Homemade Healthy Strawberry Jam Recipe – No Processed Sugar

Why Your Kids Need You to Make This Jam

Is it just my kids who love jam? I mean, they think it’s a treat. Maybe it’s because I don’t buy jam on a regular basis because it’s loaded with added sugar. Prior to making my own homemade healthy strawberry jam recipe, I usually opted for alternatives (like honey or fresh fruit) to avoid that extra refined sugar.

But really, jam should be so much more than an occasional “treat” for a kid, right? Think of all the ways jam can be used: Lunches (peanut butter and jam); snacks (jam with crackers or cheese); dessert (jam thumbprint cookies); special occasions (layered cakes).

Jam is a part of our diets in a variety of ways we may not think about very often. And it has the potential to be a healthy part of our diets. Afterall, it is primarily made out of fruit, right? The problem is that most jams contain quite a bit of processed sugar and sometimes other questionable ingredients.

So I wanted to bring jam back into my kids’ diets without contributing to their added sugar intake for the day. When my toddler asks for a spoonful (or sometimes a small bowl full) of jam to eat, I want to give her a happy “yes” and hand her an all-jam snack without another thought because it’s basically just cooked fruit.

That’s why I created my own jam recipe. And it’s exactly why your kids need you to make this jam recipe for them. Once you make homemade healthy strawberry jam, there will be no need to second guess whether giving your child a peanut butter and jam sandwich for lunch for the fifth day in a row is a good idea.

And you won’t have to worry about your toddler getting a sugar rush when you catch her eating jam out of the jar by the spoonful (not that this has ever happened with my toddler … 🙂 )

When you pour those frozen strawberries into the pot and spoon the raw honey in yourself, you know exactly what is going into your child’s jam – and consequently into their bodies. You can enjoy the peace of knowing that this jam will not add to their refined sugar intake and your kids can enjoy their jam “treat” every day if they want to.

And by the way, making your own jam is incredibly easy and takes all of 20 minutes (and most of that time is just waiting for liquid to boil out of the strawberries). And hey, if your kids get excited about licking jam off of a spoon, let them have their joy while eliminating your own sugar guilt.

Ideas for How to Use This Healthy Strawberry Jam

Oh, I have so many ideas for how to use this healthy, easy strawberry jam recipe. As a matter of fact, I have several recipes on this blog that call for this jam.

One of my (and my kids’) favorite recipes that uses this simple strawberry jam recipe is lemon jam thumbprint cookies. These cookies are so tasty and a great option for giving your kids a non-chocolate dessert. Or, if you don’t mind giving them some chocolate, you could also use this jam as a dip for your kids to dunk some healthy chocolate cookies into.

Another recipe I use this jam in is my strawberry cake pops recipe. They are absolutely amazing and my kids get SO excited about them. The homemade strawberry jam provides a concentrated strawberry flavor that literally all types of taste buds can enjoy (read my blog post on that recipe to see what I mean).

Another way that you could use this 3 ingredient strawberry jam is to spread it between the layers of a decadent chocolate layer cake. Strawberry and chocolate paired together are a kid’s best friend.

But even better, you can also use this jam to fill strawberry cupcakes (which also happen to call for strawberry jam in the batter). After your strawberry cupcakes are baked, scoop out the centers and fill them with this strawberry jam for a special surprise for your kids. You could also do this with vanilla cupcakes.

And then, of course, there are the other typical uses for this jam. Use it to make PB&J. Put it on toast. Add it to some plain yogurt and homemade granola to make a completely naturally sweetened yogurt parfait.

Or, simply serve this easy homemade strawberry jam to your kids on a spoon. I’m told by a reliable little source that this is completely acceptable 😀

Ingredients

• Frozen Strawberries: Using frozen strawberries in this recipe instead of fresh has multiple benefits. It is cheaper, less work and always available. Any frozen strawberries will work (whole or sliced are both fine), but make sure they do not contain any added sugar.

• Honey: Raw, unfiltered honey is part of the healthfulness of this recipe and it also helps the jam to set up once it’s chilled. Make sure to get honey that is both raw and unfiltered for best results and the most health benefits.

• Lemon Juice: I use fresh-squeezed lemon juice. You don’t need much, but it is a natural preservative and adds just a touch of tartness to enhance the strawberries’ flavor.

Instructions

Step 1

To a medium-size pot on the stove, Add frozen strawberries.

Step 2

Bring to a boil, stirring frequently as the liquid evaporates. Continue to boil until strawberries have broken down and juice begins to thicken.

Step 3

Turn heat off and add honey and lemon juice. Stir until fully incorporated.

Step 4

Allow jam to cool for a few minutes.

Step 5

Using an emersion blender, blend until jam is smooth without any large chunks.

Step 6

Allow to cool completely on the counter and then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Substitutions & Tips

• You can use either whole or sliced/chopped frozen strawberries for this recipe. If you use sliced or chopped, you do not have to blend the jam if you don’t mind having small chunks of strawberry in it. Therefore, using sliced or chopped frozen strawberries can make for an even easier jam if you prefer.

• To get a nice, thick jam, you want to boil out as much liquid as possible without burning the strawberries. Make sure you are stirring constantly as the liquid begins to evaporate. After it has boiled for about ten to fifteen minutes, you will reach a point where the strawberry juice begins to splatter all over and that’s when you know it’s time to turn the stove off.

• If you do not have an emersion blender, you can simply blend this quick homemade strawberry jam in a small blender. Just make sure to allow the jam to cool sufficiently first.

• Make sure to use raw, unfiltered honey. Raw, unfiltered honey is not only healthier, it has more body and flavor than processed, filtered honey. This will help the jam to thicken when it’s cold and it will not taste strongly of overly-sweet honey like what you get in the honey bear bottles.

• You can adjust the amount of honey to your kids’ taste preferences. If the jam is not sweet enough for them, add more – but just a half teaspoon at a time. “A little more honey” can quickly become too much honey if you’re not careful.

• Remember that it is not safe for children under the age of one to consume honey, so this jam is not for babies. If you would like a baby-safe jam, see my recipe for strawberry jam sweetened with dates.