Best Cherry Preserves Recipe

Made with a treasured family recipe and perfected over years of harvesting tart cherries, these preserves capture the bright, sweet-tart flavor of summer. Our secret? Perfectly balanced sweetness and a vibrant cherry flavor that will make your taste buds sing! This recipe is perfect for using an abundance of fresh cherries, but also works beautifully with frozen.

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 60 mins
Calories 59.1 kcal
Protein 0g
Rating 4.0 (7 Reviews)
Best Cherry Preserves 32

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Best Cherry Preserves

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How to Make Best Cherry Preserves

  1. Wash and pit the cherries. You can do this by hand or use a cherry pitter.
  2. Combine the cherries, sugar, water, lemon juice, cinnamon (if using), and cloves (if using) in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
  3. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 45-60 minutes, stirring frequently. The preserves are done when they reach setting point (a small amount dropped onto a cold plate wrinkles when pushed with a finger).
  5. Remove from heat and skim off any foam that has formed on the surface.
  6. Ladle the hot preserves into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
  7. Wipe the rims of the jars clean, seal, and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes (adjust processing time based on your altitude – check a canning guide for specifics).
  8. Allow the jars to cool completely. You should hear a satisfying "pop" as the jars seal.
  9. Once cool, check the seals to make sure they are airtight. Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

0 g

Sugar

52g

Fat

0g

Carbs

5g