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Low-Carb Dark Cherry Chia Jam

Martina SlajerovaUpdated 4 September 2020★★★★★4.7 (184 ratings)

Ready in 15m
1.5 g net carbs
12 kcal
Serves 22

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Home-made Dark Cherry Chia Jam

Fruit may not be the most "keto-friendly" ingredient but if it's used moderately with other nutritious foods, it can be included in a healthy low-carb diet.

This recipe doesn't require any pectin or other thickeners such as arrowroot powder. I used my favourite ingredient instead: chia seeds. They are almost zero-carb and low in calories.

Chia seeds will create that nice jelly texture. You can serve this sweet cherry jam wit yogurt, coconut yogurt, whipped cream or even low-carb pies like my Dark Cherry Crunch Pie which is free of grains, sugar, eggs, dairy, and can even be made nut-free.

Step-by-step

Wash and pit the cherries and place them in a small sauce pan with a cup of water.
Slowly heat up and simmer for 8-10 minutes.
Peel half of a lemon and place the peel into the sauce pan for about a minute or two. Pell the lemon with a knife rather than using a grater, it will be easier to remove the peel using just a fork.
Don't leave the peel in the sauce pan for too long or the jam will get bitter.
Open and scrape the vanilla bean and add the seeds into the mixture. Sweeten with Erythritol and stevia.
Take off the heat, add chia seeds and mix well. If you are using the jam straight away, leave to rest for 15-20 minutes until it becomes jellied and firm.
Mix before using.
Otherwise, transfer into a glass jar, let it cool down, seal and keep refrigerated. Use within 7 days.

Low-Carb Dark Cherry Chia Jam

Recipe

Low-Carb Dark Cherry Chia Jam

★★★★★4.7 (184 ratings)

Yes. you can have cherries on a low-carb diet! This tasty vanilla flavored cherry chia jam is so easy to make ...

Hands on: 10m
Overall: 15m
Servings: 22

1.5 g
Net carbs: 0.3 g
Protein: 0.4 g
Fat: 12
kcal

Ingredients makes about 440 g/ 1 lb

2 ¹/₂ cups dark pitted cherries (250 g/ 8.8 oz)
3 tbsp chia seeds (24 g/ 0.8 oz)
¹/₂ tsp vanilla powder or seeds from 1 vanilla bean or ¹/₂ tsp cinnamon
peel from ¹/₂ lemon
¹/₄ cup Erythritol, Swerve or other healthy low-carb sweetener from this list (40 g/ 1.4 oz)
10-15 drops liquid Stevia extract
1 cup water (240 ml/ 8 fl oz)

Instructions

Wash and pit the cherries and place them in a small sauce pan with a cup of water.
Slowly heat up and simmer for 8-10 minutes.
Peel half of a lemon and place the peel into the sauce pan for about a minute or two. Pell the lemon with a knife rather than using a grater, it will be easier to remove the peel using just a fork.
Don't leave the peel in the sauce pan for too long or the jam will get bitter.
Open and scrape the vanilla bean and add the seeds into the mixture. Sweeten with Erythritol and stevia.
Take off the heat, add chia seeds and mix well. If you are using the jam straight away, leave to rest for 15-20 minutes until it becomes jellied and firm.
Mix before using.
Otherwise, transfer into a glass jar, let it cool down, seal and keep refrigerated. Use within 7 days.

Nutrition per serving, 1 tbsp, 20 g/ 0.7 oz

Carbs 56%Protein 12%Fat 32% of calories

Net carbs: 1.5 g
Total carbs: 3.7 g
Fiber: 0.5 g
Sugars: 1.4 g
Protein: 0.3 g
Fat: 0.4 g
Saturated fat: 0 g
Calories: 12 kcal
Sodium: 1 mg · 0.04% RDA
Magnesium: 1 mg · 0.29% RDA
Potassium: 22 mg · 1.08% EMR

Nutrition by ingredient

Per 1 tbsp, 20 g/ 0.7 oz	Net carbs	Protein	Fat	kcal
Cherries (sweet, dark), fresh	1.3 g	0.1 g	0 g	6
Chia seeds	0.1 g	0.2 g	0.3 g	6
Vanilla powder, dried (from vanilla beans, vanilla pods)	0 g	0 g	0 g	0
Erythritol (natural low-carb sweetener)	0.1 g	0 g	0 g	0
Stevia extract (SweetLeaf or NuNaturals, natural low-carb sweetener)	0 g	0 g	0 g	0
Water, still	0 g	0 g	0 g	0
Total	1.5 g	0.3 g	0.4 g	12

