Top toast, bowls, and pastries with Easy Chia Jam, a healthy alternative to store bought jam. This recipe is made with only three items and includes no added sweeteners or artificial ingredients!
Try your hand at raspberry, blueberry, or strawberry chia jam
I'll cut to the chase. Store bought jam = less than ideal. Homemade easy chia jam = heavenly. And not only that, it's healthy, too!
This vegan jam is the toast topping, oatmeal mixing, bagel coating jam of your dreams. It's made with only 3 ingredients, and you can use fresh or frozen fruit! I like to choose between strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, but the truth is that a combination of the 3 would work quite well too.
Since I started making this recipe I've been putting it on as many of my meals as possible. It's so fast to whip together, and once you make it you have about a week's supply. I'd bet that I'll never be returning to regular jam, and my guess is that neither will you!
Ingredients in chia seed jam
For this version of chia jam, I kept things as simple as it gets by using only three ingredients. Everything is all natural; there's no added sugar or anything. Just fruit, chia seeds, and good old maple syrup.
- Frozen fruit: Fruit will obviously be the base of this recipe, with options including blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries (or a combination of the 3). You will need 1 cup of fruit, total.
- Chia seeds: Next up, chia seeds will help to thicken the jam. You will need 2 tbsp.
- Maple syrup: Finally, we'll use maple syrup as our all natural sweetener! It tastes fantastic, and you'll only need 1 tbsp.
How to make easy chia jam
Berry jam comes together in just minutes. We'll start by warming our fruit, followed by adding the syrup and prepping the chia seeds. Mix it all together, and it's ready to enjoy!
To begin, add the fruit to a saucepan and turn it on low for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once warmed through, smash the berries down with the back of a fork.
Then, add the maple syrup and stir.
Next, turn off the burner and remove from the heat.
Stir in the chia seeds and let them sit until they "gel."
You can speed up the gel process by putting them in the refrigerator, but they'll also gel just sitting on the counter.
How to serve easy chia seed jam
There are so many ways to enjoy jam! I used to always just picture it as a topping for toast or a filling for a good classic PB&J, but there are actually so many more uses for it.
I love to enjoy it atop a piece of sourdough (along with a thick layer of peanut butter), but it's great on bowls too! Grab a big spoonful and add it to your next oatmeal, smoothie, or yogurt bowl for a nutritious and fruity addition.
You can also enjoy chia jam atop bagels, sweet potato toast, or crackers (with brie - yum). Get creative!
Mix up your fruit for endless flavor options
I usually use raspberries for this jam, but I've also successfully made it with blueberries, strawberries, and even mango! I think the possibilities are endless when it comes to the fruit.
You can use fresh or frozen too, which makes this recipe that much more convenient and flexible.
A healthy jam option
Next time you go grocery shopping, check out the jam aisle and look at a few ingredient labels. It's near impossible to find a jam that's not riddled with artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and chemicals. That's my biggest motivating factor behind this recipe.
In an effort to reduce the amount of sugar, I've been making this jam with just a hint of maple syrup. The natural sweetness that it provides is just enough - there's nothing lacking at all. You can also use honey.
Eating this all natural, low-ingredient chia jam recipe makes me feel so much better about enjoying a little something sweet on my toast or bagel.
Why chia seeds?
Chia seeds are the magic ingredient in this recipe. Not only do they provide good amounts of protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids, they're also a great thickening agent that helps this jam go so much further.
When mixed with water, chia seeds absorb 10x their weight in liquid to form a gel-like consistency, which helps to thicken up any recipe. This is the reason they make a great substitute for eggs in baked goods!
Storing berry jam
Easy chia jam can be stored for up to 10 days when kept refrigerated in an airtight container.
I love to make a batch on the weekend for use throughout the week! Trust me - thanks to the great taste, it goes fast!
Try these berry-filled recipes next
Need some more fruity recipes that will help you use up your supply of berries? I have plenty of ideas for you.
