Easy sugar free raspberry jam! You will be astonished how quickly this chia seed jam comes together. It’s delicious and healthy, and perfect for spreading on your favorite keto baked goods. Instructional video included.
This sugar free chia seed jam recipe was first published in September of 2013. I haven’t changed the recipe at all, but I’ve updated the photos and added a new video!
If you follow foodie trends, chances are high you’ve heard of chia seeds. If you follow health trends, chances are high you’ve heard of chia seeds. And if you follow running trends, chances are high you’ve heard of chia seeds.
You would essentially have to pay no attention to trends, eat only junk food and never get off your couch to not have heard of chia by now. And even if that were the case, you probably have still heard of chia, because it was made famous by the commercials for ch-ch-chia pets. Remember those? Ah yes. Now that we’re all on the same page, let’s discuss those funny little black seeds and why they are so trendy in food, health and fitness.
What is Chia Seed?
Chia seeds are tiny little black seeds from the Salvia hispanics plant native to Mexico and Guatemala.
It’s been on the radar of many a healthy foodie for a while now, but I daresay that it gained some serious fame with the book Born To Run. I am quite certain that the sale of chia seeds saw a significant spike after it was published, as runners of all abilities stocked up, hoping for a competitive advantage from the unassuming black seed.
In the book, chia is described as having nearly magical properties, giving seemingly inhuman strength and energy to the ultra-runners of the Tarahumara. Although it seems new to many of us, Mesoamerican peoples have been consuming it for thousands of years, both as food and as medicine. And according to many sources, Aztec warriors fueled themselves exclusively on chia and water before battle.
Who doesn’t want a little of that in their lives?
How to Cook with Chia Seed
But besides all of the purported health benefits of chia, it’s fascinating to see how chia behaves in cooking and baking.
Take a tablespoon of chia seeds and add some water and you will see what I mean. Within a few short minutes, it becomes a gelatinous mass, like jelly or pudding. It’s slightly hilarious how quickly it gums up. The chia seed shell begins to dissolve and the high soluble fiber content absorbs huge amounts of liquid.
It’s rather like a weird fun science experiment.
This particular quality makes chia very useful in a number of recipes that require a jelly-like consistency, such as pudding. It also makes a great replacement for eggs in egg-free or vegan recipes.
Perfect for Easy Sugar Free Jam
But when I started to see chia seed jam on the foodie blogosphere, I stopped dead in my tracks.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
Traditional jam takes hours to make, cooking the berries and adding the gelatin, along with copious amounts of sugar. And you can’t just replace the sugar with keto sweeteners, because sugar helps inhibit mold and helps the jam gel properly. Seems counterintuitive but it’s true. So when you make sugar free jam, you have to add more acid in exact quantities and you have to use special pectins.
But chia seed jam gels virtually instantly and those little chia seeds don’t really care what kind of sweetener you use. Of course, it won’t preserve like traditional jam that’s been cooked and canned, but it’s so easy to whip up, you can do small batches to keep in the fridge.
I had to give it a try, sugar-free of course, and I mixed mine with raspberries. I figured raspberries have so many seeds anyway, the addition of a few tablespoons of chia seed would go practically unnoticed. It was delicious and I’ve used it in so many recipes since. A great way to enjoy a little keto friendly jam!
Keto Chia Seed Recipes
Keto Rosemary Parmesan Crackers
Keto Blueberry Coconut Smoothies
Chia Seed Wraps
Matcha Chia Pudding
Raspberry Chia Seed Jam - Sugar-Free
Ingredients
- 8 oz frozen raspberries
- 2 tablespoon Swerve Sweetener
- 2 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the berries, sweetener, and water. Bring to a boil and cook until berries are soft enough to mash with a fork. Mash to desired consistency.
- Remove from heat and stir in chia seeds. Let cool. Transfer to a glass jar and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours to set.
- Keep refrigerated. The jam will last up to a week.
Robin Mureiko says
I can’t wait to try this! What a great addition to the breakfast at our B&B! Thanks for the chance to enter!
Stacy @Stacy Makes Cents says
We like them in overnight oats!
Angie J. says
I use Chia Seeds in everything..oats/overnight oats, smoothies, salads, healthy cookies, etc. Love them!!!
Midge says
Before I ever went ‘low carb’, I have used chia to thicken my sausage gravy. It’s delicious I now make chocolate pudding and thicken sauces. I also take a tablespoon of chia every morning in water, for my health.
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
I was just explaining what the heck Chia is to my neighbor last night. As soon as I get a call from my dad about it (which could happen at any time) I think it is official that everyone knows about it. I have only used it in drinks. This seems like an obvious idea. I’ll have to tell my neighbor;)
Carolyn says
Haha, if your dad knows about it, everyone must know about it. That made me giggle!
Regan @ Cabot says
I’m definitely trying this. I’ve tried a couple of the no sugar added versions of jellies & jams available in grocery stores and they are not up to par 🙂 This looks delish!
Terry Sz says
That jam looks Really good!
Marcia says
That looks great – I haven’t tried them yet. I sure wish I had invented the Chia Pet!!!
Katty says
I love chia seeds in my whole juices! 🙂
tara pittman says
I use it in yogurt every day
Trisha says
I’ve made similar with blueberries before, can’t wait to try this one!
Trisha says
just made it. Not as “jelled up” as the blueberry, but very yummy. I just ate it in a bowl, with some plain kefir and cinnamon on it. Very good. I used a more powdery sweetener tho vs. something granular, that might have been part of it. But the blueberries stay more chunky and frz raspberries don’t.
Kel says
Yes – I mixed it with almond milk. I am definitely trying your recipe!
Ivana says
I’ve made chia in puddings in a jar with fruit. Yummy
Anthony says
I eat chia almost every morning in my low-carb breakfast “cereal.”
Iris Gonzalez says
I just love these products, hope to win!
Michelle says
I’ve used chia seeds in smoothies, granola bars and pudding. 🙂
Eat Good 4 Life says
I made this a while back and love it. This is the only thing I have now instead of store bought jam or marmalade. It is the best thing ever!!
Ruthann Biel says
I have used chia seeds as an egg substitute when making muffins.
Katie says
I have only just started using them, but I like them stirred into my oatmeal
tea says
Ever since you said that you used it in cereal, I’ve been wanting to try it that way, but I just put it in plain cranberry tea. It was like bubble tea.