Description
Sweet summer cherries dance through this classic homemade cherry jam, delivering pure seasonal delight. Rich with natural fruit sweetness and a hint of lemon, you’ll savor each spoonful of this rustic preserve perfect for morning toast or elegant dessert garnishes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 kilogram (2 pounds) pitted cherries
- 400–500 grams (1 pound) white sugar
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Ingredient:
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Carefully pit and halve fresh cherries, ensuring no stems or leaves remain.
- Transfer cherries to a heavy-bottomed pot with thick base for even heat distribution.
- Combine cherries with sugar and fresh lemon juice, gently mixing to coat evenly.
- Heat the mixture over medium-high temperature, stirring consistently to prevent scorching.
- Allow mixture to reach rapid boiling point, then reduce heat to medium-low for gentle simmering.
- Continuously stir the jam, removing any white foam that accumulates on surface using a metal spoon.
- Add vanilla extract and small piece of butter to enhance flavor and minimize foam formation.
- Monitor jam’s consistency, cooking approximately 20-25 minutes until mixture thickens and coats back of spoon.
- Perform gel test by placing small amount on chilled ceramic plate; jam should wrinkle when pushed with finger.
- Carefully ladle piping hot jam into sanitized glass containers, leaving 1/4-inch headspace.
- Secure lids tightly and allow jars to cool completely at room temperature.
- Store sealed jam in refrigerator for optimal preservation, consuming within 3-4 weeks.
Notes
- Choose sweet, ripe cherries for the most intense flavor and natural sweetness in your jam.
- Use a candy thermometer to ensure precise jam consistency, aiming for 220°F (soft-ball stage) for perfect setting.
- Remove pits carefully to prevent any hard fragments in the final jam, using a cherry pitter for quick and safe removal.
- Reduce sugar content by using low-sugar pectin or swapping some sugar with natural sweeteners like honey for a healthier version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 172
- Sugar: 42 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 1 mg