Made with just 3 simple ingredients, this cherry chia seed jam is a healthy, lower sugar way to enjoy homemade jam.

It’s been awhile since I’ve made chia seed jam. While this strawberry one is usually my go-to, I was inspired by the overwhelming amount of cherries I had in my fridge.

While I could snack on cherries all day, Bry isn’t as big of a fan. As a result, I always have to freeze at least half of the fresh cherries I pick up from the store or farmer’s market.

I like to complain about how much time it takes me to wash, pit, and then freeze them – but in reality it takes less than 10 minutes using a cherry pitter. Plus, frozen cherries are a freezer gem. Pop them into a smoothie or add to oatmeal before microwaving. Love cherry season!

This jam is for true cherry lovers as, just like fresh cherries, it’s not overly sweet and has a little sour hint to it. If you want a slightly sweeter jam, you could add more maple syrup OR you could add in a slightly sweeter fruits such as peaches or strawberries to sweeten things up naturally.

What You’ll Need

As promised, just 3 ingredients:

• 2 cups pitted cherries
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (the darker the deeper the maple flavor will be)
• 2 ½ tablespoons chia seeds

Does it Matter if You Use Fresh or Frozen Cherries?

As long as your frozen cherries have been stored properly (a.k.a in an air-tight freezer bag without any signs of freezer burn), there shouldn’t be a big difference.

From personal experience, fresh fruit does tend to take a little longer to break down than frozen, but it isn’t a huge difference.

Can You Blend Chia Seed Jam?

You can and I recommend doing it for this recipe.

Usually I don’t blend my strawberry chia jam, but I like the texture of the cherry jam better after a few pulses in my blender. Due to having thicker skins, the cherries don’t break down quite as much as strawberries do, so blending them helped to make a slightly smoother texture.

However, if you prefer a slightly chunkier (sorry, tried to think of a better word) jam, then by all means skip the blending step.

Finally, blending is also a good option if you, or your kids, don’t like the texture of chia seeds.

How Long Does this Easy Chia Seed Jam Last?

While I’ve heard that chia jam can keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, I find that the chia seed flavor starts to get overpowering after a week.

So, my recommendation is to use it up within 7 days, but if you don’t mind the stronger flavor of chia seeds then you’re likely okay for up to 14 days.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Measure out your ingredients

Measure out your ingredients. If needed, rinse and pit your cherries.

Step 2: Break Down Cherries

Place cherries in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, or until cherries have released some of their juices and can be easily smashed with a fork.

Remove from heat.

Step 3: Add Chia Seeds and Maple Syrup

Stir in chia seeds and maple syrup. Let sit for 5 minutes for the chia seeds to thicken.

Step 4: Blend and Enjoy

If you like a thicker jam, at this  point it’s ready to be stored in the fridge until you’re ready to use.

However, if you want a thinner jam (or don’t like the texture of chia seeds), place jam in a high powered blender and pulse 4-5 times, or until it reaches your desired consistency.

Keep jam stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 7 days.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy jam?

While I’ve never been a huge fan of peanut butter and jelly (just give me the peanut butter please), cream cheese and jam is another story – if you haven’t tried it yet, make sure you use a slice of sourdough bread or even a crepe…you can thank me later.

Share your chia seed jam creations and how you enjoy them by tagging @TheHealthyToast_RD on Instagram. And be sure to share this recipe on Pinterest!

Print Recipe

3-Ingredient Cherry Chia Seed Jam

Made with just 3 simple ingredients, this cherry chia seed jam is a healthy, lower sugar way to enjoy homemade jam.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time15 mins

Course: Jam

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Easy Chia Seed Jam, Healthy Cherry Chia Seed Jam

Servings: 16 tablespoons

Calories: 27kcal

Author: Kelli McGrane, MS,RD

Ingredients

• 2 cups pitted cherries fresh or frozen
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 2 ½ tablespoons chia seeds

Instructions

• Place cherries in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, or until cherries have released some of their juices and can be easily smashed with a fork. Remove pan from heat.
• Stir in chia seeds and maple syrup. Let sit for 5 minutes for the chia seeds to thicken.
• If you like a thicker jam, at this point it’s ready to be stored in the fridge until you’re ready to use.
• However, if you want a thinner jam (or don’t like the texture of chia seeds), place jam in a high powered blender and pulse 4-5 times, or until it reaches your desired consistency.
• Keep jam stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 7 days.

Notes

Nutrition for approximately 1 tablespoon: 27 calories, 1 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 5 g carb, 1 g fiber, 4 g sugar, 0 g protein