Mixed Red Berry Cherry Jam

Mixed Red Berry Cherry Jam is a delicious sweet preserve packed full of cherries, strawberries and raspberries. The cherry flavour shines through and the combination of red berries gives this jam an extra special taste.

Why should I make Mixed Red Berry Cherry Jam?

I absolutely love cherries and I love cherry jam. However, cherries are not easy to grow in Scotland and are expensive. I sometimes buy jam (I know, shock horror!) and I like the Cherries and Berries Jam from Bonne Maman, so I thought I’d see if I could make something similar with cherries and other red berries.

What is the difference between jam and jelly?

Jam and jelly are both preserves made with fruit and sugar. In the UK jam is a preserve with whole pieces of fruit in it like this recipe for Red Berry Cherry Jam.

To make jelly you cook the fruit then strain it, then add the sugar and boil to make a smooth jelly. For example, my Blackberry & Apple Jelly is a smooth jelly. In the US all fruit preserves are generally called jelly whether they contain pieces of whole fruit in them or not.

What ingredients do I need for Mixed Red Berry Cherry Jam?

You will need:

• Cherries
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Lemon juice
• Sugar

What kind of cherries should I use?

I make this jam with either fresh or frozen sweet cherries. Fresh cherries are very expensive in Scotland and the season for fresh British cherries is very short. Because of this I often use frozen cherries which have the added bonus that they have already had the stones removed!

Why add other berries to Cherry Jam?

I add strawberries and raspberries to Mixed Red Berry Cherry Jam because fresh strawberries are very easily available and even imported strawberries taste good in jam. Raspberries are high in pectin so help the jam to set, they are a real jam superstar fruit. I make the jam with either fresh or frozen raspberries.

What other berries could I include in the jam?

You can make mixed berry jam with all kinds of berries. However, some berries will overpower the flavour of the cherries. It’s best to stick with mixed red berries like strawberries, raspberries and redcurrants.

Blueberries have a fairly mild flavour and could be included but definitely avoid blackberries and blackcurrants as they have their own distinctive flavour which will be dominant and mask the delicious cherry taste.

Can I make Cherry Jam without the mixed red berries?

You certainly can make Cherry Jam with only cherries but you may need to use more lemon juice in order to get a good set.

Do I need to add pectin to this jam?

Pectin is the ingredient that makes jam set or gel. All fruit has some pectin, but some fruits are high in pectin and others have hardly any.

Cherries and strawberries are both low in pectin. However, raspberries are high in pectin and I also add lemon juice to the recipe. Lemon juice helps the pectin strands to come together and set the jam. Lemon juice is highly acidic and also helps to reduce the growth of bacteria.

How should I store the jam?

Store the sealed sterilised jam jars in a cool larder or cupboard. A lot depends on where you live in the world and how warm or humid your climate is. However, once the jam is opened I tend to keep it in the fridge unless it is going to be used quickly.

How long can I keep Mixed Red Berry Cherry Jam?

You can keep sealed jars of Mixed Berry Cherry Jam for up to 9 months without any deterioration in quality. You can keep the jam longer than that and it will still be edible but you may lose some colour and sometimes it shrinks inside the jar.

How do I sterilise jam jars?

There are many different ways to sterilise jam jars including putting them in a hot wash in the dishwasher. This is how I sterilise my jam jars:

• Wash and rinse the glass jars and metal lids
• Put the wet glass jars on a baking tray upside down.
• Place in the oven at 150C before you start to make the jam. The water creates steam which helps to sterilise the jars.
• Pour boiling water from the kettle over the lids then drain and leave to dry on kitchen paper.
• Take the jars out of the oven and fill them with the hot jam, then put on the lids.
• When the jars have cooled check that the lids are tight and tighten further if needed.

Can I make a larger batch of jam?

You can double this recipe to make a larger batch. However, I do not recommend increasing the quantities any further than double as it will be difficult to get the jam to set. And because of the high sugar level there is a risk that the jam may burn onto the bottom of the pan

Do I need to water bath this Mixed Red Berry Cherry Jam?

No, it is not necessary to water bath this red berry jam. I have been making jam for over 40 years and I have never water bathed jam or jelly. The high sugar content in this jam recipe and properly sterilsed jars means that the unopened jam jars will be safe to store out of the fridge. Once you open the jam it is safer to store it in the fridge.

Can I freeze Mixed Red Berry Cherry Jam?

You can freeze jam but it really isn’t necessary. If you prefer to freeze the jam, then store it in small clean containers with lids. Try to use a container that has very little air between the jam and the lid. Once defrosted the jam should be kept in the fridge and used within a week which is why I advise that you use small containers.

Can I make this jam with frozen cherries and berries?

Yes, I use frozen cherries and sometimes frozen raspberries. I don’t recommend frozen strawberries because they have a higher water content and lose a lot of colour and texture through freezing.

Vegetarian

This preserve contains no animal products and it is suitable for vegetarians.

Gluten Free

There are no wheat products in this jam and it is suitable for people following a GF diet.

For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.

How do I serve Mixed Red Berry Cherry Jam?

Serve Mixed Berry Cherry Jam for breakfast with croissants, bread and toast. It makes a great topping for pancakes, or try a large spoonful in some Greek yogurt and granola. It is also delicious on scones especially my Air Fryer Cherry Scones, with jam and cream for afternoon tea.

More Mixed Berry Jam Recipes from Farmersgirl Kitchen

Low Sugar Peach & Strawberry Jam combines these two delicious summer fruits in a jam that has two-thirds less sugar than traditional jams and jellies.  It’s so sweet and delicious it’s tempting to eat it straight from the jar!

Greengage and Apple Jam is simple to make and a delight to eat. Greengages are a type of sweet green plum and they make superb jam. They are not always easy to find so I pair them with apples to make them go further.  

Low Sugar Blueberry & Raspberry Jam is a delicious fruity spread made with fresh or frozen blueberries and raspberries. It has two-thirds less sugar than traditional jams and jellies and is easy to make in a small batch. 

Rhubarb and Strawberry Jam combines tart rhubarb and sweet luscious strawberries in a simple preserve that everyone will love. This small batch recipe is a great way to create a gorgeous sweet spread for your breakfast table or afternoon tea.

More Jams, Jellies and Preserves Recipes

You can find the recipe index in the menu at the top of every page to help you find your way to more delicious recipes. To save you a little time this is the shortcut to all my Jams, Jellies, Chutney and Pickles recipes.

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