Homemade Cherry Chia Jam (Sugar-Free)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups pitted cherries
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon sweetener of choice (optional)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds

Instructions

1. Add the cherries, water, lemon juice, sweetener, and vanilla to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Then turn down the heat and simmer at medium-low heat for about 30 minutes until the water has thickened and the jam has reached your desired consistency.
2. It’s up to you to make your jam as chunky or smooth as desired. To make it chunky, I left the cherries as whole as they were after pitting them and used an immersion blender briefly at the end of cooking to slightly bring together the jam. If you want it to be entirely smooth, then I recommend blending the cherries beforehand and then cooking them in the same way. Note that the cooking time might be a little longer when blended.
3. Once the jam is finished, stir in the chia seeds and transfer to a sterilised jar. You’ll end up with about a 3/4 cup of jam.

Notes

• The cherries can be substituted with any other sweet fruit you fancy, you might have to add a little more sweetener if the fruit is tart. The best way to go is using whatever fruit is in season to guarantee natural sweetness.
• This jam pairs well with my No-Bake Thumprint Cookies or can be substituted for the strawberries in my Strawberries and Cream Candies.