Chocolate Cherry Jam Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHERRY JAM

Steps:

• Pit the cherries if necessary, then chop them up. Crush the remains thoroughly, 1 cup at a time. If using frozen berries, use both liquid and solids; they all were part of the original fresh berry. Measure 6 cups of crushed fruit into 6- or 8-quart heavy saucepan. Break the chocolate squares into smaller pieces and add them to saucepan.
• Measure sugar into separate bowl. Mix 1/4 cup sugar from measured amount with pectin in small bowl. Stir pectin-sugar mixture into fruit in saucepan. Add butter. Bring quickly to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam and ladle into pint or half-pint jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace and process 10 minutes in boiling water canner.

CHERRY JAM DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray two 9-inch-round cake pans with non-stick cooking spray and dust with cocoa powder.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat together the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and oil in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the hot coffee, 3/4 cup cocoa powder and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth.
• Add the eggs to butter mixture one at a time, mixing well and scraping down the bowl between each addition. Beat in the coffee mixture until well combined. Add half of the flour mixture and beat just until combined, then beat in the sour cream followed by the remaining flour mixture. Scrape down the bowl and beat 1 minute more.
• Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to racks. When the cakes are cool enough to handle, turn them out onto the racks to cool completely before frosting.
• To assemble the cake, place one cake layer onto a serving platter or cake stand. Trim the top with a long serrated knife to make it level, if needed. Spread half of the Cherry Jam Filling on top in an even layer. Top with the other cake layer and frost the entire cake with chocolate frosting. Spread the remaining Cherry Jam Filling on top of the cake.
• Stir together 2 tablespoons water with the cornstarch in a small bowl until the cornstarch dissolves. Combine the cherries, sugar, remaining 6 tablespoons water and the lemon juice in a medium pot over medium heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened and looks clear and shiny, about 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate, covered, until cold, about 1 hour.

CHERRY, CHOCOLATE AND PECAN SCONES WITH STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Position a rack in the center of the oven.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream with the egg. Mix in the cherries, chocolate chips, pecans and golden raisins. Set aside.
• Use a grater with large holes to grate the butter over the dry ingredients. Alternatively, cut the butter into small cubes. Lightly work the butter into the flour with your fingers until it looks like small peas. Gently work the sour cream mixture into the flour mixture. Using your hands, gather the ingredients together from the bottom of the bowl. Wash your hands, then turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface, then gather the dough together. Take care not to overwork the dough!
• Gently press the dough into a loose 1-inch-thick circle, about 5 inches in diameter. Use a knife to cut the circle into 6 equal wedges (like slices from a pie). Place the wedges spaced out on a nonstick or parchment-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake the scones until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Allow them to cool a few minutes before serving with the Strawberry Jam.
• In a large bowl, stir together the strawberries with the sugar and vanilla to evenly coat. Allow the mixture to macerate, or sit, for about 15 minutes until the berries are "weepy"-softened and letting off liquid.
• Transfer about three-quarters of the strawberries and some of the liquid at the bottom of the bowl to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fruit starts to break down, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir back into the bowl of uncooked strawberries. Stir in the balsamic vinegar. Serve warm or let cool, then cover and store in the refrigerator for about a week.