Strawberry Rhubarb Refrigerator Jam is a quick and easy 15-minute stove top jam made with fresh ginger, lemon zest and a drizzle of honey. Add a slather of this no refined sugar jam to our crispy strawberry jam roll cookies.
You are going to love making Strawberry Rhubarb Refrigerator Jam as it is a fuss free super easy way to make homemade jam. There is No- Added sugar, no sure jell pectin, no sterilizing jars, and no added chia seeds.
How to Use?
Strawberry Rhubarb Refrigerator Jam (AKA Bammer's Jammers) adds a delicately sweet topping to yogurt, smoothie bowls, oatmeal, toast, ice-cream, peanut butter sandwiches, on top of pancakes, scones and you name it. This jam is spreadable, spoon able and we are sure it will not last long in your home. If you like this quick and easy jam recipe, you are going to love our Apricot Freezer Jam Recipe too.
Stocking up on Spring Produce
Don’t you just love eating seasonally? This week at the farmer’s market there were fresh rhubarb, strawberries, radishes and artichokes. We made a huge haul. Be sure to try our Thai Grilled Watermelon Salad made with fresh radishes, cucumbers and grilled watermelon with a zippy Thai dressing.
If you found fresh whole artichokes, be sure to try our Mom’s Best Italian Stuffed Artichokes. They are so delicious when fresh and in season.
Take advantage of the stone fruits and strawberries when they are in season with our Summer Salad with Strawberry Rose Dressing. So light and delicious.
Can you guess the Secret Addition?
We added ginger. Yep Ginger! Ginger is warming and adds a little zip along with the lemon zest. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) both Strawberries and rhubarb are cooling foods and to balance this we added warming ginger. If you want to refresh your memory about warming, cooling and neutral foods in TCM, be sure to read our article Introducing the Five Energies of Food.
In addition, you will find adding spices and herbs to foods will reduce your need to have foods so sweet. Instead you enhance the flavors, instead of covering up flavors. Novel idea, right?
Can I make this Refrigerator Jam Vegan?
No, not unless you are willing to add chia seeds, granulated sugar or sure jell. Maple syrup responds very differently compared to honey when heated and allowed to cool. Maple syrup gets thin and if not, pure maple syrup it can even crystallize on you. If you are into the chia seeds you can add this at the end of the cooking process, but we are not real found of little seeds in our jam. How about you?
Honey thickens with heating and if you have not tried our Honey Candied Meyer Lemon Slices, you should. So good. Great for pretty spring cake toppers like on our Icebox Lavender Lemon Angel Food Cake.
Is Rhubarb safe to eat?
Rhubarb is poisonous! Now that we have you scared shitless, let us explain. The stalks of rhubarb are fine and no problems. However, in the leaves of rhubarb there is oxalate and that can make you sick if eaten, especially in large quantities. Do not eat the leaves of the rhubarb plant and you are good to go.
Rhubarb is technically speaking a vegetable. It has several vitamins and minerals and fiber. It contains a natural laxative property called sennoside to help you stay regular. If you are familiar with the brand Senna or Senokot? Kind of the same concept but much gentler action.
What does rhubarb taste like?
Rhubarb is super tart! It needs to hang out with some sweet friends like strawberry’s and a little natural sweetener to take the edge off the tart.
We love adding a little Strawberry Rhubarb Refrigerator Jam to breakfast bars, on top of baked puffed pastry with a dollop of ice cream on top, or simply on top of oatmeal for a delicious treat. What is your favorite way to eat Strawberry Rhubarb Refrigerator Jam.
Rhubarb for Cranberries around the Holidays
One of our favorite winter holiday treats is to make a “Strawberry Cranberry Refrigerator Jam” You can use frozen or fresh strawberries and just swap out cranberries for the rhubarb. Sometimes we even add a little sprinkle of cinnamon to give it that little holiday flare. We originally made this recipe in November 2013 and we called this Bammer’s Jammers as some of you may remember.
Strawberry Cranberry Refrigerator Jam
1 and ¼ cup fresh or frozen cranberries
2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
1.5 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1.5 teaspoon lemon zest
⅓ cup honey
½ teaspoon cinnamon – optional
What is your favorite way to eat Strawberry Rhubarb Refrigerator Jam? Please let us know in the comments.
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Strawberry Rhubarb Refrigerator Jam (No-Refined Sugar)
Ingredients
- 1.25 cups rhubarb
(1 and ¼ cups) frozen or fresh (leaves removed, washed and cut into ½ inch slices) - 2 cups strawberries frozen (or fresh) – washed, tops removed and cut into quarters (2 cups chopped)
- 1.5 teaspoons ginger (freshly grated)
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1.5 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Very important: You must remove the rhubarb leaves, roots and wash well before using.
