Artificial Food Coloring Free Mixed Berry Chia Jam
Store-bought jams are one of the sneakiest sources of artificial dyes — that unnaturally vivid red or purple hue often comes straight from a bottle of food coloring rather than the fruit itself. This homemade spread skips all of that, getting every bit of its gorgeous, deep color from real blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Honey adds gentle sweetness, lemon juice brightens everything up, and a pinch of cinnamon gives it a warmth that no commercial jar can quite replicate. The magic thickener here is chia seeds, which means no pectin, no additives, and no label-reading anxiety — just seeds doing their natural thing as the jam chills and sets. You can leave it chunky and rustic or mash it smooth depending on your mood, which makes it feel genuinely homemade in the best possible way. Spoon it over toast, swirl it into yogurt, or dollop it onto oatmeal and feel good knowing exactly what went into every bite.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 cups mixed berries (fresh or frozen — blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries)
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
Instructions
- 1
Combine the berries, honey, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the berries release their juices and begin to break down, about 8–10 minutes.
- 2
Use the back of a spoon or spatula to gently mash the berries to your preferred texture — leave some chunks for a rustic jam or mash thoroughly for a smoother spread.
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