Description
Sweet summer memories come alive with this Bing Cherry Freezer Jam, blending ripe fruit and simple ingredients into a luscious preserve. Chefs and home cooks will savor this quick, no-cook method that locks in fresh cherry flavor for months of delightful spreading.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 1/2 cups Bing cherries, pitted and halved (measure after cutting)
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
Sweeteners:
- 2 tablespoons raw honey
Additives and Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons instant pectin
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Crush ripe Bing cherries into a spacious mixing vessel, ensuring a uniform texture.
- Incorporate granulated sugar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and a pinch of salt, blending ingredients until they create a uniform, glossy mixture.
- Sprinkle instant pectin over the cherry mixture, stirring methodically to prevent clumping and guarantee even distribution.
- Drizzle raw honey into the preparation, gently folding until the liquid integrates seamlessly with the fruit mixture.
- Select clean, freezer-compatible containers with secure lids, carefully portioning the jam while maintaining approximately half an inch of open space at the top to accommodate expansion during freezing.
- Allow the filled containers to rest at ambient temperature, enabling the pectin to activate and thicken the jam’s consistency.
- Securely fasten container lids, ensuring an airtight seal to preserve flavor and prevent freezer burn.
- Transfer containers to the freezer, where the jam will remain stable and delicious for up to twelve months, ready to be enjoyed as a vibrant, fresh condiment.
Notes
- Check cherry ripeness for optimal flavor, selecting deep red, firm, and glossy fruits from local farmers markets or orchards.
- Reduce sugar content by using low-sugar pectin or substituting part of the sugar with natural sweeteners like stevia for a healthier version.
- Prevent fruit browning by adding a splash of lemon juice during preparation, which helps maintain vibrant color and freshness.
- Use wide-mouth freezer-safe glass jars or BPA-free plastic containers to store jam, ensuring easy scooping and preventing potential chemical leaching.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Curing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 123
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg