a quick breakfast.
- Use it as a topping on vegan yogurt with a little granola. This Instant Pot Dairy-Free Yogurt is a great option.
- Add it as a topping on pancakes or waffles.
- Dollop onto crackers, rice cakes, or melba toast for a delicious snack.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
About Terri Edwards
Hi guys! I’m the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I’m passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to help others care well for their health and the bodies God has given us. I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…
Can you use other fruit with this recipe. If dates are used for sweetner what would be the amount?
Thank you!
Yes, other fruits can be used as well. For using dates, it will depend on the size. As a general rule, I would try 3-4 large dates. Enjoy!
Fri, Jun 27, 10:23 AM (10 days ago)
Thank you for your reply!! The strawberry chia seed recipe for the apricot freezer jam worked perfectly and is super delicious!!
I used the 3X recipe and a dough blender to cut up and mash the apricots. After the heating the apricots, there was still plenty of juice without adding any water. So I added 3 tablespoons of maple syrup and 6 tablespoons of chia seeds. It was delicious and still a little runny, so I added another 1 1/2 tablespoons of chia seeds and let it cool. It turned out perfect. I saved a jar in the refrigerator and put the other jars in the freezer. Thank you again for a very tasty recipe that was easy to work with!!
Thank you again for a very tasty recipe that was easy to work with!!