Pitted Cherry Jam for the Refrigerator or Freezer
Pitted cherries simmer with sugar into a soft, spoonable jam with plenty of fruit pieces.
Pitted cherries simmer with sugar into a soft, spoonable jam with plenty of fruit pieces. A splash of lemon juice balances the sweetness without pretending to make this batch safe for pantry storage. Give the fruit time to release juice before bringing it to a simmer. Check a small spoonful on a chilled saucer and stop when it mounds softly after cooling. Wash, stem and pit cherries; weigh one kilogram after pitting and check for stray pits. Toss cherries with sugar and stand 30 minutes until juicy. Bring to a gentle boil; simmer 20 to 30 minutes, stirring and skimming as needed. Add water only if fruit catches before releasing juice.
Recipe card
Pitted Cherry Jam for the Refrigerator or Freezer
Equipment: Cherry pitter, heavy pot, cold saucer
Ingredients
Instructions
Pit fruit
Wash, stem and pit cherries; weigh one kilogram after pitting and check for stray pits.
Macérate
Toss cherries with sugar and stand 30 minutes until juicy.
Cook
Bring to a gentle boil; simmer 20 to 30 minutes, stirring and skimming as needed. Add water only if fruit catches before releasing juice.
Test
Stir in lemon juice and cool a drop on a cold plate; it should wrinkle or hold a soft mound.
Chill
Cool in shallow clean containers and refrigerate promptly or freeze.
How to tell when it is ready
Cooled sample softly mounds without watery runoff.
Tips
- Weigh cherries after removing pits.
- Macérate fruit to draw out juice before heating.
- Keep the boil gentle to preserve pieces.
- Judge set only after a drop cools.
Troubleshooting
- If too thin, simmer a little longer and retest cold.
- If too firm, warm a serving with a spoon of water.
Substitutions
- Use another ripe pitted sweet cherry variety, tasting for sweetness.
- Use bottled lemon juice with the same measured tablespoon for flavour, not as a canning guarantee.
Variations
- Blend a portion for a smoother jam.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon to one small serving.
Serving suggestions
- Spread on toast.
- Swirl into plain yogurt.
- Spoon over cheesecake.
- Serve with pancakes.
Make ahead
Prepare the measured ingredients in advance. Refrigerate up to 2 weeks or freeze; do not pantry-store.
Storage
Refrigerate up to 2 weeks or freeze; do not pantry-store.
Food safety
No tested canning schedule supplied; refrigerator or freezer storage only.
Frequently asked questions
Can I shelf-store this jam?
No. The source lacks a tested canning schedule; refrigerate or freeze.
How should I store pitted cherry refrigerator jam?
Refrigerate up to 2 weeks or freeze; do not pantry-store.
Spread on toast. Refrigerate up to 2 weeks or freeze; do not pantry-store.
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