Cranberry Orange Jam Recipe
Cranberry Orange Jam is a lovely fresh flavourful preserve. It’s easy to make with fresh or frozen cranberries and makes an ideal gift.
There’s something rather special about making jam with sharply flavoured fruits. The combination of the tart cranberries with zesty orange cuts through the sweetness of the sugar in the jam and makes for a really special preserve. It is also very pretty.
What are Cranberries?
Cranberries are ruby red oval fruits that grow on low vines or shrubs. The raw fruit is very sharp and is not usually eaten in its raw state. They grow in low lying peat bogs and most are imported to the UK from the USA.
Where can I buy cranberries?
You can buy fresh cranberries in markets and supermarkets from mid-November to the end of December. Frozen cranberries are usually available all year round.
Dried cranberries are readily available beside the raisins and other dried fruits and are delicious to include in your baking.
How do I sterilise my jam jars
I sterilise my jam jars and metal lids by thoroughly washing and rinsing them. I then put them, still wet, upside down onto a baking tray and place it in the oven at 150C just before I start to make the jam.
The water creates steam which helps to sterilise the jars. I take them out of the oven and fill them with the hot jam, then put on the lids. There are other methods but this is how I sterilise my jars.
How to make Cranberry Orange Jam
Follow the simple step by step instructions to make this delicious preserve.
Put the cranberries in a pan
Place the fresh or frozen cranberries in a pan with the orange juice, zest and sugar, and heat slowly until the sugar has dissolved.
Dissolve the sugar
Once the sugar is dissolved and the berries start to pop, bring to a rolling boil for 8 minutes.
What does a rolling boil look like?
This is a little video I made of a rolling boil when I was making Fig and Lime Jam. This is what your jam should look like when boiling.
The Wrinkle Test – how to test if your jam will set
You need to place some saucers in the fridge before you start making the jam. Then once you have boiled your jam for 15 minutes, take the pan off the heat and put a teaspoon of the jam onto one of the cold saucers.
After 8 minutes of boiling, test the Cranberry Orange Jam to see if it is ready to set (firm up) once cooled. There are many different ways to test for setting point. You can use a jam thermometer, you can use the ‘flake’ test, but I have always used the wrinkle test.
Place the saucer in the fridge and leave for 5 minutes. Then remove the saucer and push your finger across the jam. If it wrinkles, you can skim off the froth and pot up your jam.
My jam didn’t wrinkle what should I do?
If you haven’t got a wrinkle, put the pan back on the heat and boil for another five minutes, then test for set on another cold saucer.
Find more information on How to make Jam in this helpful article from the Guardian newspaper.
Can I double the quantities and make more jam?
You can double the quantities of ingredients to make more jam. You will also need to increase the rolling boil time.
Please be aware that this recipe has been tested for the amounts stated on the recipe card and I cannot guarantee the results for a larger batch.
More Jam Recipes from Farmersgirl Kitchen
More Cranberry Recipes
Valentine Cranberry Orange Scones are perfect with Cranberry Orange Jam. I cut these scones in heart shapes, for Valentines but you can serve them as standard round sones at other times of the year.
Easy Cranberry & Red Wine Sauce is super simple to make with only three ingredients. Serve warm or cold as the perfect accompaniment to turkey, ham, lamb, pork, and game
Chocolate and Cranberry Muffins are made with fresh cranberries with chunks of delicious chocolate through the muffins too.
Stay in touch with everything that’s going on at Farmersgirl Kitchen.
Cranberry Orange Jam
Ingredients
- 300 grams (3 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries
- 300 grams (1.5 cups) granulated sugar
- 1 (1) small orange, grated zest
- 1 (1) small orange, juice
Instructions
- Put a saucer into the fridge to test for set later.
- Thoroughly wash a large jam jar and place in the oven on an oven tray, set the oven to 100C.
- Put all the ingredients in a medium sized pan.
- Heat gently until the sugar has all dissolved.
- Bring to the boil and keep at a rolling boil for 8 minutes with granulated sugar.4 minutes with jam sugar
- Take off the heat and place a teaspoonful of the jam onto the cold saucer, put it back in the fridge for 5 minutes, then push the jam with your finger. If it wrinkles the jam is ready. If not put the jam back on the heat and boil for another 2-3 minutes before testing again.
- Ladle into the jar and leave to cool for 10 minutes before putting on the lid.
- Leave the jam to cool completely before use.
I have to try this I love tart jams. Thank you for linking to #CookBlogShare
Thanks, Jacqui. It’s got that same sharpness as good marmalade, great on toast.
Oooh – yes please! I love cranberries – can’t get enough of them this time of year. I make my own cranberry sauce, but I’ve never tried making cranberry jam… I can just imagine how good it must be! Eb x
I’m obsessed by them at this time of year too. I think it’s because they are so very seasonal.
Oh my gosh this look incredible. I love cranberries and oranges so I’m going to have to make this.
Thank you. I hope you enjoy it, it really is the simplest of recipes and quick to make.
This looks so Christmassy. I love the addition of the orange into the recipe, to add that citrus tang!
Thank you, cranberries are very festive.
I am OBSESSED with cranberries so the second I see them in the supermarket I buy them! Glad to have a recipe like this up my sleeve now for when they finally appear in my local shop!
Me too, Emma. I think it’s the short season that makes them so desirable, and of course their pretty colour and great taste.
What a brilliant idea. I make cranberry sauce every year, but jam would make such a lovely Christmas gift. I love tart fruit in jam too. Yum!
I always think it’s a shame only to make Cranberry Sauce, so many more wonderful recipes to make with cranberries. The jam would make a lovely gift, it’s so pretty
Hello, I made this to give as presents this Christmas. It was so easy to make and everyone who received it has said how delicious it is. I gift preserves in the small spice jars you can buy from Ikea, 150ml size, and this amount filled 4 jars. Will definitely make it again! Thank you for sharing your recipe.
I’m delighted to hear that the Cranberry Orange Jam was well received. Thank you so much for letting me know, it is very much appreciated.