Making Red Currant Jam is so easy and a great way to enjoy the summer! This jam is lightly sweetened and full of fruity flavour from the red currants and blueberries and help together with chia seeds so it doesn't require any pectin. It's tart but not too tart! Sweet but not too sweet! This jam is ideal for breakfast, on toast, stirred into yogurt, or as a fancy topping for pancakes or waffles.
Enjoy red currant jam on my Date and Walnut Scones or Fruit Sweetened Oatmeal or as a topping on Lemon Mousse.
We have around eight red currant bushes along the fence in our backyard and the bushes produce SO many berries. In previous years I have sent my boys out to pick currants and then I've folded them into muffin batter or just eaten them straight but this is the first year we've made jam! It was actually my two nieces and my oldest son who whipped up this recipe and it was so good it had to go on the blog!
This jam would be delicious served on cheesecake or ice cream. Or I even imagine it spooned over baked brie or on a berry and brie grilled cheese sandwich!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup!
- You can use fresh or frozen fruit!
- Pectin is not required for this recipe
- The jam is held together with chia seeds which makes it easy but also nutritious (try my chia seed lemonade for another way to enjoy them!)
- This homemade jam would make a great gift!
- Making jam is a great summer activity to do with kids! Especially if you can have them busy picking the berries
- Beautiful colour and great fruit flavour!
Ingredients
- vanilla - I think just a touch of vanilla adds a nice flavour, but you can omit it if you don't like a vanilla-flavoured jam.
- chia seeds - this holds the jam together
- blueberries - fresh or frozen works
- honey - or swap for maple syrup!
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How To Make Red Currant Jam
Here are the step-by-step instructions to make this recipe.
Step 1: Wash the fresh fruit thoroughly and add to a saucepan.
Wash the red currants thoroughly, especially if recently picked.
Combine red currants and blueberries in a medium-sized saucepan.
Step 2: Cook
Cook until all the fruit is broken down.
Step 3: Strain
Strain the cooked fruit through a fine mesh strainer, pressing to extract all the liquid.
Step 4: Add flavourings
Stir in honey, lemon juice, and vanilla.
Step 5: Add chia.
Add chia seeds and mix well.
Step 6: Chill and allow the jam to thicken.
Chill the jam in the fridge for several hours to allow the chia seeds to absorb liquid and thicken the mixture. Taste the jam now and adjust sweetness or add more lemon juice if desired.
Adjust Consistency if Desired: For thicker jam, add another tablespoon of chia seeds. For thinner jam, add a tablespoon of water.
Step 7:
Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- After you cook down the red currants and the blueberries, be sure to strain it through a fine mesh strainer because red currants can be really seedy
- Adjust the sweetness to your desired taste
- If the jam doesn't set as much as you'd like you can stir in an additional tablespoon of chia seeds and let it sit for a few more hours
- Allow Time to Thicken: Chia seeds need time to absorb liquid and thicken the jam.
- Experiment with Flavors: Add a splash of vanilla extract, a pinch of cinnamon, or a bit of lemon zest to enhance the flavor of your jam.
Recipe FAQs
The easiest place to find red currants is at farmer's markets in the summer or sometimes speciality grocery stores will stock them seasonally. You could also research to see if there are any Pick-Your-Own-Farms local to you that have red currant bushes.
Store homemade chia jam in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Red currant season typically runs from late June to early August, with the peak harvest time in July.
More Blueberry Recipes
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If you tried this Red Currant and Blueberry Jam or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Recipe
Red Currant Jam
Ingredients
- 2 cups red currants fresh or frozen
- 2 cups blueberries fresh or frozen
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract optional
- 5 tbsp chia seeds
Instructions
- Wash the red currants thoroughly, especially if recently picked.
- Combine red currants and blueberries in a medium-sized saucepan. Cook until all the fruit is broken down.2 cups red currants, 2 cups blueberries
- Strain the cooked fruit through a fine mesh strainer, pressing to extract all the liquid.
- Stir in honey, lemon juice, and vanilla.¼ cup honey, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Add chia seeds and mix well.5 tablespoon chia seeds
- Chill the jam in the fridge for several hours to allow the chia seeds to absorb liquid and thicken the mixture. Taste the jam now and adjust sweetness or add more lemon juice if desired.
- Adjust Consistency if Desired: For thicker jam, add another tablespoon of chia seeds. For thinner jam, add a tablespoon of water.
- Store the jam in the fridge and enjoy.
Notes
- After you cook down the red currants and the blueberries be sure to strain it through a fine mesh strainer because red currants can be really seedy
- Adjust the sweetness to your desired taste
- If the jam doesn't set as much as you'd like you can stir in an additional tablespoon of chia seeds and let it sit for a few more hours
- Allow Time to Thicken: Chia seeds need time to absorb liquid and thicken the jam.
- Experiment with Flavors: Add a splash of vanilla extract, a pinch of cinnamon, or a bit of lemon zest to enhance the flavor of your red currant chia jam.
Nutrition
If you make this recipe please leave a comment and give this recipe a rating! I aim to respond to every single comment. I am so grateful when you trust me and try one of my recipe creations in your own kitchen. I love to hear how it went! Let’s connect on Instagram and tag me in your food pics!
‘Til next time,
Christy
Myia says
Hey this is one of your nieces, glad I could help in the making of this recipe l. It is soooo good!!!