Homemade Sweet & Tart Cherry Preserve
How to Make Delicious Cherry Preserve
I’ve made a delicious cherry preserve! This recipe will guide you through creating a wonderfully flavorful cherry preserve using fresh cherries. Its delightful texture and sweet taste make it perfect for various drinks and dishes. Last year, our cherry preserve was a huge hit, so let’s make it even more delicious this year!
Ingredients
- 500g fresh cherries
- 500g white or brown sugar (equal weight to cherries)
- Sterilized glass jar(s) (adjust capacity based on cherry amount)
- A pinch of baking soda (for washing cherries)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare to wash the cherries thoroughly. Sterilize your glass jar(s) by immersing them in boiling water and ensure they are completely dry before use. This prevents the preserve from spoiling. Submerge the jar in boiling water for about 1 minute, then dry it with a clean cloth or paper towel, or let it air dry.
Step 2
Wash the cherries by sprinkling a little baking soda over them and gently rubbing. This method is effective for removing pesticides and impurities. Rinse the washed cherries under running water several times to remove any baking soda residue. To speed up the process, you can drain them in a colander or meticulously pat them dry with paper towels, allowing you to move to the next step immediately.
Step 3
Now it’s time to remove the cherry pits. Gently press the cherry with the back of a knife or your fingers to halve it; you’ll see the pit inside. Carefully remove the pit. Removing the pits will allow the cherry flesh to break down smoothly when making the preserve and will result in a cleaner eating experience.
Step 4
Besides halving the cherries, you can also cut them into quarters or smaller pieces as shown in the photo. Regardless of how you cut them, it’s important that the cherry flesh melds well with the sugar. You can mix the cut cherries directly with sugar, but I prefer layering them. It’s crucial to completely dry the cherries with a clean paper towel before cutting. If you prefer to keep them whole, ensure the pits are removed first.
Step 5
There are two main ways to pack the cherry preserve. The first is to mix the cut cherries and sugar in equal proportions and pack them directly into the jar. The second method, which I’ve used, is to layer the cherries and sugar alternately. Layering allows the sugar to dissolve gradually, drawing out the cherry juices, and it also looks aesthetically pleasing, conveying a sense of care. The basic ratio is 1 part cherry to 1 part sugar, but you can adjust the amount of sugar to suit your preferred sweetness.
Step 6
If you have layered the cherries and sugar in the jar, finish by generously covering the top layer with sugar. This helps minimize the cherries’ contact with air, maintaining freshness and preventing mold growth. Covering with sugar also helps prevent the cherries from floating to the top, ensuring more stable preservation.
Step 7
The cherry preserve I made last year was incredibly popular. I made over ten batches of lemon preserve as gifts for family and friends, and everyone loved them. The other preserves were sent to my husband’s office, where they enjoyed them as warm tea. I mostly enjoyed mine as a refreshing cherry ade, which was wonderfully tart and delicious. I highly recommend trying this year’s cherry preserve as a warm cherry tea by dissolving it in hot water! You can also mix it with sparkling water, milk, or yogurt for a variety of delightful uses, according to your taste.
