Easy Sweet Cherry Jam!

Who still buys jams at the store? Now, if you said yes in your head, my real question is WHY?! This Cherry Jam is about to change everything you thought you knew, but before we get there, you need to know how this jam came about… According to the powers that be, in order to be seen on Google, I have to create content that is unique, relatable, honest, beautiful, delicious, and easy to make. It got me thinking, and so here we are, starting with unique.

Cherry jam is unique in flavour, delicious, and relatable because who doesn’t love jam? I wanted to make something that felt and tasted different from all the other bazillion chia jam recipes on the internet. A lot of them are lovely, but they tend to follow the same formula. Fruit, chia seeds, sweetener, done. This little jar has a few extra touches that make it feel special, which I will get to in a minute.

Making Your Own Jam

If you’ve never made chia jam, you’re missing out on a really quick and easy opportunity to reduce the amount of preservatives you have in something that is really supposed to be simple. Not only is it easy, but it also gives you full range to control the outcome of your jam, make this a tart cherry jam, make it a sour cherry jam or make it a sweet cherry jam – you have all the control. Isn’t that lovely? Think that chia jam is time consuming? Think again, it comes together in nearly no time at all, and it lasts longer than you think. Honestly, have I ever steered you wrong yet? I didn’t think so..moving on.

Why Chia Seeds?

Chia seeds are the magic ingredient that turns cooked fruit into a thick, spoonable chia seed jam without needing pectin or loads of sugar. Aka, it’s the healthy way to do things. Traditional jam recipes often rely on pectin and a higher amount of sugar to help the fruit set. This cherry jam recipe without pectin uses chia seeds instead, and let me tell you, the outcome is positive. When chia seeds absorb liquid, they swell and create a gel-like texture, which naturally thickens the jam as it cools. This makes making jam at home feel much more approachable. You do not need special equipment, a candy thermometer, or a full afternoon of preserving. All you need is a small saucepan, a spatula, a jar, and a few simple ingredients.

Not to mention, chia seeds are the bomb. They are PACKED with fibre and healthy fats, making this jam even more nourishing than anything you’d pick up at the store. Chia seeds also don’t have much flavour, so you don’t need to worry about them overpowering the flavour of the other ingredients. 

Ingredients for Cherry Jam

There are only five ingredients in this chia jam recipe. Each one plays a pivotal role in creating a jam that is spread worthy, delicious and just sweet enough! Here is what you’ll need:

• Frozen Cherries: For obvious reasons, cherries are at the top of this list! Using frozen cherries ensures you can make this recipe any time of the year! Cherry season is short, and if you don’t have a cherry pitter, this simple cherry jam could easily become anything but simple. Frozen pitted cherries break down beautifully as they simmer, creating a rich, glossy base for this cherry jam. You can use dark sweet cherries, sweet cherries, or even sour cherries if you prefer a more tart cherry flavour. 
• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice brings brightness and balance to the cherries, especially if you are using sweet cherries. It wakes everything up and gives the jam that fresh, almost tart edge that makes you want another spoonful. If you’re making a tart cherry jam, the lemon will enhance that tangy flavour even more.
• Maple Syrup: There is only one tablespoon in this entire small batch recipe! I will forever be shouting from the rooftops that we do not always need a ton of sweetener to make something taste incredible. The fact that you can make jam without white sugar is a blessing in itself! Bask in the glory of maple syrup, LIQUID GOLD!!
• Vanilla: What you might not know is that a dash of vanilla will soften the tartness from the lemon and make the jam taste almost like the filling of a cherry pie; yes please! This small addition is what makes the recipe feel unique and just a little bit special. 
• Chia Seeds: The arch nemesis of pectin!! Chia seeds thicken the jam naturally as they absorb the cherry juices. They are essential for this chia seed jam and make the process simple, quick, and beginner-friendly. Never underestimate what a chia seed can do; those little mighty seeds will make you a cherry jam to write home about!

What Are Some Good Uses for Cherry Jam? 

Ummm, does eating it out of the jar with a spoon for pure joy count? Okay, in all honesty, I have a recipe coming up that uses this cherry jam, and you might just fall in love with it, so you’ll have to hold on tight for that! In the meantime, there are so many ways to use this delicious homemade jam. It’s delicious on toast, plopped on a yogurt bowl with your favourite clumpy cherry granola, or on pancakes and waffles! You could also go chia crazy and add it to chia pudding, put some on top of a bowl of ice cream, or even layered into desserts. The options are endless, because it would also be amaaaazing in thumbprint cookies!! This is me telling you, go crazy!

How to Store Cherry Jam

Transfer your cooled jam into a clean mason jar or airtight container and store it in the fridge. The next question I typically get is “How long does chia jam last in the fridge?” The jam will keep well for up to one month when stored properly in a sealed jar, and because it’s not traditionally canned jam, it should be stored in the refrigerator rather than the pantry.