Canning Cherry Limeade Concentrate Recipe
This homemade Cherry Limeade Concentrate combines fresh lime juice, sweet cherry puree, and sugar to create a tangy, refreshing syrup perfect for making cherry limeade drinks. The concentrate is cooked gently, then canned using a water bath method for long-term storage, allowing you to enjoy the vibrant flavors any time of year.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 4 pints of concentrate
- Category: Beverage Concentrate
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Concentrate Ingredients
- 2 cups lime juice, fresh or bottled
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups cherry puree, from pitted cherries
Instructions
- Sterilize Jars and Prepare Canner: Begin by sterilizing your jars and lids to ensure a hygienic preservation process. Prepare a water bath canner as per your elevation instructions to safely process the jars.
- Juice the Limes: Juice fresh limes, straining the juice thoroughly to remove seeds and pulp, ensuring you have about 2 cups of clear lime juice for the recipe.
- Make Cherry Puree: Wash and pit fresh cherries. Use a blender or food processor to puree them until smooth, making sure there are no clumps for a uniform concentrate.
- Combine and Heat Ingredients: In a saucepan, mix the strained lime juice, cherry puree, and sugar. Heat the mixture slowly, stirring constantly until it reaches 190°F and all the sugar has dissolved. Avoid boiling at any point to preserve the flavor and consistency.
- Fill and Seal Jars: Remove the saucepan from heat and carefully ladle the hot concentrate into the sterilized jars, leaving adequate headspace. Seal the jars with 2-part canning lids.
- Process the Jars: Process the sealed jars in the prepared water bath canner for 15 minutes, adjusting the time as necessary depending on your elevation level to ensure safe preservation.
- Cool and Check Seals: Remove the jars carefully and place them on a towel to cool undisturbed. After 12 to 24 hours, check that all jars have properly sealed. Any unsealed jars should be refrigerated and used immediately.
- Reconstitution Instructions: To enjoy your cherry limeade, mix one pint jar of concentrate with 6 cups (3 pints) of cold water for a balanced, refreshing beverage.
Notes
- Adjust the water bath processing time based on your elevation for safe canning.
- Do not boil the mixture to maintain the bright, fresh flavors.
- Check jar seals carefully after cooling before storing long-term.
- Use unsealed jars promptly by refrigerating and consuming within a few days.
- The concentrate can also be used as a mixer in cocktails or desserts.
