It’s officially berry season, and we are finding ourselves in the mood for fruity, fresh flavors. A perfect way to satisfy this craving is by making quick and easy chia jam! It pairs perfectly on an Empower Bar “toast.” Take it a step further with vegan cream cheese…Keep reading for the step by step for both a strawberry and blackberry chia jam recipe!
Strawberry Chia Jam
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries
- juice from ½ a lemon
- 2 tablespoons – ¼ cup liquid sweetener of choice (coconut nectar, honey, maple syrup)
- 1-2 tablespoons chia seeds
Instructions
- Place strawberries into a food processor and blend until roughly pureed. You can also chop by roughly by hand.
- Place chopped strawberries in a small saucepan over medium heat. Using a wooden spoon, mash and stir frequently until strawberries come to more of a liquid consistency (about 7-10 minutes).
- Add the lemon juice and liquid sweetener if using. Stir to combine.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the chia seeds. For the first 5 minutes, stir frequently with a fork to avoid clumping. Allow the jam to completely cool before placing in an air-tight container.
- Store in the fridge.
Blackberry Chia Jam
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen blackberries
- juice from ½ lemon
- 2 tablespoons – ¼ cup liquid sweetener of choice (coconut nectar, honey, maple syrup)
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, mix the blackberries, lemon juice, and liquid sweetener. Cover and bring to a boil, about 5 minutes. Remove the lid and stir, breaking up the berries with the back of wooden spoon. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until liquid has reduced in half, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and add the chia seeds. For the first 5 to 10 minutes, stir frequently to prevent the chia seeds from clumping. Set aside to gel and allow the mixture to cool, about 20 to 30 minutes.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
