Mixed Berry Chia Seed Jam (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Thick, rich and sweet with the season’s best berries, this mixed berry chia seed jam beats store-bought jam hands down. Plus, it’s filled with chia seeds for extra fibre and nutrients! All you need is 3 simple ingredients and 40 minutes to make this delicious homemade jam! Totally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan too!

Jump to:

• Season’s Freshest Berries
• Homemade Jams are My Jam
• Delicious Homemade Chia Seed Jam
• What Are Chia Seeds?
• Why This Recipe Works:
• Ingredients You’ll Need:
• Recipe Notes/Substitutions:
• How to Make Chia Seed Jam (Step by Step):
• Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
• Recipe FAQs:
• What to Eat this Chia Seed Jam With:
• Other Homemade Jam Recipes You’ll Love:
• Mixed Berry Chia Seed Jam (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Season’s Freshest Berries

One of the things I love most about spring and summer is the abundance all types of berries, and in particular strawberries and blueberries.

I almost always cannot get my hands on enough berries to eat – whether fresh, or baked in strawberry crumble bars, cooked in a mixed berry crumble, studded in strawberry muffins or blueberry muffins.

Homemade Jams are My Jam

The summer is ripe with these beautiful berries perfect for jamming.

Given how much I love all things homemade (from homemade bread, to nut milks, to homemade flours), I am also naturally a big fan of homemade jams and marmalades.

Some of our favorites include this easy apricot jam, this delicious plum jam, and this sweet and tart kumquat marmalade.

Delicious Homemade Chia Seed Jam

This mixed berry chia jam is probably one of the best recipes I have in my arsenal.

It’s so ridiculously simple and tastes as beautiful as the freshest berries of the season. Plus, it tastes great slathered with peanut butter in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. YUM!

Or, you can also use this delicious jam to make thumbprint cookies..!

What Are Chia Seeds?

If you’ve never eaten chia seeds before, it’s time to incorporate them in your diet!

While tiny in size, these oval and grey seeds are rich in nutrients, and are a good source of antioxidants, minerals, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.

They’re great for sprinkling over Greek yogurt, overnight oats, or salads. You can also mix them in bread dough to make multi-seed bread, or eaten as chocolate chia pudding or mango chia seed pudding.

An important characteristic of these minuscule seeds are their ability to absorb liquids are create a jelly-like consistency. This is great as adding a few tablespoons of chia seeds to cooked fruit can transform the fruit into a delicious jam with the gel-like texture regular jam has.

Why This Recipe Works:

• Simple Ingredients: You literally need just 3 ingredients to make this easy chia jam. And hey, you might already have all of them on hand! If not, they are easily accessible at the grocery store (nothing fancy required).
• Super Easy: Making this homemade jam recipe is literally a matter of simmering the chunks of fruit and sugar together over medium heat until the berries are soft before adding in the chia seeds.
• Totally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Vegan: Best of all, this healthy jam is 100% gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, which means that those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy them too!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this mixed berry chia seed jam recipe.

(For exact measurements and quantities, please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Recipe Notes/Substitutions:

• Berries: I like using a mix of fresh strawberries and blueberries for this delicious mixed berry chia jam, but honestly you can use your favorite berries or any combination of fresh berries you have on hand. If you do not have fresh fruit on hand, you can substitute it with the same amount of frozen berries instead.
• Sugar: I used white sugar, but you can also use light brown sugar if you prefer. Alternatively you may also use maple syrup instead of sugar. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend that you use Lakanto monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 sugar substitute that will not cause a spike in your blood sugar).
• Chia Seeds: Since this is a recipe for chia seed jam, whole chia seeds are essential to the recipe. I would not leave out or substitute the chia seeds for anything.

How to Make Chia Seed Jam (Step by Step):

1. Combine Berries and Sugar:

Combine the fresh fruit and sugar in a large skillet over medium heat.

2. Simmer

Mix well to combine and let the mixture simmer for the next 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Mash Berry Mixture

When berries have started to break down, use a fork or potato masher to mash them even further.

4. Add Chia Seeds and Mix

Once the mixture has achieved a thick, jam-like consistency, add in the chia seeds and mix for another 30 seconds.

5. Let Jam Cool and Thicken

Remove saucepan from heat and allow jam to cool down at room temperature. The jam will thicken as it cools.

6. Transfer to Jar

When jam has cooled, transfer to a sterilized glass jar and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:

• Use Whichever Berries You Have: While I used an equal mixture of fresh strawberries and blueberries in this recipe, feel free to go ahead and use any combination of berries you have on hand! Blackberries and raspberries will work beautifully too!
• Chia Seeds Create Gelling Effect: As the chia seeds absorb liquid from the fruit mixture, they will start to swell and create a gel-like texture, which is what we look for in traditional jam. The addition of chia seeds is fundamental here, so make sure you don’t leave out the chia seeds!
• For Thicker Jam: If you prefer your fruit jam to have a thicker consistency, simply let it cook for a little longer time so more of the liquid evaporates.
• For Smoother Jam: I like having chunks of fruit in my jam, but if you like a smoother consistency, you can blend the jam with a high-speed blender, an immersion blender or a food processor until it reaches the desired texture.

Recipe FAQs:

What to Eat this Chia Seed Jam With:

• Soft, Fluffy Gluten-Free Bread (Dairy-Free)
• Buckwheat Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Brown Rice Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Millet Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Sorghum Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• No-Knead Artisan Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Other Homemade Jam Recipes You’ll Love:

• Easy Apricot Jam (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Easy Plum Jam (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Strawberry Chia Jam (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Homemade Fig Jam (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!

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