Description
Homemade Sour Cherry Jam celebrates summer’s bounty with intense fruit flavors and delightful sweetness. Polish kitchens inspire this simple preserve that delivers pure seasonal magic you can enjoy long after harvest ends.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups sour cherries, pitted and chopped
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Flavoring Ingredient:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, seeds from 1 vanilla bean, or vanilla extract
Instructions
- Gently merge sour cherries with sugar in a spacious cooking vessel, allowing the fruits to macerate and release their vibrant crimson juices.
- Infuse the cherry mixture with delicate vanilla essence, introducing depth and aromatic complexity to the developing preserve.
- Elevate the pan to medium temperature, stirring consistently to prevent scorching and ensure even heat distribution.
- Allow the mixture to surge into an enthusiastic, bubbling boil, signaling the transformation from raw ingredients to luscious jam.
- Reduce the thermal intensity, permitting the liquid to gently simmer and concentrate, gradually thickening into a luxurious spread.
- Monitor the consistency closely, observing the jam’s gradual viscosity as it transforms from liquid to a spreadable texture.
- Exercise culinary vigilance by continuously stirring, preventing any potential adherence to the pan’s bottom and maintaining a smooth, uniform texture.
- Taste and adjust the sweetness profile, balancing the cherries’ natural tartness with additional sugar if desired.
- Once the desired consistency is achieved, carefully transfer the molten jam into sanitized glass receptacles.
- Preserve the jam through refrigeration for short-term enjoyment or utilize professional canning techniques for extended preservation.
Notes
- Experiment with different vanilla flavors like bourbon or Madagascar vanilla to enhance the cherry’s natural tartness.
- Gradually reduce sugar for a more intense, natural fruit flavor that highlights the sour cherries’ unique taste.
- Use a candy thermometer to ensure the jam reaches the perfect gel point around 220°F, preventing runny or overly thick consistency.
- Consider adding a splash of almond extract to complement the cherry’s deep, rich flavor and create a more complex taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg