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Cherry canning recipes can be hard to come by in the busy summer season, but I’ve done the work for you and collected plenty of safe, tested recipes that cover just about all of the possible ways to can cherries.
We grow half a dozen varieties of sour cherries on our Vermont homestead, and they make the best jams, jellies and pie fillings. This past year, we planted raineer cherries and a couple of sweet cherry varieties too, so it’s time for me to double down on cherry canning recipes so I make sure none of these beauties go to waste.
Plain canned cherries work wonderfully on top of yogurt all winter long, and that’s actually one of my favorite breakfasts around the holidays. There’s something so festive about a bowl of creamy yogurt topped with bright cherries, even if they haven’t been in season since last July.
Beyond plain canned cherries, the possibilities are endless. Everything from simple jams and jellies, all the way up to pickled cherries and cherry chutney!
Preparing Cherries for Canning
Most cherry canning recipes require pitting before canning, which can be time-consuming, but there are good appliances for this. I use a simple hand pitter and it works wonderfully. Even better, I hand it to my kids and they compete to see who can pit the most cherries the fastest.
The downside there is you have to check them afterwards, as the littles are known to miss a few pits here and there as they try to win the cherry race. Still, not bad work to hand to a preschooler to keep them entertained for an hour…
Still, if you don’t want to pit your cherries, I’d suggest investing in a steam juicer and processing your cherries that way.
You can then use the flavorful cherry juice for all manner of things. Plain canned cherry juice, of course, which makes amazing drinks, but also cherry jelly or cherry lemonade (limeade too).
Cherry Canning Recipes
Once you start a relationship with cherries, you’ll never want to be without them. They’re perfect for so many dishes, desserts, and snacks, especially straight from harvest to table. However, if you have an abundance and aren’t sure what to do with them, here are some recipes to help you decide. You can enjoy these wonderful fruits all year long.
Canning Whole Cherries
Like other fruits, canning cherries plain or in light syrup is a great way to have them on hand for various recipes later in the year. You may not have the time or recipes for making some spectacular of them, but they’re well worth your time to have on the ready.
Cherry Jam
If you enjoy fruit jams, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to try the cherry version. It’s perfect for so many meals, and it may be a constant on your kitchen table.
- Sour Cherry Jam
- Rainier Cherry Jam
- Black Cherry Jam
- How to Make Spiced Cherry Jam
- Low Sugar Cherry Jam Recipe
- Cherry Blueberry Jam
- Sweet Cherry Jam with Pineapple
Cherry Jelly
Complete your home fruit jelly pantry with the beautiful color and sweetness of homemade cherry jelly. There’s nothing quite like it, and you’ll appreciate the crisp flavor, especially when fresh cherries are hard to find.
Cherry Sauce
If you’re looking for a show-stopper sauce, cherry is a perfect choice, especially around the holidays. Variations make it even more appealing, and it will be a hit at a large gathering or your family table.
Cherry Butter
Cherry butter is perfect when the kids are looking for a quick snack or dessert addition. But it’s just as important for larger meals, spur-of-the-moment recipes, and so much more. Here are some recipes you’ll want to try.
Cherry Juice
Once you try a cherry juice recipe, this may be your first preservation choice of the year. Enjoy it in a variety of recipes throughout the year, so take the time to make plenty.
Canning Cherry Lemonade Concentrate (or Limeade)
I love making and canning lemonade concentrate so that it’s ready to go all summer long, and I just started making lime aid concentrate for canning too.
Cherries go so well with lime, I recently tried out this cherry limeade concentrate canning recipe and it was a huge hit!
Cherry Pie Filling
Cherry pie is one of the most iconic pies in the world of fruit, and you can preserve a filling that gives you a fresh cherry taste, even in the winter.
It’s great for topping cheesecake, too, so be sure to put up a few jars.
Cherry Syrup
Syrup usually brings to mind the flavors of maple and butter. But with cherry syrup, you may change your entire perception of syrup.
Pickled Cherries
With pickled cherries, you get to enjoy the fruit, of course, but you also get to use the juice that’s left behind to create unique dressings and drizzles, especially on holidays.
- Pickled Sweet Cherries
- Russian Pickled Cherries
- Savoury Spanish Style Pickled Cherries
- Spiced Pickled Cherries
Cherry Chutney
For meats and roasted vegetables, it’s hard to beat an excellent cherry chutney. But why take our word for it? Instead, consider these recipes for your own pantry for an outstanding addition to so many meals.
- Cherry Chutney
- Spiced Honey Sweetened Cherry Chutney
- Apple Cherry Chutney
- Spicy Pear and Dried Cherry Chutney
Ways to Preserve Cherries
Looking for more ways to preserve cherries?
- Cherry Wine
- How to Freeze Fresh Cherries
- How to Dehydrate Cherries
- The Best Way To Store Fresh Cherries
Canning Recipes
Putting up more than just cherries this season?
- 20+ Chicken Canning Recipes
- Pickled Brussel Sprouts
- Canning Maple Syrup
- Old-Fashioned Strawberry Jam (Without Pectin)
Hi! Love your site.
I have a question that I haven’t seen anywhere. I got a steamer juicer for my birthday and tried it out last year with apples. I did not like the taste at all- it tasted sort of ‘cooked’- sort of an after taste.
I thought perhaps I got it too hot, but also turned the temp down.
It might just be using apples but Now I’m afraid to perhaps ruin more fruit.
Any ideas on this?
Thanks!
I also did apples in my steam juicer and I didn’t like them. But for all soft fruits, I love it! It’s the best for cherries, raspberries, currants, blueberries, grapes and all manner of soft fruits. Not great for apples or pears, but try it on soft fruit and I bet it’ll change your mind.