Making fresh cherry jam is a summer treat! Our SWEET CHERRY JAM WITH MERLOT WINE is a fun recipe for farm fresh summer cherries! It’s great on toast, on soft creamy cheeses and vanilla ice cream!!!!
Anyone else in love with cherries? It’s one of those summer defining foods. For me it’s up there with sweet corn, fresh tomatoes and peaches. Of course you could eat those foods in the winter, but they pale in comparison to the perfection of farm market produce.
Sweet, tart, doesn’t matter, all cherries have their place on the summer table. But today we’re going to talk about how to preserve a little bit of summer with this sweet cherry jam recipe. It’s got a little secret…red wine! I like to add a little merlot to give more depth to the jam since sweet cherries aren’t quite as strong in flavor as tart (also called sour) cherries. I chose a merlot with cherry notes and the jam was sublime!
My favorite way to serve this sweet cherry jam is with a soft cheese on baguette crisps. You can dress up a block of cream cheese, or if you’re having a party, triple cream cheese is a fantastic pairing! And of course it’s perfect with a fruity red wine, so your summer wine and cheese parties will be cherry!
HOW TO MAKE SWEET CHERRY JAM
Cherry Varieties
We’re starting with farm market sweet cherries. You want the dark red kind, not tart or Rainier cherries. However, black cherries will also work with this recipe. If you must buy them at the grocery store, make sure they are firm with no bruises. Either way you’ll need a quart of cherries which is roughly three cups.
How to pit a cherry
You could do things the hard way by cutting the cherries in half and and pulling out the pit but your fingernails will be stained brown for a week. Been there, done that when I was young and broke, but now I use a cherry pitter! My favorite cherry pitter is made by OXO. It’s easy to use and has a little splash guard. We also have a cherry pitter similar to this one. This style is nice because it’s all one piece so nothing can dislodge, but the hook at the bottom can sometimes lock while you’re pitting cherries.
Cherry juice stains and splashes! So you want to wear old clothes when you’re pitting cherries. I place a bowl in the bottom of my sink and pit the cherries into the bowl to reduce splashing. Make sure to wipe up any splatters on your cabinets and walls immediately.
Equipment to make jam
This recipe can be made as a refrigerator jam or you can use the hot water bath canning method. At a minimum you’ll need a candy thermometer, canning jars and a large heavy bottomed pan like a le Creuset dutch oven. Always make sure the pot is larger than you think you need because the sugar mixture will boil up!
If you want to can your jam jars, you’ll need a few more things like a canning funnel, wire basket (to prevent the jars from touching the hot pan and cracking) and a jar lifter. If you don’t already own these canning supplies, a kit like this one is your most affordable option.
Clean and sterilize
If you are indeed canning the jam, always start with new lids but feel free to use whatever mason jars you have on hand, whether they’re ball or kerr or some other brand. I prefer to wash mine in the dishwasher to sterilize them, but I still heat them in boiling water in the canner immediately before making my jam. According to Ball’s website, it is no longer necessary to heat the lids. Once the jars are hot I place them on a towel next to the stove.
How to make cherry jam
Always follow the recipe! It’s important to remember that acids (vinegar, citrus juice) and sugar are preservatives. If you want to reduce the sugar in a recipe, I recommend against canning it. You can however make lower sugar jams if you plan to use them fresh. When in doubt, your state extension office is a great resource. Remember you cannot see, taste or smell botulism!
Sweet Cherry Jam with Merlot Wine
Ingredients
Canning supplies
- 4 -8 oz (half pint) jam jars
- Canning set (large pot, jar rack, jar lifter, canning funnel)
- Ladle
Sweet Cherry Jam
- 3 cups sweet cherries (about 1 quart)
- 3 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup merlot wine
- 2 -1.75 oz packages powdered fruit pectin
Instructions
Canning Equipment
- Fill your pot with water and bring to a boil
- Place your jars in the boiling water for 10 minutes
- Pull out the jars and place on a clean towel
- Using tongs, dip the jar funnel and ladle in the boiling water to sterilize
Cherry Merlot Wine Jam
- Wash and pit cherries and then chop about half of the cherries.
- Place cherries, sugar, wine and lemon juice in a large heavy bottomed pot with a candy thermometer attached.
- Bring to a boil, stirring often, skimming any foam that forms.
- Once the temperature reaches 220F add in the pectin and stir until it's dissolved
- Bring to a boil for one minute and then take off the heat
- Using the jar funnel, ladle the jam evenly into the jars, making sure to leave a half inch of head room.
- Place lids and rings on the jars and place in jar rack and lower into boiling water. Make sure water covers jars by at least 1-2 inches.
