Cranberry Bacon Jam is a savory-sweet spread made with crispy bacon, caramelized onions, tart cranberries, and sweet maple syrup with a touch of chili powder. It is perfect for sandwiches, cheeses, or as an appetizer dip. It’s a flavorful twist on my popular Onion Bacon Jam, which you will want to try, too! Jams are not just fruity and sweet anymore!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Bacon: Look for thick-cut bacon for my bacon jam recipes, including this one. I don’t want the crispy pieces to get ‘lost’ in the other ingredients. Once you have cooked the bacon, take it out of the skillet and leave about 4 tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet. This is used to caramelize the onions. For a lighter option, try turkey bacon.
- Onions: I caramelized about 3 cups of diced yellow onions (about 2 large onions) and diced shallots. The shallots add a sweeter onion flavor.
- Brown Sugar: Light brown sugar adds sweetness to the jam. It also helps create a caramelized, sticky texture that binds the jam together.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar gives the jam a little tang. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you could substitute white wine vinegar, lemon juice, or red wine vinegar. But, alternatives could alter the taste a bit.
- Maple Syrup: For the most authentic maple flavor, use pure maple syrup.
- Chili Powder: Chili powder adds a subtle kick to the jam.
- Cranberries: For a burst of tart flavor, I like using fresh cranberries. But, you can use frozen berries. If using frozen cranberries, thaw them first and drain off any excess liquid. The jam might have a slightly softer texture than using fresh berries, but it will still be delicious!
Delicious Ways To Use Cranberry Bacon Jam
Cranberry Bacon Jam is more versatile than you might think! Here are some tasty ways to use this jam:
- Sandwiches and Burgers: Spread it on turkey (perfect for these leftover turkey sliders), chicken, or pulled pork sandwiches, or use it as a topping for burgers. Yum!
- Appetizer Dip: Serve it as a dip with crackers, crostini, or tortilla chips, alongside soft cheeses (like homemade mozzarella) or smoked meats.
- Breakfast: Spread it on toast (sourdough bread would be amazing) or on pancakes and waffles for a smoky-sweet breakfast treat. It is delicious on top of a plate of scrambled eggs, too.
- Grilled Cheese: Elevate your grilled cheese sandwiches by spreading it on the bread before grilling. I already have a grilled cheese with spicy tomato jam, so it’s time for one with cranberry bacon jam, too!
- Pizza: Use it as a topping on flatbreads or pizzas, especially with ingredients like goat cheese, arugula, or caramelized onions.
Let me know if you found another delicious way to use this cranberry bacon jam!
How To Store Cranberry Bacon Jam
To store cranberry bacon jam, let it cool completely before transferring it to a clean, airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks. You can also freeze the jam for up to 3 months.
Can Cranberry Bacon Jam Be Canned?
No. This jam cannot be safely canned. The National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) states no cured meat should be canned. The NCHFP states that cured meat could be much denser than raw meat which could hinder safe canning processes.
Cranberry Bacon Jam
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick-cut bacon, diced
- 2 large yellow onions, finely diced (about 3 cups)
- 2 large (or 6 small) shallots, diced (about 1 ½ cups)
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup (79 g) apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup (85 g) pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon chili powder, optional, but highly recommended
- 1 ½ cups (150 g) fresh cranberries
Instructions
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy.
- Remove the cooked bacon from the skillet, place it on a plate, and set it aside. Leave about 4 tablespoons of grease in the skillet, discarding the rest.
- To the skillet with the reserved bacon grease, add the onion and diced shallots. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook until the onions and shallots are caramelized, 15-20 minutes, stirring often.
- Mix in the garlic, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, chili powder, cranberries, and pieces of cooked bacon.
- Simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until the cranberries have broken down and the mixture has thickened. It should be the consistency of jam.
- Serve warm or cold, but you may want to warm slightly if it has been refrigerated.
Video
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What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
This cranberry bacon jam is incredible! Sweet and savory, it’s perfect on toast or as a topping for burgers.
Elizabeth
I love all of our onion bacon jams, and this is no exception! (I couldn't stop eating it on crostini.) This would be delicious on turkey!
Annabelle
This would be a great choice to add to your tables at Thanksgiving–the cranberries make it great for the winter holidays!
Bella
I didn't know about this jam, but it's great! The bacon gives it such a rich flavor, and the cranberries balance it out perfectly.
Selena
A perfect blend of sweet and savory! I used it on a grilled cheese sandwich and it was delicious. Highly recommend!
How long would this last ? Can you freeze it? Could you vacuum pack it for longer shelf life?
Hi Catherine – here is what it says in the blog post. Hope that helps!
How To Store Cranberry Bacon Jam
To store cranberry bacon jam, let it cool completely before transferring it to a clean, airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks. You can also freeze the jam for up to 3 months.
Can Cranberry Bacon Jam Be Canned?
No. This jam cannot be safely canned. The National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) states no cured meat should be canned. The NCHFP states that cured meat could be much denser than raw meat which could hinder safe canning processes.