- Healthy Berry Baked Oatmeal
- Triple Layer Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
- Healthy Blueberry Scones (Paleo, Gluten-Free)
- Strawberry Banana Overnight Oats
Easy Chia Jam
Ingredients
Method
- Add the fruit to a saucepan and turn on low for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once warmed through, smash the berries down with the back of a fork.
- Add in maple syrup and stir.
- Turn off burner and remove from heat.
- Stir in chia seeds and let "gel".
- You can speed up the gel process by putting in refrigerator, but they will also gel by leaving on counter.
- Store in fridge for up to 10 days!
Brittany says
My favorite recipe that I come back to over and over!
Alison Smyth says
Love easy recipe! I put chia jam in my yogurt, oatmeal, and on toast! So good
Erin says
Hi Alison, so happy you loved it!!
Danielle says
Such a good recipe and my baby loves it. For me, I love getting a slice of sourdough or a rice cake, adding a dollop of cottage cheese and putting this on top!
Erin says
Hi Danielle, so happy it was a big hit! 🙂
Pete Braun says
Could blackberries work for this recipe? I ask because blackberry is my favorite jam/jelly flavor and while I have little in the way of culinary skills to make this, I imagine that this would be a great addition to my favorite use for jelly/jam.
Erin says
Hi Pete, yes that should be great! I haven't tried it yet, so let me know how it comes out!!
Pete Braun says
Will do. Now to enjoy my favorite use for said blackberry jelly/jam. Two layers of no-stir natural creamy peanut butter holding a layer of raw and unfiltered wildflower honey, banana slices and the aforementioned blackberry jam, all brought together between two slices of whole wheat bread. *takes a bite* Mmm, great sandwich!
Erin says
Hi Pete, sounds great!! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Pete Braun says
You’re welcome, Erin. And yes, it’s delicious! I bet your chia jam would go great in a PBHBJ. Want the rest of the recipe?
Erin says
Hi Pete, yay! Glad to hear it and sure!! 🙂
Pete Braun says
You’re welcome. I sent the recipe in an email, but never got the confirmation message that it was sent. Not sure why.
Julia says
Substituted it with honey (bc I have no maple syrup) and it was still great! Such a simple but effective recipe!
Erin says
Hi Julia, so glad you love it and made it your own!!
Veronica says
This is my JAM! I make it all the time, it's so quick and easy to make. I'll use it for pb&j sandwiches, in my oatmeal, or in a yogurt and granola parfait. I recently made your peanut butter granola, and added it to coconut yogurt with this chia jam and it was like a pb&j parfait. So good!
Erin says
Hi Veronica, so glad you love it and all great combos!!
Harriet says
Loved this, so simple and tasty! Such a good alternative to buying jam that’s been loaded with artificial sweeteners/sugars 😋
Erin says
Hi Harriet, so glad you enjoyed it!!
Christina Paspalas says
I make this all the time in the summer for a pb&j to bring to the beach! My fam loves in, ps. OCNJ is the best place ever we’ve been going since I was born and I know you love it there too! Thanks Erin!
Erin says
Hi Christina, I am so happy everyone enjoyed it and yes, can't wait for more beach days next year!
Stacey says
Can I use a flax/chia seed combo?
Erin says
I think it should work just fine!
Grace says
This is a very fast and easy recipe that turns out delicious! Most jams and jellies I've seen have sugar in them, so this is a great healthy alternative!
Erin says
Hi Grace, thanks for your kind words! I am so happy you liked it!
Camila says
Hey! This looks amazing and can’t wait to try it out.. would the consistency of the jam be affected if I activate the chia with some water before mixing it in?
Erin says
It may be a little thinner but should be okay!
Hayley says
Made this with frozen blueberries and turned out great. Very simple and quick recipe.
Erin says
Glad you like it Hayley!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Harpreet Kaur says
This is amazing. I am definitly going to make this today as soon as i get home. Thanks XoXo