Description
Cherry Jelly represents one of the most rewarding canning projects you can undertake in your kitchen — smooth, jewel-toned, and bursting with pure cherry flavor. This homemade jelly combines tart cherry juice, sugar, and pectin into a glossy spread packed with antioxidants and heart-healthy polyphenols.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups tart cherry juice (from 3 lbs of fresh sour cherries)
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (optional, enhances flavor and acidity)
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 box (1.75 oz) powdered pectin
- Optional Substitutions:
- Frozen tart cherries for fresh
- Low-sugar pectin to reduce sugar by 50%
- Honey or maple syrup for natural sweetness
- Bottled tart cherry juice if fresh unavailable
Instructions
- Rinse 3 lbs fresh tart cherries thoroughly and place in a medium saucepan with ½ cup water.
- Cook over medium-high heat until cherries pop and release juice (5–7 minutes).
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes to extract maximum flavor.
- Pour mixture into a jelly bag or cheesecloth and let drip 2–4 hours without squeezing.
- Measure 4 cups of strained juice, add 2 tablespoons lemon juice if using.
- Bring juice to a full rolling boil in a saucepan over high heat.
- Slowly sprinkle in powdered pectin while stirring continuously; boil exactly 1 minute.
- Add 4 cups sugar gradually, stirring until fully dissolved.
- Return to a hard boil for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat and immediately ladle jelly into sterilized jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace.
- Wipe rims clean, apply lids, and process jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes (15 minutes above 6,000 ft).
- Cool jars undisturbed for 24–48 hours to allow jelly to set completely.
Notes
Yields about 6–7 jars. Properly canned jelly lasts up to 18 months in a cool, dark place. Once opened, refrigerate and use within 3–4 weeks. For low-sugar variations, use Pomona’s Universal or Sure-Jell Low-Sugar pectin. Avoid squeezing the jelly bag to maintain clarity.
- Prep Time: 30-40 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Preserves & Canning
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 94
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0.1g
- Saturated Fat: 0.001g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 0.1g
- Protein: 0.1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: cherry jelly, tart cherries, canning, preserves, fruit spread