Easy roasted cherries develop an even sweeter taste and are made into a delicious cherry freezer jam in just minutes. A dash of almond extract makes this cherry jam taste even better than pie filling!
PREP TIME 5 minutesminutes
COOK TIME 30 minutesminutes
TOTAL TIME 35 minutesminutes
YIELD 81-cup jars of jam
Ingredients
To Prep the Cherries:
5 - 6cupsfresh cherrieswashed and pits removed
1 1/3cupsugar
To Make the Jam:
2 1/3cupssugar
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4teaspoonalmond extract
1(1.75 oz) box Sure Jell Original Premium Fruit Pectin
3/4cupwater
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Toss the cherries in sugar in an 8x8 baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring half way through. Mash the cherries into a chunky sauce and let cool.
Scrape the cherry sauce into a large mixing bowl and add the remaining sugar, lemon juice, and almond extract to the roasted cherries. Stir everything together and let sit for 10 minutes.
Add the packet of SureJell and water to a small sauce pan and stir them together. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Immediately pour the mixture into the prepared cherries and stir for 3 minutes.
Immediately transfer the cherry jam to the prepared storage containers. Let them sit on the counter for 24 hours before freezing.
Recipe Notes
Variations:
We love how the almond extract is reminiscent of our favorite cherry crisp recipe but you can easily leave it out or substitute it with an equal amount of vanilla extract. You could also substitute lime juice for the lemon for a cherry limeade inspired freezer jam.