Serving size 1 tbsp, 20 g/ 0.7 oz

Gluten free
Dairy free
Egg free
Nut free
Nightshade free
Pork free
Avocado free
Coconut free
Fish free
Shellfish free
Beef free
Pescatarian
Vegetarian
Vegan

Comments & ratings (25)

4.7184 ratings

5 ★156
4 ★18
3 ★3
2 ★1
1 ★6

Faith30 June 2019
I have a cherry tree that is just loaded with cherries. Is this recipe good for canning?
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor30 June 2019
  Absolutely! I made a few of these for my dad so they can definitely be canned 😊
Christiana21 May 2019
Sounds lovely! All your jams are great. I would like to use frozen cherries. Any problems with that? Thank you!
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor20 June 2019
  Thank you so much Christiana! Not at all! I too prefer frozen because once thawed they cook faster and they are available all year round 😊
May2 May 2019
Can I use frozen cherries?
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor20 June 2019
  Absolutely!
Fawn Jemison23 September 2018
My husband will not eat chia seeds at all can I use something else that is Keto friendly to thicken
Thank You
Fawn Jemison-Emplit
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor31 October 2018
  Yes, you can use gelatin powder instead (1-2 teaspoons should be enough).
Mary Ekroos24 July 2018
Thank you for this recipe! Cherries taste so great! I do have a question! Is the amount of cherries in the ingredients listed before pitting the cherries or after? Thank you!
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor16 August 2018
  Hi Mary, good point! It's after pitting, I'll clarify that. Thanks!
Tina14 March 2017
This sounds amahhhhzing. Could the jam be frozen after it's made?
I won't be able to get through all that in a week.
Also, if I were to use cranberries can you tell me how much water I would need to use and how many Tbs chia seeds to use? I have a stack of frozen cranberries I would love to use up.
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor29 March 2017
  Thank you Tina! Yes, you can freeze the jam in freezer bags, or in an ice-cube tray. I haven't made cranberry jam with chia seeds yet - I only use 3 cups cranberries, 1/3 cup erythritol, stevia drops to taste, 2 tbsp lime juice or lemon juice, 1 tsp cinnamon and 2-3 tbsp water. If you want to add chia seeds, then you'll need about 1/4 cup water for every tablespoon of chia seeds. I hope it helps!
Heather21 August 2016
Hi Martina
Could plums be used instead of the cherries? It would be great To be able to use seasonal fruits so is there a rule of thumb ratio between the amounts of fruit to chia seed?
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor23 August 2016
  Absolutely! They are still relatively low in carbs, especially if you mix them with chia seeds. Here's what I'd do: for the same amount of plums I'd use 2-3 tablespoons of chia seeds and less water (just about 1/2 cup).
Darlene30 June 2016
Thank you for a very nice recipe!! I will definitely make this. I love cherries and just started using chia seeds. This combo made a really nice presentation and I bet it tastes wonderful! Keep up the good work, young lady!! Best wishes.
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor2 July 2016
  Thank you Darlene!
Kat1 December 2015
I heart cherries... thanks for sharing this!
Mickie Gibbs6 May 2014
Can strawberries be substituted for the cherries?
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor7 May 2014
  Sure! 😊 Or you can try my recipe here (strawberry & rhubarb jam): Low-Carb Strawberry & Rhubarb Jam
Mary B.10 January 2014
Thanks for sharing! I made the cherry crust pie you have on your blog and topped it with sour cream. HEAVEN!
Nan10 November 2013
Look yummy. I made a very similar cranberry version.
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor10 November 2013
  Thank you, I love using chia seeds in jams!
buttoni16 August 2013
This looks delicious! My husband loves anything cherry. I like chia jams and have made several now. I'll try this!
1. KetoDiet17 August 2013
  Thank you! Chia seeds are just amazing. I use them for making "puddings", jams or even low-carb muffins 😊
Lucy Martin15 August 2013
Loving it! I will make the jam this weekend... and maybe top an almond crust with it 😊