Cranberry-orange CBD jam: a winter recipe

Any food preparation containing ingested CBD has, since 15 May 2026, been withdrawn from the French market by the DGAL under EU regulation 2015/2283 on novel foods. This recipe therefore concerns personal use, made from a lawfully held CBD oil, and cannot be sold. Keep the infused jars out of reach of children, animals and vulnerable people.

As for the season, the French winter is the peak period for citrus: navel and blood oranges, Corsican clementines, mandarins. The cranberry, for its part, is mostly imported but remains available fresh or frozen until January. Its great culinary quality lies in its natural richness in pectin: it sets on its own after 10 minutes of cooking, with no added gelling agent.

Ingredients

• 340 g of fresh or frozen cranberries
• 50 g of brown sugar or demerara
• 60 ml of maple syrup (or a mild honey)
• The juice of one orange (≈ 80 ml) and its finely grated zest
• CBD oil, in a quantity adjusted to your personal use

Method

1. Tip the cranberries (frozen ones straight from the freezer, no thawing) into a heavy-based pan.
2. Add the sugar, maple syrup, orange juice and zest. Bring gently to a simmer.
3. Let the berries burst for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring regularly.
4. Reduce over a low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until the jam coats the spoon.
5. Take off the heat and let it cool to around 50-55 °C before stirring in the CBD oil: above 70 °C, CBD degrades.
6. Pour into a sterilised jar, seal and refrigerate. Keeps for 7 to 10 days in the fridge.

A 5 % oil (50 mg/ml) added at a rate of 4 ml brings around 200 mg of CBD to the whole jar, that is ≈ 33 mg per portion, well above the provisional safe daily dose published by the EFSA in February 2026, set at around 2 mg/day for 70 kg. A teaspoon remains a more reasonable portion than a whole slice of toast, and a lightly dosed oil narrows the gap. Always check the certificate of analysis of your oil: synthetic cannabinoids (HHC, H4CBD, THCP) have been prohibited since 2024. Ingested CBD is not advised for pregnant or breastfeeding women, women of childbearing age, minors or people on medical treatment.

• Five spice with orange: a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise during cooking.
• Cranberry-pear: replace half the cranberries with 200 g of diced ripe pears.
• Blood orange: for a ruby colour and a more pronounced bitterness.

Enjoy it on a slice of sourdough, with a cheese board, or as a filling for puff-pastry turnovers.

CBD is not a medicine. In the event of persistent stress or insomnia, consult a healthcare professional.

Can frozen cranberries be used?

Yes, straight from the freezer, with no thawing. They release their juice as they cook and the natural pectin works just as well.

Why not add the CBD oil at the start of cooking?

CBD degrades above 70 °C. Stirring it in at the end of cooking, into a mixture that has cooled slightly, preserves the molecule better.

How long does the jam keep?

7 to 10 days in the refrigerator, in a sealed jar. Long sterilisation is not recommended for CBD jams, as prolonged heat alters the molecule.

Which CBD oil should be chosen for this recipe?

A lightly dosed oil (≤ 5 %) is enough for personal culinary use, with a recent certificate of analysis and no synthetic cannabinoids.

• Conseil d'État, 29 Dec. 2022, no. 444887 (flowers/leaves) — primary
• Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 Novel Food — EUR-Lex — primary
• ANMV — Index of veterinary SPCs (no veterinary CBD approved) — primary