‘Jam’ sessions at Newton business produce Christmas-inspired concoction

Sometimes it feels like Nancy’s Canned Creations has every flavor of jams and jellies imaginable. Even the eponymous business owner knows that’s not true, but it doesn’t stop her from trying. Every year she tries to make at least one new jam, and the holiday-inspired creation introduced last year is back on shelves.

Nancy Woody, owner of Nancy’s Canned Creations and the downtown Newton shop Nancy’s General Store, calls the concoction her “Christmas Jam.” Made of strawberries, cranberries, sugar and pectin, Woody says it is a pretty simple recipe, but it caught on so well with customers in 2022 that she brought it back.

“It worked really well,” Woody said, noting that because of its limited run on shelves it has not been entered in contests at the state fair. “It’s only available for a couple of months a year because of the cranberries. You can usually get them from October to December, and then they’re gone until the next year.”

Christmas Jam quickly sold out last year. At the 2023 farmers markets where Woody frequents, she met with a customer who asked about the product’s return before the markets concluded. “Well,” she says, “it all depends on whether or not I can find any cranberries. I was able to find some to make one batch!”

So far this year Woody has made about seven batches of Christmas Jam. At 13 jars a batch, she’s certainly got enough to go around.

“The last two weeks of Christmas it really sells because nothing says ‘Christmas’ more than Christmas Jam,” Woody said. “It’s just strawberries and cranberries. Doesn’t get more Christmas than that.”