Blueberry Chia jam

This blueberry chia jam comes together with only 4 ingredients and is perfect for enjoying as a breakfast topping, on a slice of toast, or even on its own!

There are several jarred jams on the market but many of them contain several grams of added sugar and unnecessary additives. This healthy blueberry jam is sweetened with pure maple syrup and thickened with chia seeds, making it a healthy homemade alternative to store-bought jams. It keeps well in the fridge and is a great way of using up some blueberries before they go bad!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Here is what you’ll need to make this blueberry chia jam:

• Blueberries: Base ingredient for the homemade jam. You may use either fresh or frozen blueberries.
• Lemon/Lime Juice: Used to balance out the flavors in the filling.
• Chia Seeds: To thicken up the strawberry jam.
• Maple Syrup: For added sweetness to the jam.

PROCESS

1. Add the blueberries to a small saucepan along with the lemon juice and maple syrup. Let it come to a boil and reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the blueberries to cook down.
2. After about 5 minutes, once the blueberries soften and release juices, use a fork or masher to mash them down.
3. If you prefer a smoother jam, pass the mixture through a sieve and return the strained mixture back to the saucepan. If you don’t mind small chunks in the jam, you can skip this step.
4. Add in the chia seeds and stir them in well. Let the mixture simmer on low heat for a few minutes.
5. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the jam to sit for 10 minutes as the chia seeds work to thicken the sauce.
6. Let the sauce cool completely before serving.

STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS

Once cooled, this jam will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. It will keep in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

These are some of my favorite ways to serve this blueberry chia jam!

• Top pancakes
• Top waffles
• Spread thinly on toast
• Filling for berry oat bars
• Filling for thumbprint cookies
• Peanut butter and jelly rollups
• Top ice cream

SUBSTITUTIONS

• Blueberries: You can replace the blueberries with equal parts strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries. You can also combine different berries for a mixed berry chia jam!
• Maple Syrup: The maple syrup may be replaced with equal parts honey. Please note, honey cannot be served to babies under the age of 1. You may also omit the maple syrup for a younger baby for a naturally blueberry sweetened jam!

RECIPE NOTES

• The maple syrup adds some sweetness to the jam, but it may be omitted. The jam will not be as sweet but will have natural sweetness from the blueberries.
• I prefer a smoother jam consistency so I pass it through a sieve to strain out the chunks, but this step is not needed.

Here are some other recipes that you may like!

• Banana Peanut Butter Bars
• Healthy Apple Oatmeal Bars
• Raspberry Oat Bars