Christmas jam is a festive blend of cranberries, strawberries and raspberries with a hint of orange. This sugar-free Christmas jam is made in the slow cooker, so there is no standing over a hot pot, and it is sweetened with allulose instead of sugar.
Each of the 12 servings has only about 19 calories and 3g net carbs.
The cranberries thicken the jam naturally, so there is no pectin needed. It makes a beautiful homemade gift.
Why You’ll Love This Sugar-Free Christmas Jam
- Three festive berries. Cranberries, strawberries and raspberries with orange zest.
- Made in the crockpot. Mostly hands-off cooking.
- No pectin. Cranberries thicken it naturally.
- Only 19 calories per serving. With 3g net carbs.
Ingredient Notes
Berries. One and three-quarter cups of cranberries, 1⅓ cups of chopped strawberries and ⅔ cup of raspberries, fresh or frozen. Use unsweetened fruit for this sugar-free Christmas jam.
Lemon and orange. A tablespoon of fresh lemon juice brightens the flavor, and a teaspoon of orange zest gives the classic Christmas aroma.
Allulose. About ½ cup of granulated allulose sweetens the tart cranberries. Allulose is a rare sugar that the FDA allows to be excluded from the total sugars and added sugars declarations on the Nutrition Facts label.
If you want to check the nutrition of staples like cranberries and strawberries yourself, you can look them up on USDA FoodData Central. Fruit contains natural sugars, and the nutrition is estimated from ingredient labels.
How to Make Sugar-Free Christmas Jam
You need a 2-quart slow cooker with a lid, a potato masher, a silicone spatula and clean glass jars. Prep takes about 15 minutes, the jam cooks for 3 to 4 hours, and it chills for at least 2 hours.
Slow cook the fruit
Step 1. Rinse the cranberries, strawberries and raspberries. Remove the strawberry stems and chop them into small pieces.
Step 2. Add all three fruits to the slow cooker.
Step 3. Sprinkle the allulose over the fruit and add the water, lemon juice and orange zest.
Step 4. Stir gently until evenly combined.
Step 5. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2½ to 3 hours, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the strawberries soften.
Mash and thicken
Step 6. Use a potato masher to gently crush the fruit, leaving some small berry pieces for texture.
Step 7. Cook uncovered on HIGH for another 30 to 60 minutes, stirring frequently, until the jam reduces and becomes thick and glossy.
Step 8. Turn off the slow cooker and let the jam cool for 20 to 30 minutes; it thickens further as it cools.
Jar and chill
Step 9. Transfer the sugar-free Christmas jam to clean glass jars and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until chilled and spreadable.
Step 10. Divide into 12 equal portions and serve chilled.
Success Tips for Sugar-Free Christmas Jam
Let the cranberries burst. Their natural pectin is what thickens the jam.
Cook uncovered at the end. This lets the extra water evaporate.
Do not overcook. The jam thickens as it cools, so stop while it is still soft and spreadable.
Keep it in the fridge. This is a refrigerator jam, not a shelf-stable canned jam.
Serving Ideas
Spread it on toast or sugar-free biscuits, swirl it into Greek yogurt, spoon it over cheesecake or give it in small jars as a homemade Christmas gift with a ribbon.
More Sugar-Free Jams and Spreads
For a quick spread, try my sugar-free blueberry chia jam. For a cranberry dessert, the sugar-free cranberry cheesecake cups are festive and easy.
And for a jam-filled cookie, make the sugar-free cranberry orange Linzer cookies.
Storage
Refrigerate the sugar-free Christmas jam for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 2 months.
Sugar-Free Christmas Jam FAQ
Can I use frozen berries?
Yes. Frozen cranberries, strawberries and raspberries all work; the jam may need a little longer to reduce.
Do I need pectin?
No. Cranberries contain natural pectin that thickens the jam as it cooks and cools.
Can I can this jam for the pantry?
No. This is a refrigerator jam. Keep it in the fridge or freezer.
How many servings does this sugar-free Christmas jam make?
The recipe makes 12 servings, about 19 calories and 3g net carbs each.
Is allulose a sugar alcohol?
No, allulose is a rare sugar, not a sugar alcohol.
Bright, fruity and festive, this sugar-free Christmas jam is the easiest homemade gift of the season.
Sugar-Free Crockpot Christmas Jam
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Rinse cranberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Remove strawberry stems and chop into small pieces.
- Add all three fruits to the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle granulated allulose over the fruit. Add water, lemon juice, and orange zest.
- Stir gently until evenly combined.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 2½–3 hours, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and strawberries soften.
- Use a potato masher to gently crush the fruit, leaving some small berry pieces for texture.
- Cook uncovered on HIGH for another 30–60 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture reduces and becomes thick and glossy.
- Turn off the slow cooker. Let the jam cool for 20–30 minutes; it will thicken further as it cools.
- Transfer to clean glass jars. Refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled and spreadable.
- Divide into 12 equal portions. Serve chilled.
Notes
- Cranberries naturally help thicken the jam.
- Use unsweetened fruit without added sugar.
- Do not overcook; jam should remain soft and spreadable.
- The jam thickens further when refrigerated.
- Refrigerate up to 5 days or freeze up to 2 months.
- This is refrigerator jam, not shelf-stable canned jam.