Best Certo Chocolate Raspberry Spread Recipes

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY JAM (CANNING RECIPE)

Steps:

• Crush berries thoroughly, 1 cup at a time. If using frozen berries, use both liquied and solids; they were all part of the original fresh berry. (Sieve 1/2 of the pulp to remove some of the seeds if desired. You can sieve it all if preparing from those with dental problems. Removing seeds causes waste, so be sure you have enough berries.).
• Make sure your canning equipment is scrupulously clean, and place 7 pint or half-pint jars on a rack in a boiling water canner. Fill the canner with water, adding a shot of vinegar to prevent mineral buildup, and bring to a boil while you prepare the jam. Allow it to boil for 10 minutes to sterilize jars, then turn down the heat to keep the jars hot. Remember to keep a kettle of hot water handy, and a saucepan of boiling water for your lids and rings.
• Measure 6 cups of crushed fruit into a 6-8 quart heavy nonreactive saucepan. Break the chocolate squares into smaller pieces and add them to saucepan.
• Measure sugar into a separate bowl. Mix 1/4 cup of the measured sugar with the pectin powder in another small bowl. Stir pectin-sugar mixture into fruit in a saucepan. Add butter. Bring quickly to a full rolling boil. Boil for EXACTLY 1 MINUTE, stirring constantly.
• Remove pan from heat. Skim off any foam and ladle the jam into hot sterilized pint or half-pint canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
• Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water canner.
• Remove the jars to a towel/newspaper lined surface, invert for 10 minutes, and allow to cool. Label the jars and store in a cool dry place for up to 1 year.

RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE ALMOND SPREAD

Steps:

• Fit a large pot with a rack, or line with a folded kitchen towel. Fill with water and bring to a boil. Add 4 half-pint canning jars and boil for 10 minutes. Jars may be left in the warm water in the pot until ready to be filled. (Alternatively, sterilize jars by running them through a dishwasher cycle, leaving them there until ready to fill.)
• Place canning rings in a small saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and add lids to soften their rubber gaskets. Rings and lids may be left in the water until jars are filled.
• In a large, heavy pan, combine raspberries and sugar. Bring to a simmer, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Put raspberry-sugar mixture through the fine disk of a food mill or press through a fine sieve to remove seeds. Some seeds may remain; don't worry.
• Return mixture to pan, add lemon juice, and bring back to a boil. Boil, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. Add chocolate and stir well until completely melted. Boil hard for five minutes, stirring all the while. Turn off the heat, wait a minute or two, then push against the mixture. If the surface of the jam wrinkles a bit, it is the correct consistency. If not, return to the heat for another minute or two and try the wrinkle test again. Add almond extract and almonds and stir to combine.
• Ladle hot preserves into the warm jars, leaving 1/4 inch at the top, just below the first ring on the jar's neck. Wipe jar rims clean with a damp towel. Place lids on jars, screw on rings and lower jars back into the pot of boiling water. Return to a full boil and boil the jars for 10 minutes. Transfer jars to a folded towel and allow to cool for 12 hours; you should hear them making a pinging sound as they seal.
• Test the seals by removing rings and lifting jars by the flat lid. If the lid releases, the seal has not formed. Unsealed jars should be refrigerated and used within a month, or reprocessed. (Rings and jars may be reused, but a new flat lid must be used each time jars are processed.) To reprocess, reheat filling to boiling point (as in Step 4), then continue as before.