Ok, I'll admit it... we love dessert! I write about desserts a lot, even though we eat them pretty sparingly.
But honestly, it's because it's just more fun that writing about the beef casserole I made the night before. What can I say?
Here are a few of our favorites:
Apple Pie Filling
Honey Sweetened Dark Chocolate
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Gingersnaps
Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
Homemade Oreos
... You get the idea!
But one of our TOP favorites has always been PIE!
It might be apple, or chocolate, but always made with my great-grandmother's pie crust recipe.
So we are canning these cherries while they are cheap so we can eat cherry pie for the rest of the year! Yum!
Canned Cherries: How to Can Cherries for Pie
This is an amazingly simple recipe. Honestly, the hardest part is pitting the cherries!
Though that part is made so much easier with the help of this simple tool.
Once you have the cherries pitted, just make a simple syrup (details below) and process for 25 minutes per the water bath canning directions here.
Canned Cherries FAQ
Can I use cornstarch or some other type of thickener while canning?
This is a great question, and undoubtedly the one I get THE MOST on this topic! The answer is NO, it is recommended that no starch should be added during the canning process.
It really only takes about 3 minutes to thicken the syrup when you go to use it, so I like to air on the side of caution and "follow the rules" on this one!
RELATED: How to Can Apples for Baking
How to Can Cherries for Pie
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Sweet Cherries
- 3 1/4 cup Sugar
- 5 Cups Filtered or Spring Water
- 3 Quart Jars wide mouth
- 3 Sets Rings and Lids
- Water Bath Canner
- Canning Tools
- Cherry Pitting Tool
Instructions
- Wash and prepare jars per Water Bath Canning Directions.
- Pit all cherries, set aside.
- Combine water and sugar in medium pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and maintain a low simmer.
- Pack cherries into hot jars and ladle syrup over cherries, leaving a 1 inch headspace.
- Use canning knife to remove bubbles (see directions here)
- Wipe off rim with a hot towel, add rings and lids. Tighten to "finger tightness", not too much.
- Place in a hot water bath, with the water level at least 2 inches above the jars.
- Bring to boil. Start 25 minute timer once water is boiling.
- When timer goes off, turn off the burner and leave jars in the water for an additional 5 minutes.
- Remove jars with jar removal tool, and place them on a towel.
- Do not move for at least 12 hours.
How to Make Cherry Pie from Canned Cherries
- With 1 Einkorn Pie Crust ready, drain Canned Cherry juice into a sauce pan.
- Add 1 TBSP Einkorn Flour to juice. Stir over low heat until well combined.
- Raise heat to medium and stir until thickened.
- Add cherries to Pie Crust and pour thickened juice evenly over the cherries.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 425°.
- Reduce heat to 350° and bake for an additional 40 minutes.
- Serve warm with Ice Cream, or chill.
How long after canning are they good for? Hopefully this is not a stupid question.
Hi Ricky, not a stupid question at all! When canned in properly cleaned jars, they should be good for at least 5 years!
I would love to try this! How much space do i need to leave at the top of the jars when canning?
You know Sarah, this recipe has been up for YEARS and you’re the first person to ask me that question!
It’s a 1 inch headspace and I will update the recipe right now!
I have only been canning for a little while so this may be a dumb question but, do you not need to add lemon juice or anything to this recipe? I only ask because most of my water bath fruit canning recipes call for lemon juice or citric acid and I thought that was a way for preserving the fruit. So these cherries turn out just fine for eating without the lemon juice? Thank you!!
Hi Ashley! Not a dumb question :-)
The reason it’s not always required is that the acid level of some foods is naturally high enough. For others, the ph level needs to be raised a bit to safely can.
Apples, strawberries, cherries, peaches, and more don’t need the extra ph boost! Hope that helps!