Refined Sugar Free Strawberry Chia Jam

Spread this Refined Sugar Free Strawberry Chia Jam over toast and cakes, stir it into porridge and yoghurt, or blend it into your smoothies for a sweet treat! This 15-minute jam recipe is easy to make, naturally sweetened with honey (vegan options below) and thickened with chia seeds instead of pectin or gelatin.

If you’re anything like me, you probably eat quite a bit of jam. Peanut butter and strawberry jam is one of favourite combos – to eat, to bake with, to enjoy in smoothie form, really any which way, I will take it!

What I don’t like about jam is all the extras: refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, pectin, gelatin, other unpronounceable preservatives, etc. There’s no need for them.

Berries are one of nature’s candies. Yes, some – like raspberries or cherries – can be a bit tangy and need a little sweetening, but there’s no reason it can’t be done with honey, agave, or maple syrup.

I also find that the amount of sugar in traditional branded jams tend to overpower the flavours of the berries. This Refined Sugar Free Strawberry Chia Jam uses natural sweeteners and a touch of lemon juice to bring out the floral flavour of the strawberries and let it shine.

One day, big companies will realise that you don’t need heaps of refined sugar to make delicious jam.

Until that day arrives, however, we’ll have to make do with crafting our own, and this one is my absolute favourite!

I love adding this Refined Sugar Free Strawberry Chia Jam to yoghurt, porridge, overnight oats, and smoothies and spreading it on toast, scones, and bagels. But I also have a special use for it that I’ll be sharing with you next month. Watch this space!

Why you’ll love this strawberry chia jam recipe

• Firstly, this Refined Sugar Free Strawberry Chia Jam is simply delicious. The natural flavour and brightness of the strawberries shines through without sickly sweet refined sugar weighing it down.
• This healthy chia jam is naturally sweetened with honey, making it perfect for breakfast without the sugar crash later on.
• No canning required. I don’t know about you, but canning really doesn’t do it for me. It takes a lot of time, patience, and special equipment – none of which I have.
• Because it doesn’t contain preservatives, this chia jam will only last a week in the fridge; however, this is a small batch recipe, so you can easily gobble it up before it goes off.
• Need jam in a flash for a Victoria Sponge Cake or brunch table? This is a quick and easy recipe, meaning you can have jam at the ready in 15 minutes!

Ingredients in this healthy chia seed jam

• Strawberries: Our berry of choice for this chia jam recipe. Use fresh local strawberries for best results.
• Honey: To sweeten the jam ever so slightly. If your berries are particularly sweet, you may not even need to add this! If you’re following a vegan diet, feel free to use agave or maple syrup.
• Chia seeds: These little nutrition powerhouses help thicken the jam to a spreadable consistency. They’re used in place of pectin, gelatin, or heaps of refined sugar.
• Lemon juice: A touch of acid goes a long way to bring out the sweetness of the berries. Just a dash will do.

How to make refined sugar free strawberry chia jam

I love how simple this strawberry chia jam is to make. In 15 minutes flat I can have a delicious jam on the breakfast table, ready for piping hot toast. Here’s how to do it:

1. Bring the strawberries and wet ingredients to a simmer over medium-low heat.
2. Allow the berries to simmer until broken down. Use a fork to mash any larger pieces.
3. Remove from the heat and stir in the chia seeds.
4. Let the jam cool in a heat-proof jar to room temperature before refrigerating.

Need a little visual help? Follow along with the video tutorial for this Refined Sugar Free Strawberry Chia Jam recipe:

Tips for making this recipe perfectly

• Chop your berries quite small. I usually quarter or cut them into eighths depending on their size. You want them quite small so they break down faster, are easier to mash, and don’t leave huge chunks in your jam.
• Taste your strawberries first. Before you go adding in the honey, you want to gauge how sweet your berries already are then adjust the sweetness to your taste.
• Use white chia seeds for aesthetics. I used black chia seeds for the batch in the pictures, but white chia seeds will blend in with the jam if that’s something you prefer.
• Use any liquid sweetener you have on hand. I use honey for this recipe because I love the taste, but you can also use agave nectar or maple syrup.
• If you don’t have lemon juice, lime juice or even apple cider vinegar works well as a replacement. The tiniest kick of acid makes the flavour of the berries stand out more.

Looking for more refined sugar free condiments and sauces?

Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Best Ever Peanut Sauce
Rum Raisin Banana Bread with Vanilla Rum Glaze
Honey and Lemon Shortbread Bars with Lemon Glaze

If you make this recipe, let me know by snapping a picture and tagging me on Instagram @naturallysweet_kitchen. I love seeing your creations and sharing them in my Stories. Or let me know you love this Refined Sugar Free Strawberry Chia Jam by leaving a comment and rating below!

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Refined Sugar Free Strawberry Chia Jam

This easy, 15-minute Refined Sugar Free Strawberry Chia Jam is great for spreading over toast and cakes, stirring into porridge, or blending into smoothies!

Category Breakfast, Condiments

Cuisine American, British

Keyword healthy jam recipe, jam made with chia seeds, refined sugar free strawberry chia jam, strawberry chia jam, strawberry chia jam no sugar, strawberry jam with chia seeds and honey, sugar free chia jam

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Serves 250 ml

Author Amanda | Naturally Sweet Kitchen

Ingredients

• 250 g fresh strawberries roughly chopped
• 1-1 ½ tbsp unpasteurised honey (see notes)
• 1 tsp lemon juice optional
• 2 tbsp chia seeds

Method

1. Add the berries, honey, and optional lemon juice to a small saucepan and set it over a medium-low heat.
2. Bring the berries to a simmer and allow them to cook until they soften and break down, about 8 minutes. Mash any larger berries with a fork or potato masher until the mixture is pretty smooth.
3. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the chia seeds.
4. Pour the mixture into a heat proof jar and allow to cool completely before screwing on the lid and popping it in the fridge.

Notes

• This jam will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
• To make this recipe vegan, substitute the honey for agave nectar or maple syrup.
• Taste your berries and add more honey to your taste as you go. Strawberries are sometimes sweet enough (especially in the summer months) and don’t need any extra sweetener at all.