- Add chopped rhubarb, strawberries, freshly grated ginger and honey into a saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes or until the rhubarb and strawberries have broken down and it is a nice thick jam. Add your lemon zest and stir. Remove from heat to cool.
- Enjoy over your favorite morning bagels, English muffins toast, pancakes, or even on top of your ice cream or in your thumbprint cookies or how about as a layer in a tower cake.
Notes
- This strawberry rhubarb refrigerator jam makes a small batch = total of 1.5 cups (12 ounces)
- Jam will start to thicken as it cooks and bubbles on the stovetop over medium heat. For us that took about 15 minutes. It will also thicken slightly more upon cooling.
- No pectin! There is no need to allow the jam to sit out after cooking for 24 hours like you need to do with strawberry jams that contain pectin. After your jam cools to room temperature, place it in the refrigerator in a container with a sealed lid.
- Strawberry Rhubarb Refrigerator Jam can be stored safely in your refrigerator in an airtight covered container for 2-3 weeks in a sealed container.
- Alternatively, you can store strawberry rhubarb jam in the freezer in a sealed freezer safe container for up to 6 months (be sure to leave some extra space in the container because the jam will expand when frozen)
- Thaw frozen jam in the refrigerator before using.
- This recipe should not be used for canning.
- If you want to make a holiday festive jam, replace the rhubarb with fresh or frozen cranberries and add a half a teaspoon of cinnamon.
- To make vegan and keep it refined sugar free - use maple syrup instead of honey. However, As maple syrup does not thicken the jam, you will also need to add 2-3 tablespoons of dried chia seeds to thicken.
Kevin says
How many types of fruit does this recipe work with?
HWC Magazine says
You can actually do this method with any fruit except pineapple and kiwi as they have enzymes that prevent the thickening.
Aubry says
It’s jam and Jelly season soon! Love this recipe. We have made this type of jam for as long as I can remember. Since I was a little girl with my own grandmother. Love it.
HWC Magazine says
Hi there Aubrey, it sure is. Strawberry Rhubarb refrigerator jam always brings back fond memories of strawberry picking and making jam with family. Time loved tradition. Take care
bitsandbreadcrumbs says
LOVE! What a brilliant inspiration to combine cranberries and strawberries. 🙂
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
Love the catchy name for this recipe! I don't think I had any jam that has both cranberries and strawberries together. The combination sounds delicious! And great use of ginger too. I'm a big ginger fan <3
bakeaffairs says
That sounds so delicious and mouth watering!!
The Squishy Monster says
The ginger is such a spicy and comforting touch here...love this, Bam! The title and vibrant color drew me in and the basket of beautiful ingredients and beautiful recipe kept me in =)
nusrat2010 says
Jam as good and beautiful as it gets 🙂 A winner recipe for its simplicity and freshness.
dianeskitchentable says
You should copyright the name! Sounds like someone broke into your house & stole all the good stuff - I'm sure it wasn't the boys. Excellent combination & I agree that it's just the right thing to have with afternoon tea...huh, like right now it's afternoon but alas there really is nothing at all in my cupboards, or my fridge.
Promenade Claire says
A touch of gingery heat sounds a clever idea Bobbi! I also like the idea of fridge jam - saves the effort of canning , that and the fact I don't really eat a lot of jam but do want some occasionally for sweet treats - so I can see how this one would work for me. And many congratulations to your parents, happy days x
Kathleen Richardson says
BAM, I always have cranberries in the freezer, honey in the cupboard, and ginger root in the freezer. That just leaves some frozen strawberries and I'll be all set to enjoy this fine offering. Great pictures by the way... you are getting to be quite talented in the photography department. Congrats to your mother and father on their many years together.
Culinary Flavors says
Oh I love these spontaneous ideas of the moment! Usually they end up with a delicious treat like this!
mjskit says
I've made a lot of jams but never one with cranberries. I love the simple combination of ingredients. Bet that ginger adds a zing to the jam!
Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen says
Great minds do think alike.. I've got a cranberry jam/chutney to post as well, as does Mar at Musing Mar. We must be craving the same things, only I still have hallowe'en candy. It seems I'm the only one who has no will power and am munching my way through an entire box! I love the strawberries in yours, I haven't posted mine yet.. but will link up with you if you'd like:D xx ps Happy Anniversary to your mom and dad!! Wow!!
Kristi @ My San Francisco Kitchen says
I would love to try some of your jam! 🙂
GourmetGetaways (@GourmetGetaway) says
WOW!! Clever you! You have created something delicious from bare cupboards. I love the idea of using ginger too! YUM!