Description
Sweet summer cherries dance in this classic homemade cherry jam, bringing robust flavor and rich crimson color to breakfast tables. Preserving fresh fruit becomes simple with careful cooking and easy canning techniques that connect you directly to seasonal garden delights.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Fruits:
- 1 kg (2 lbs) pitted cherries
Sweeteners and Flavor Enhancers:
- 400–500 grams (1 lb) white sugar
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) vanilla extract (optional)
Optional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) butter (optional)
- Pectin (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse fresh cherries thoroughly under cool running water, then carefully remove the pits using a cherry pitter or a small knife, ensuring no stems remain.
- Chop the pitted cherries into uniform, small pieces to promote even cooking and consistent texture throughout the jam.
- Transfer the chopped cherries into a sturdy, heavy-bottomed saucepan, mixing in granulated sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice to enhance flavor and help with natural pectin development.
- Position the saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring the mixture continuously to prevent scorching and promote even sugar dissolution.
- Allow the cherry mixture to reach a rolling boil, maintaining a vigorous stirring pattern to prevent sticking and ensure proper heat distribution.
- Incorporate vanilla extract and a small amount of unsalted butter to balance flavors and reduce potential foaming during the cooking process.
- Continue cooking, reducing heat slightly, and monitor the mixture’s consistency, stirring frequently to prevent burning and promote thickening.
- Perform a gel test by placing a small spoonful of the jam on a pre-chilled ceramic plate; if the jam wrinkles when pushed and doesn’t immediately run, it has reached the perfect setting point.
- Carefully ladle the hot jam into sterilized glass jars, leaving approximately half an inch of headspace to allow for potential expansion during cooling.
- Securely seal the jars with clean lids, then allow them to cool completely at room temperature, creating a vacuum seal.
- Once cooled, store the jam in a dark, cool pantry or refrigerate to maintain optimal flavor and prevent spoilage.
Notes
- Choose ripe, sweet cherries for the most flavorful jam, avoiding overripe or bruised fruits.
- Remove stems and pit cherries carefully to prevent any hard pieces in the final preserve.
- Use a candy thermometer to ensure the jam reaches the perfect consistency around 220°F for optimal setting.
- Swap white sugar with coconut sugar or honey for a lower-glycemic alternative that adds depth to the flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Breakfast, Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg