An easy edible gift for a handmade holiday: Spiced Cranberry Jam
Somewhere along the way I became a wholehearted advocate for handmade gifts. It’s surprising to me too — I used to plan Black Friday and Cyber Monday with military precision, scouring stores from J.Crew to Bloomingdales like it was a sport. I literally timed how long to linger on each site, clicking through deals in my pajamas until my eyes were red and my wrists begged for mercy.
So this year, not buying a single thing felt both strange and a little thrilling. Instead of racing through checkout pages, I spent time in the kitchen making small, personal gifts: a pot of cranberry jam, jars of bath salts, and a pan of pumpkin spice bars that my husband Greg declared “Delicious Crumble Bars.” The pumpkin bars disappeared fast, but the spiced cranberry jam and Epsom salts were neatly bottled and gifted to friends and neighbors.
If you’re hesitant about giving handmade presents, consider edible gifts. Everyone loves food — especially sweet spreads that pair with cookies, toast, donuts, or even a spoon straight from the jar. A homemade jam is simple, thoughtful, and appreciated by nearly everyone on your list.
Below I share my spiced cranberry jam recipe, inspired by Ball’s Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce. I originally shared this as part of a holiday series; if cranberries aren’t your preference, there are countless other simple, delicious homemade options to prepare and pass along this season. A little jar of something made by hand feels special in a way that store-bought items rarely do.
SPICED CRANBERRY JAM WITH ROSEMARY AND CINNAMON
Adapted from Ball’s “Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce”
GET THE RECIPE AT YOUR HOMEBASED MOM
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