Chocolate - cherry preserve ( home canning)

[Ragdolly]

Yields 4-5 half pint jars

2.5 lbs sweet cherries, pitted and halved
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 1/4 cups sugar
2.5 tsp pectin powder

Combine cherry halves with cocoa and water in a pan and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 5 mins.
Add cinnamon and cayenne and lemon juice. Mix well.
In a separate bowl combine pectin with sugar.
Return cherry mix to full boil. Slowly add pectin/sugar mix stirring continuously. Stir for approx 2 mins.

Remove from heat and ladle into pre-prepared jars. Water bath can for ten minutes.

If anyone needs the steps for the canning process or the difference between water bath canning and pressure canning just let me know.

[pseudonym]

mmmm sounds lovely.

Thanks for sharing.

[Arzosah]

Sounds excellent - almost Mexican in its mixing of flavours. Yummity yum