- Boil for 15 minutes and remove jars with a jar lifter.
- Place jars on a towel and leave 12-24 hours. Once the jars are cooled, test the lids to make sure they have no give when pressed in the center. If they do have give, either refrigerate or attempt canning again.
- Store in a cool dry place until ready to use jam.
Notes
- Always follow the recipe! It's important to remember that acids (vinegar, citrus juice) and sugar are preservatives.
- Cherry juice stains and splashes! So you want to wear old clothes when you’re pitting cherries.
- If you are canning the jam, always start with new lids but feel free to use whatever mason jars you have on hand, whether they're 4oz, 8oz or 16 oz jars. but you'll need a total of 32 ounces in jar space.
Nutrition
Love this jam? Check out all our condiment recipes!
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Patti says
This jam looks amazing, and I can almost taste the hint of Merlot. I completely agree with you that nothing tastes as good as fresh, seasonal fruit and veggies in the summer. It’s the beginning of cherry season around here, and I’m so excited to pick some up at the farmer’s market. I think I’ll make some of your jam.
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Patti! Hope you love the recipe!
Julie says
Cherries are my absolute favorite summer fruit — what a great way to enjoy the delicious flavor all year long.
Vintage Kitty says
Cherries are my favorite too! I want to eat them in EVERYTHING!!!!
Nicoletta says
It sounds easy to make and looks so delicious. I make jam as well, but never add pectin to mine. Love the Merlot touch here.
Vintage Kitty says
It is easy. Cherries are low in natural pectin, so even if you bring them to jam stage, the jam will be more sauce than jam. In the future I might play around with adding more lemon or apple to add in natural pectin.
prasanna hede says
This jam looks surely addictive and delicious.Love the pictures and wonderful recipe.Summer brings so many recipes to make preserves!
Vintage Kitty says
Summer is filled with opportunities to preserve fresh fruits and veggies!
Kelly Anthony says
Cherries and red wine are a match made in heaven! Loving the looks of this one! YUM!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Kelly!
Rachel says
Your jam sounds absolutely lovely! The whole cherries in it looks sweet and delicious to bite into. I especially love the idea of putting it on top of vanilla ice cream. Yummy!
Vintage Kitty says
Yes, there are bites of jelly and bites of whole cherries. Makes a really presentation on a cracker with cheese and jam or on ice cream.
Lauren says
I am currently on a fresh cherry kick! They’re on sale at all the markets, time to make some of this delicious looking jam! Such a good idea for breakfast or a sweet treat.
Vintage Kitty says
Mee too. Made a breakfast casserole with leftover cherries yesterday. Can’t get enough!
Christine says
Oh I loooove the idea of adding wine to this jam. How delicious! It’s also such a gorgeous color and would make everything seem that little bit more special. Thanks for sharing such a lovely recipe!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Christine. The color is fabulous!
Natalie says
Jam with wine? This is something very new to me. Sounds so good and it looks beyond delicious. I love cherries that’s why I’ll give this a try.
Vintage Kitty says
Wine jelly is a thing, but I’ve never made it. But adding a little bit of red wine to desserts, jams and sauces with berries enhances their flavor.
Anne Murphy says
Oh, my, I haven’t made jam in ages – and that looks so tempting! I bet the merlot adds real depth to it.
Vintage Kitty says
It does! I don’t make jam often but I’ve been in a really old fashioned mood lately! Next on my test schedule are watermelon pickles.
Renee Gardner says
Charity – or can I call you Kitty? – if this is your idea of a delicious treat, then we should be best friends!! Why haven’t I come across your site sooner?? I have half a bag of cherries in my fridge and love that I have an excuse to go get more so that I can make this jam.
Vintage Kitty says
You can call me either :-) I’m always into making new foodie friends! Run and get those cherries lady!
Amanda says
I’ve never added merlot to my cherry jam recipe before. My shipment of cherries from Northwest Cherry Growers arrived last week. I’ll have to give this recipe a try.
Vintage Kitty says
Lucky you! Cherry season is almost over here. Maybe I’ll order some!
Michelle Blackwood says
Your cherry jam sounds delicious and fresh. I have some sweet cherries in my refrigerator and I was wondering what to make with them. Thank you for giving me ideas!
Vintage Kitty says
Happy to inspire Michelle!
Jessica says
My mom is a huge jam maker and every summer she’ll come home from the farmer’s market with a few flats of berries or fruit to make jam. I’m going to pass this recipe along to her and ask her to specially make it for me!
Vintage Kitty says
It’s awesome that your mom makes you jam! My mom makes me pies, but they don’t last very long hahaha