Chocolate Cherry Sauce Recipe (Easy Canning Recipe)

Jars of chocolate cherry sauce sitting on a counter.

5 from 3 votes

Chocolate Cherry Sauce Recipe (Easy Canning Recipe)

If you love homemade pantry staples that feel a little extra special, this chocolate cherry sauce belongs on your canning list! Made with fresh sweet cherries and cocoa powder, this silky sauce is perfect over ice cream, cheesecake, pancakes, waffles, yogurt, and fresh fruit. With simple water bath canning instructions, you can preserve the taste of cherry season to enjoy all year long.

Prep Time20

Cook Time10

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: black forest preserves recipe, chocolate cherry canning recipe, chocolate cherry sauce

Servings: servings

Calories: 101kcal

Author: Melissa Norris

Cost: Varies

Equipment

Water bath canner This is the water bath canner I use.
Canning Tools These are my favorite canning tools. You will specifically need a headspace measuring tool and a jar lifter.
Canning Jars, Lids, and Rings

Ingredients

6 cups sugar
⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups sweet black cherries firmly packed, coarsely chopped, and pitted
½ cup lemon juice Use bottled lemon juice for guaranteed acidity.
1 pouch pectin 3 oz. / 85 ml liquid pectin. Be sure to use liquid pectin and not powdered pectin, as you may get different results with powdered pectin, since they both cook and set differently

Instructions

Prepare canner, jars and lids.
In a mixing bowl, combine sugar and cocoa powder and set aside.
In a large, stainless steel pot, combine chopped, pitted cherries and lemon juice, then stir in the sugar and cocoa mixture and, stirring constantly, bring to a full rolling boil that can’t be stirred down.
Add the liquid pectin and continue to stir. Boil hard for one minute and then remove from the heat.
Skim off the foam from the top and ladle chocolate cherry sauce into hot, sterilized jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace at the top. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed, then wipe the jar rim and place lids on and screw bands down.
Process jars in a hot water bath for 10 minutes (adjust time for altitude if over 1,000 feet). Once finished, remove canner lid and wait another 5 minutes before removing jars. Allow to cool on the counter completely and then store in a cool, dark place until ready to use.

Notes

Recipe Tips and Troubleshooting:

The key to achieving the perfect chocolate cherry sauce is using just enough pectin to create a pourable consistency.

One pouch of liquid pectin produces a beautiful sauce that's easy to drizzle.
If your sauce seems thinner than expected, refrigerate it before serving. It naturally thickens as it cools.
Stir constantly while bringing the mixture to a boil to prevent the cocoa from scorching.
Use ripe, flavorful cherries for the richest taste.
A canning funnel makes filling jars cleaner and helps maintain proper headspace.

Serving Chocolate Cherry Sauce:

This chocolate cherry sauce is one of those pantry staples you'll find yourself reaching for all year long.

We love drizzling it over vanilla ice cream, spooning it onto cheesecake, or pouring it over oatmeal, waffles, and pancakes for a special breakfast. (Try this fluffy sourdough starter pancake recipe.)

It's equally delicious stirred into this plain yogurt recipe (or for a thicker consistency, use this homemade Greek yogurt recipe), and it makes a wonderful dip for fresh strawberries, banana slices, or crisp apple wedges.

If you're looking for an easy dessert upgrade, try serving it over brownies made with this homemade brownie mix recipe, pound cake, or angel food cake. You can even swirl a spoonful into homemade hot chocolate for an extra-rich treat.

And if you enjoy giving homemade gifts, a jar of chocolate cherry sauce tucked into a holiday gift basket is a thoughtful way to share a little taste of summer any time of year.

Storage Instructions:

Properly sealed jars of chocolate cherry sauce can be stored in a cool, dark pantry for up to one year.

After opening, refrigerate and use within two to three weeks.

For freezer storage, allow the sauce to cool completely before transferring it to freezer-safe containers, leaving headspace for expansion. Freeze for up to one year and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Nutrition