Description
Sweet cherry magic meets Italian amaretto liqueur in this luscious homemade cherry amaretto jam, blending ripe fruit and almond-kissed spirit. Preserving summer’s bounty, each spoonful promises a delightful taste of pure comfort you’ll savor on toast, pastries, or straight from the jar.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups (950 ml) cherries (dark sweet or tart, pitted)
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- 1 package (1.75 ounces / 50 g) powdered pectin
Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) almond extract
- ¼ cup (60 ml) amaretto liqueur
Instructions
- Prepare cherries by meticulously removing pits and chopping into uniform pieces. For frozen cherries, allow complete thawing and thoroughly drain excess moisture to ensure optimal jam consistency.
- Transfer chopped cherries into a spacious cooking vessel, incorporating sugar and lemon juice. Apply medium heat, stirring consistently while gently crushing cherries with a wooden utensil.
- Monitor the mixture as it transitions from initial simmering to a soft bubbling state. Continue cooking approximately 10 minutes, observing cherries gradually disintegrating and sugar dissolving completely.
- Introduce pectin into the simmering fruit mixture, elevating heat to achieve a vigorous rolling boil. Maintain constant stirring for 1-2 minutes to activate pectin’s thickening properties.
- Remove culinary preparation from direct heat source, immediately incorporating amaretto liqueur and delicate almond extract. Gently fold these aromatic ingredients to distribute evenly throughout the jam.
- Carefully transfer the hot, fragrant mixture into sanitized glass containers, ensuring precise spacing of approximately quarter-inch from container rim. Meticulously cleanse jar edges to guarantee proper sealing.
- For long-term preservation, submerge sealed jars in rapidly boiling water for 10 minutes. Alternatively, allow jam to cool naturally and store in refrigerator for short-term consumption or freeze for extended preservation.
Notes
- Choose ripe, sweet cherries for the most flavorful jam, preferably dark red or black varieties for deeper color and taste.
- Adjust sugar levels based on cherry sweetness; start with less and taste as you cook to prevent overly sweet results.
- Experiment with different liqueurs like kirsch or bourbon for unique flavor variations that complement the cherry’s natural profile.
- Use pectin carefully to ensure proper jam consistency; too much can make the texture rubbery, while too little prevents proper setting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg