Raspberry Lemon Chia Jam

This raspberry lemon chia seed jam is bright and tart. It makes an awesome fruity topping on yogurt, oatmeal, or toast. It comes together in just 30 minutes!

Can we talk about the wonder that is chia seed jam for a minute? With four simple ingredients you can whip up a simple homemade jam that’s heavy on the fruit, low on the added sugar, and a beautiful vibrant color.

Besides being used to grow sprouts, chia seeds are actually really versatile in the kitchen. Read on to find out how to use them, learn about the nutritional benefits and of course to get my recipe for raspberry lemon chia jam.

Ingredients for Raspberry Lemon Chia Jam

This recipe only requires these four ingredients:

• frozen raspberries (always in season!)
• sugar, I prefer granulated/cane sugar but you can sub your favorite sweetener
• lemon juice & zest
• chia seeds to thicken it up

The steps are simple: add berries, sugar and lemon juice/zest to a small saucepan and bring to a low boil. Stir in the chia seeds and let simmer until it thickens up. It will continue to thicken up as it cools, then you can pour it into a jar and chill. That’s it!

Why Would You Add Chia Seeds to Jam?

When added to liquid, chia seeds expand and become gelatinous. This basically creates a thickening quality which is exactly what you want when making jam/preserves so it’s easier to spread and doesn’t just run all over the place. The seeds help it “hold” together.

This raspberry lemon chia seed jam is simple to make and the flavors can be switched up based on which fruit you have on hand and the sweetener you prefer.

Here’s a few more ideas that I think would be great:

More Flavor Combinations

• Strawberry Mint, sweetened with cane sugar
• Blueberry Vanilla, sweetened with maple syrup
• Cherry Almond, sweetened with coconut sugar
• Blackberry Orange Ginger, sweetened with honey

More Ways to Use Chia Seeds

• I love keeping chia seeds on hand for adding a nutritional boost to just about anything. I use them in overnight oats or oatmeal balls for cohesiveness.
• Another popular use: chia seed pudding. When soaked in milk, the chia seeds absorb and expand. It kind of reminds me of tapioca!
• You can also mix chia seeds with water for an egg replacer in baked goods, which can be a great vegan option.

The Nutritional Benefits of Chia Seeds

One of the biggest reasons why chia seeds have surged in popularity is because they’re a plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids. While fatty fish provides the most efficient form of omega-3s, it’s never a bad idea to include a variety of food sources when possible. Plus not everyone consumes fish, so plant-based sources are important.

There are plenty of other great qualities in chia beyond omega-3s. Here are the nutrition facts at-a-glance (per 1/4 cup):

• 180 calories
• 11 g fat
• 16 g carbohydrate
• 14 g dietary fiber
• 6 g protein
• 230 mg calcium (15% DV)
• 2.8 mg iron (15% DV)

Give this jam a try and you might never go back to store-bought again. I make it several times per month and my toddler loves it, especially in yogurt or on top of oatmeal.

Leave me a comment if you try any other flavor combinations!

You might also like:

• PB & J Energy Bites
• White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies
• Turmeric and Black Pepper Granola

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This post was originally published in February 2019. Photos, content and recipe were updated in January 2022.