Combine three nutritious ingredients with a simple cooking method for Blueberry Chia Seed Jam that’s ready in about 15 minutes. It’s perfect for spreading on toast and sandwiches, and stirring into oatmeal and yogurt. And it stores so well.
Blueberry Chia Seed Jam
Making jam at home is about to get SO much easier with this easy method for turning blueberries and chia seed into jam. You don’t have to stand over the stove stirring for more than a few minutes, you can adjust the sweetness level to your own liking, and you can store this in the fridge or freezer as you like.
This healthy jam recipe is packed with nutrition from both the blueberries and the chia seeds. And the chia seeds plump up as they absorb the moisture from the jam mixture, thickening the fruit into a spreadable consistency.
I love this as a way to offer chia seeds, which are loaded with healthy fats and fiber, and to turn fresh or frozen blueberries into a nutrient-rich topping for toast, pancakes, yogurt, and more.
Ingredients You Need
To make this healthy blueberry jam, you’ll need the following ingredients.
- Blueberries: You can use fresh or frozen berries in this recipe.
- Orange juice: This adds some flavor and adds the liquid needed to allow the berries to simmer. You can use store-bought juice or squeeze your own. You can also sub water if you prefer.
- Chia seeds: These nutritious seeds plump as they absorb liquid, which turns the mashed berries into jam.
TIP: It’s incredibly simple and you can use fresh or frozen berries in this recipe according to what you have on hand.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the simple process involved in making this recipe. Scroll down to the end of the recipe for the full information.
- Gather your ingredients and wash the berries.
- Add the berries and juice to a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Cook until the berries are soft and starting to break down, and the liquid is mostly absorbed in the pan.
- Remove from heat, stir in the chia seeds, and mash lightly to break up the berries. Let sit so the seeds absorb the liquid and thicken the mixture.
TIP: You can serve this or store it in the fridge for future use after Step 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chia seeds are a good source of healthy fats and fiber and are a good food to serve to kids in moderation. Start slowly with the portion size if it’s the first time you’re serving it.
The seeds absorb some of the liquid from the berries and plump up as they turn into a sort of gel. So when you let them sit in the warm berries, they magically create a jam-like texture!
You can try this chia seed jam recipe with raspberries, strawberries, blackberries or a mixture. I’ve even made it with huckleberries when we were lucky enough to have some from Montana!
Is it safe to can chia seed jam?
Since this jam has low sugar content and isn’t high in acid, it’s not advised that you can it in either a water bath or a pressure canner. You can, however, freeze it in freezer-safe containers or freezer bags as a simple way to preserve it.
Chia Pudding with Yogurt
One of my favorite things about this easy jam is that it’s so easy to turn it into instant chia pudding with yogurt. Simply stir some of the finished and cooled jam together with whole milk plain yogurt for a nutritious breakfast or snack.
TIP: The pudding has fiber, protein, healthy fats, Vitamin C, and antioxidants, making it a nutrient-dense toddler or baby food.
How can I use this chia seed jam?
We like to use this jam on toast and sandwiches, over pancakes and waffles, stirred into yogurt and oatmeal, and as the “fruit” in DIY fruit-on-the-bottom yogurts.
How to Store
Store in airtight containers in the fridge for about 5-7 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Best Tips for Success
- Sweeten to taste with maple syrup or honey.
- Use jam on toast, pancakes, or waffles.
- Stir into oatmeal with fruit or any kind of plain or vanilla yogurt.
- Use equal parts jam and yogurt to stir together a quick and healthy chia seed pudding.
- Try a different fruit like raspberries, strawberries or blackberries.
- Serve in a Reusable Pouch if desired.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback if you try this recipe, so please comment below to share.
Blueberry Chia Seed Jam
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/3 cup chia seeds
- 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Place the blueberries and juice into a saucepan.
- Warm over medium and cook for about 10 minutes, or until the berries start to release their juices.
- Remove from heat and stir in the chia seeds and maple syrup, if using. Cover and let cool.
- Stir and mash the berries with the back of a spoon. The chia seeds will have plumped up to thicken the jam. Taste and add more sweetener If desired.
- Store in airtight containers until ready to use.
Notes
- Store in airtight containers in the fridge for about 5-7 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Sweeten to taste with maple syrup or honey.
- Use jam on toast, pancakes, or waffles.
- Stir into oatmeal or yogurt.
- Use equal parts jam and yogurt to stir together a quick and healthy chia seed pudding.
- Try a different fruit like raspberries, strawberries or blackberries.
- You can also stir, once cooled, with plain whole milk yogurt as a snack.
Nutrition
This post was first published May 2018.
Hi
Can i use apple juice instead? I got 2 bottles in the fridge 🤭
absolutely!
So yummy! So easy. Love your recipes. Thank you 💛
Delicious! Question, do you think I can use different fruits or mix in strawberries with the blueberries?
Delicious and sooo easy!! We LOVE all of your recipes! Thank you so much ❤️
This was so good!! I will be making and remaking! The whole family loved it. Do you know if I can can this? (Maybe this is a stupid question, I don’t know anything about canning as I’ve never done it!) Not only would I love to have it on hand at all times, but it’d make such a sweet little gift.
I don’t know that you can safely can it with the low level of sugar. It’s a fine freezer jam though or you can gift it with a note to refrigerate it.
Good recipe . Should I puree the blueberry or just mash for 6 months old baby. I made it but wondering how to serve it because of the blueberry skin thanks
You can do either. You can usually mash it fairly smoothly and that would be fine for baby, or you can blend it a little more smoothly. I hope they enjoy it!
could i make this with plums? i have a whole box of them and don’t know what to do with it!!
You probably could though it won’t work the same exactly way as far as how the fruit cooks—it might take a little longer for the plums to soften. Once they’re softened though, I’d think it would be similar
When do we add the sweetener? With chia seeds or after cooling?
With the seeds. Then you can taste it and adjust it once it’s cooled.
We love the Mamma Chia pouches, but they are expensice and sometimes difficult to find. By adding more juice, we are able to make a pretty close copy cat recipe that my kids love! I have also made some with prunce juice instead of orange juice to help with my three year old’s constipation. Thank you for this recipe!
I love that, thanks for sharing how you did that!
hi! can i use lemonjuice instead of orange? thank you!
You could but you may need to add more sweetener to balance the tartness.
Thank you so much for your answer!
…and also thank you for all the fantastic recipes. 🙂
You’re so welcome!
Hi Amy,
The instructions say to place the lemon juice and zest in the saucepan, but the recipe doesn’t call for lemon zest. Can you please clarify if it needs lemon zest and how much? Would love to prepare this for my son tonight. Thank you!
Sorry! From 1/2 the lemon.
can you update the recipe to include the lemon?
Really great piece! I’m happy about my writing, I feel it’s good enough