Homemade cherry jam recipe

When spring fills the market with this nutritional treasure it's a great time to make a homemade cherry jam. An ideal preparation to sweeten desserts, breakfasts or snacks for the whole family.

Recipe to prepare homemade cherry jam

If there is something positive about this recipe, it is that it is very simple to prepare. To prepare homemade jam of any kind, the only necessary ingredients are sugar, lemon and the fruit that we like the most.

In addition, it only requires a little time during cooking, vigilance so that it does not stick and patience to remove the bones from the fruit. But it is worth the effort, as the end result is always delicious.

It can be used to make a classic breakfast and spread on buttered toast. They also add a touch of sweetness to a yogurt or a touch of fruit to a chia pudding. It is used to fill cookies or any type of cake.

Dare to prepare this recipe: Donuts jam fillings

Homemade cherry jam

Here is the basic recipe for a medium quantity of cherries. How it has a good conservation it can be used to make more quantity, respecting the proportions. Or prepare jams of other fruits and have a good assortment of them in the pantry.

Ingredients needed

• 500 grams of fresh cherries.
• 250 grams of sugar.
• 1/2 lemon.

Step by Step

1. Before starting, prepare a bowl to pit the cherries. In this way, all the juice they release is collected and thus not wasted.
2. Once boned, weigh the cherries to calculate exactly the amount of sugar needed. This is half the weight of the fruit, so if 400 grams of cherries remain, only 200 grams of sugar are added.
3. Add the lemon juice and the sugar on top of the cherries, pour into the bowl with the juice and stir well so that all the ingredients are integrated. Cover and let stand 1 hour or so.
4. Put the mixture in a saucepan and cook over high heat until it starts to boil. Then lower to a low heat and continue cooking for 1/2 hour. It is necessary to stir from time to time with a silicone spatula so that the sugar does not stick.
5. Once this time has passed, mash the cherry jam. The final texture depends on the taste of each one. This can be completely smooth or leave some whole pieces of the fruit.
6. To check that it is ready, put a little bit on a plate and pick it up with your fingers. If a thread forms between them when separating them, it is ready. Then, remove from heat and let cool.
7. Although it may seem that the texture is liquid, with the passage of time it acquires a thicker consistency.
8. To pack it safely it is necessary to use sterilized jars. This is done by immersing the containers in boiling water for 10 minutes. Afterwards it is necessary to keep warm until the moment of use.
9. Fill with the jam that is still hot without filling the jar (Leave a space of 1 centimeter). Cover and return to a pot with water. Let simmer for another 30 minutes to eliminate any possible pathogens.

If you prefer a less sweet option, it is also possible to prepare jams without sugar or with other sweeteners, such as one with red fruits.

Ideal cookies to accompany with cherry jam

With this recipe some cookies with a jam center are prepared that they are a perfect companion for a cup of tea or coffee. They can also be taken as a dessert.

Ingredients needed for 600 grams of dough

• 3 hard-boiled or boiled eggs.
• 250 grams of wheat flour.
• 125 grams of butter at room temperature.
• 100 grams of sugar.
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
• The zest of 1 lemon.
• Milk.
• Homemade cherry jam.

How to prepare them

1. The first step is separate the whites and yolks from the cooked eggs. Pass the last ones through a sieve or fine strainer.
2. Next, make a volcano with the flour and place the yolks in the center. Then add the butter cut into pieces, the sugar, the vanilla and the lemon.
3. Mix well until obtaining a homogeneous paste and wrap in paper film to keep in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
4. Flour a work surface and roll out the dough with a rolling pin. Ideally, it is about 1/2 centimeter thick. Then, shape the cookies with a round cutter about 2 inches in diameter.
5. It is necessary to make twice as many as you want to mount, because in the end they are joined two by two. With a smaller cutter (2 centimeters in diameter) make a hole in the center, in the middle of the cookies.
6. Cover a baking tray with parchment paper and place the pieces without a hole. Then, put the biscuits with a hole on top and paint with a little milk for a brighter result.
7. Fill the hole with a teaspoon of cherry jam.
8. Bake in a hot oven at 170 degrees for 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.

Discover other dishes with cherries: Antioxidant smoothie with blueberry and cherry

With the cherry jam it is possible to savor this fruit all year round

To prepare the homemade cherry jam, it is best to take advantage of its optimal season. In this case, between the months of May and July. In this way, the fruits have the maximum flavor and the result is truly exceptional.

When buying it is preferable to choose those with smooth and shiny skin, without signs of bumps or stains. Those that are dark in color are usually sweeter, while size does not seem to have implications for flavor or sweetness.

Cherries are a fruit that contains little pectin, so the end result is usually a little lighter than other jams. To obtain a denser texture it is possible to add some type of gelling agent (gelatin or powdered pectin).

All foods prepared and packaged at home, such as jams, are kept in a dark, cool and dry place. The ideal temperature is between 10 and 21 degrees. Once opened it is necessary to keep in the refrigerator for an approximate duration of 1 month.

Long periods of time can cause nutrient loss, as well as changes in smell, taste, and texture. Nevertheless, its consumption is safe if the jar remains intact and shows no signs of mold or yeast contamination.