Home » Condiments » Easy pickled cherries recipe
|

Easy pickled cherries recipe

This easy pickled cherries recipe is a great way to enjoy sweet summer cherries. They are a great addition to a charcuterie or cheese board, they perk up a salad, and they make a tasty snack!

I’ll give you variations and substitutions where I can, plus helpful tips and tricks for success. Read on for this info as well as the recipe. If you’d like to skip straight to the recipe, use the jump to recipe button at the top of the post.

You might also like my cherry scones recipe or my cherry muffin recipe. For ease of browsing, you can find all of my fresh cherry recipes in one place.

Pickled cherries in glass jar.

Pook’s Pantry participates in affiliate programs. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

Why you should make pickled cherries

  • Quick & Easy – This recipe will only take you about 20 minutes to make.
  • Versatile – You can add pickled cherries to so many things for an added punch of flavor.
  • Make ahead – The cherries get better the next day, so making them ahead of time is encouraged.

Easy pickled cherries

We tend to automatically put fruit into the sweet category. But, it can have delicious savory applications as well, like my cherry chutney.

Adding sweet and sour ingredients to fruit turns them into something really tasty and interesting. And, because cherry season is short, it’s a great way to enjoy them long after they disappear from the store.

Ingredients

The ingredients for this fruity pickle are common ingredients in your home.

Ingredients for pickled cherries.
  • Fresh cherries – I used sweet cherries for this recipe. Any sweet variety will do.
  • Apple cider vinegar – I use Bragg. It is the best, in my opinion.
  • Fresh rosemary – a sprig or two is all you need.
  • Black peppercorns – whole peppercorns, not ground pepper.
  • Brown sugar – you can use white sugar, but I prefer the deeper flavor of brown sugar.

How to make them

First, wash the cherries. Then, add the cherries and the sprig of rosemary to a glass quart-sized (32 oz.) jar.

Cherries and rosemary in jar.

In a small saucepan, combine the water, vinegar, sugar and peppercorns. Bring the mixture to a boil, then shut it off.

Adding brine to cherries.

Carefully add the hot brine to the cherries in the jar. Let it cool on the countertop until room temperature, then cover and refrigerate.

Pickled cherries FAQ’s

Here are a few quick tips, and some answers to frequently asked questions.

Can I use frozen cherries?

I wouldn’t recommend it. The texture is completely different. However, if that’s your only option and you really want them, proceed with slightly lowered expectations.

Do they have to be refrigerated?

Technically, it should be ok to sit out. HOWEVER, I am not suggesting this. To be on the safe side, and you know I’m all about food safety, I’d store them in the fridge.

Can I make them ahead of time?

Yep! The cherries actually get better as they sit, so make them a day or two ahead of time for optimal pickling time.

Cherry season is not around for long, so don’t wait too long to grab a couple of pounds. I’ll be making another big batch before the summer is over so I can enjoy them long after they disappear from the stores.

When you’ve eaten all of the cherries, save the liquid for salad dressings or a marinade! It has tons of flavor.

Cherries in jar with brine.

Variations and substitutions

The variations and substitutions for this recipe are limitless. Swap rosemary for your favorite herb – try thyme, lemon thyme, marjoram, or tarragon.

Add a little heat to the mixture with the addition of red chili flakes, or a fresh chili pepper. Anything from a moderately hot jalapeño to a fiery Thai red chili.

Substitute light brown sugar with regular granulated white sugar. You can also adjust the amount to make it sweeter or less sweet.

Apple cider vinegar is my personal favorite, but rice wine vinegar is also nice here. Try other light vinegars (I wouldn’t recommend balsamic) to experiment and find a new favorite.

To push these into savory territory, add cloves of garlic and slices of red onion or shallot.

Cherries with brine in glass jar.

After 24 hours in the brine, cherries will turn just slightly darker, but will retain their texture and bright color. The juice from the cherries will turn the brine a beautiful ruby hue.

Serving suggestions

These pickled cherries pair well with a charcuterie or cheese board, plus they make a great bruschetta topping.

Try tossing them into salads – both green salads and grain salads.

Helpful tools and equipment

Please share

If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!

I hope you love this pickled cherry recipe as much as we do! Please consider rating and/or commenting.

Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

More pickled recipes:

Pickled Cherries

Cheryl Bennett
Easy pickled cherries are a great way to enjoy this sweet fruit!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Marinating Time 1 day
Total Time 1 day 20 minutes
Course Condiments
Cuisine American
Servings 1 quart
Calories 51 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups sweet cherries stems removed, pits intact (see notes) // 560g
  • 1 1/4 cups apple cider vinegar // 360ml *See note
  • 1 cup water // 240ml
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar // 120ml
  • 2 tsp. black peppercorns
  • 1 – 5 ” sprig rosemary

Instructions
 

  • Rinse cherries and drain well.
  • Place cherries and rosemary in glass jar and set aside.
  • In a small saucepan, combine apple cider vinegar, water, sugar and black peppercorns. Stir to combine. *Taste the brine, and adjust sugar or vinegar to your preferences, if needed.
  • Bring to a boil, then shut off.
  • Carefully pour liquid over cherries.
  • Let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for 24 hours before eating.

Video

Notes

You can leave the stems on or remove them – completely up to you. If you prefer to remove the pits, you can also do that.
I like a vinegary brine, so I use a lot of vinegar. If you prefer a mild vinegar flavor, use 1 1/2 cups of water and 1 cup of vinegar.
I prefer light brown sugar over white sugar because it has a deeper flavor. You can use white sugar, if you prefer. Light brown sugar will also make the brine darker than white sugar. If you prefer a sweeter brine, increase the sugar to taste.
Add pickled cherries to your favorite grain salads or green salads for a punch of flavor. They also make a great addition to a cheese board or a charcuterie board.
They also make an excellent homemade hostess gift! Take a jar to a friend or neighbor the next time you’re invited to a summer party.
Once you’ve eaten all of the cherries, save that brine! You can turn it into a delicious vinaigrette for salads. Just blend it with a bit of olive oil, Dijon mustard and a little diced shallot for a quick and easy dressing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 cupCalories: 51kcalCarbohydrates: 12gSodium: 3mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!

Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe (other than for personal use) without prior written permission. Thank you!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating