I may earn a commission if you click on links in this post and make a purchase.
Fresh sour cherries can be one of the most under-appreciated fruits of summer. Which is such a shame because they are so very easy to make tart cherry recipes for fresh eating and preserving.
While sour cherries might not be the fresh fruit snack many of us reach for, they definitely have a place in our seasonal eating meal plans.
They also have a place in our preservation plans in that there are plenty of easy recipes for jams, pie fillings, and more to fill our pantries and gift baskets.
Make Quick Work
Invest in a good cherry pitter, it will cherry season so much more efficient.
There are a number of different styles. I prefer the kind with a hopper and a plunger. We work with both sour and dark sweet cherries each summer so it’s been an investment that has been worth it for us.
Varieties of Tart Cherries
There are several hundred different types of tart cherries but it seems two are most commonly found.
Montmorency tart cherries are probably the most well known. These are bright red cherries, round and with a wonderful tart flavor.
Morello cherries are dark cherries with almost black skin.
In many markets and areas both are simply sold as pie cherries. They can all be used interchangeably, get what you can.
Do look for locally grown and harvested whenever possible. There may even be a you-pick place near you to make an entire day of the adventure.
Freeze
Don’t feel like baking or making jam or jelly with those fresh tart cherries when they’re in season? Freeze them for a quick preservation and bake with them when the weather is cooler.
Simply pit those cherries and lay them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place in the freezer for a couple of hours until solid, then put the frozen cherries into a freezer-safe container and keep frozen until needed.
Freezing them in a single layer first, means they don’t freeze into a solid mass in the container making it easier later to get only the amount needed for a recipe.
Use the Pits
Because cherries are a stone fruit, you’ll be left with the pits.
If you’re feeling extra crafty, clean and save those cherry pits to make a homemade heating pad. If you have lots, make them for gifts your friends and family can truly use.
Tart Cherry Recipes
Whether you're looking for sweet treats, preserves, or even savory meal ideas this list has you covered with many a delicious option for your cooking adventures.
Desserts
Sour cherries make for decadent desserts with the wonderful tart and sweet combination that so many of us favor. And there are so many choices beyond pie.
Chocolate Sour Cherry Cake
Dark and rich chocolate sour cherry cake is a simple but heavenly dessert perfect for summer.
Easy Sour Cherry Hand Pies
Sour Cherry Hand Pies are made with juicy tart cherries, a flaky buttery crust and are sweet enough to make your dessert tooth happy! The individual package makes these a great way to share pie easily at picnics, potlucks, and more!
Sour Cherry Crisp
This delicious tangy sour cherry crisp is a fantastic dessert recipe. It's not overly sweet but highlights the natural sweet and sour flavors.
Amaretto Cherry Pie
This baked up boozy concoction of sour and sweet cherry pie comes complete with the almond flavor of Amaretto.
Homemade Cherry Pie
A simple old-fashioned cherry pie with a lattice crust and a bit of almond extract is an amazing dessert that never goes out of style.
Black Forest Ice Cream
Summer is never complete without ice cream and this black forest ice cream is pure indulgence. With decadent chocolate ice cream, a tangy cherry swirl and a hint of cherry brandy.
Traditional Black Forest Cake
This traditional black forest cake is made German style with three layers of decadent chocolate cake, sour cherries, kirshwasser and plenty of whipped cream!
French Cherry Clafoutis Recipe
The French cherry clafoutis is a flan prepared with sour cherries. The traditional dessert is prepared with whole unpitted cherries.
Sour Cherry Strudel made with Phyllo Dough
Perfect for dessert or brunch, this strudel features tart cherries surrounded in crisp phyllo dough.
Rustic Sour Cherry Cake
This Sour Cherry Cake is a simple and homey treat. The rustic almond cake is studded with a whole pound of fresh sour cherries. It’s a totally unfussy recipe perfect for lazy summer days.
Sour Cherry Almond Bars
Use some of your homemade sour cherry jam and cover them in a brown sugar and oatmeal crumble crust for a chewy and delicious treat!
Cherry Cobbler
Delicious cherry cobbler made with freshly picked sour cherries is a delicious summertime dessert. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Jams & Jellies
Cherries lend themselves naturally to gorgeous and delicious jams and jellies to eat now and save for the winter.
Sour Cherry Butter
Thick and rich sour cherry butter is perfect for serving on toast and pound cakes. This recipe easily cooks down in the slow cooker to save you from standing over a hot stove in the middle of summer.
Brandied Cherry Berry Preserves
Combine fresh cherries with sweet berries and brandy for a preserve perfect for serving over ice cream, oatmeal, pancakes, and more!
Sour Cherry Jam
Don't have enough to can or simply don't feel like canning? This recipe makes just 1 jar of jam for keeping in the fridge and using up over the summer months.
Easy Amaretto Sour Cherry Jam
This recipe is just what you need to make beautiful ruby colored jam. Made with sour cherries and amaretto, it’s the perfect combination of sweet and tart.
Nanking Cherry Jelly
Make tart cherry juice from those cherries so that you can make and can gorgeous cherry jelly for winter eating and sharing.
Other Preserves
Go beyond jams and jellies with these cherry preserves for your pantry stores.
Canning Cherries
Can whole cherries in a sugar syrup for easy snacking and use later in the year with this basic process.
Amaretto Cherry Preserves
Preserve tart cherries in some sugar and amaretto for an adult treat that has a numerous uses, including great gifts!
How to Can Homemade Cherry Pie Filling
Skip the canned pie filling from the grocery store. Make your own tart cherry pie from filling you canned when the cherries were fresh.
Breakfast
Have your cherries for every meal of the day with these baked breakfast treats.
Sour Cherry Muffins
Big chunks of sour cherries are surrounded by tender muffin for a delicious grab and go breakfast treat.
Sour Cherry Coffee Cake
Take tart, sour cherries and add them to a sweet vanilla coffee cake with a crumble topping perfect for serving with coffee and tea at brunch.
Savory Items
Tart cherries complement many savory dishes and can be a bigger part of meal plans than dessert.
Sheet Pan Turmeric Salmon with Cherry Sauce
This sheet pan turmeric salmon with a quick garlic tart cherry sauce and roasted broccoli is a wholesome, healthy and anti-inflammatory dinner recipe that’s super easy to put together.
Cherry Chutney
This cherry chutney can accompany a variety of dishes – spooned on to curries, cheeses and desserts, or mixed with mayo to become a sandwich or burger condiment.
Aleppo Sour Cherry Meatballs
Even meatballs can have a sour cherry and exotic twist that is sure to have everyone asking for seconds.
Too funny; I just bought two cases of pie cherries from The Apple Barrel in Kalispell this afternoon to use in cherry liqueur and cherry wine recipes. Your timing is impeccable. Now I’ll have a use for the leftover pits! Thank you.
Yum! Have fun with those.
I don’t know if you still have this blog as active however im so happy i found it and this is my first fall where i have sour cherries at my fingertips and i cant wait to get right into many of your ideas!!
We are very much active around here. Enjoy those sour cherries!
I was led to believe that souer or biter cherry s are dangerous to eat of the three
Do you mean choke cherries? Those are the same as sour pie cherries. There’s no danger to eating sour cherries.
This was my first summer being able to harvest from our sour cherry tree that we planted the year previous, and what a great crop!
I was so busy however, that I had to put them right in the freezer and unfortunately I didn’t pit them. I did not freeze the cherries in any kind of juice or liquid. Just froze them whole.
I’d like to preserve them now into cherry pie filling and my question is this: Once I thaw them, I know I’ll have all kinds of natural juice in the ziplock. Do I pour this juice down the sink, or do I put all the juice into the pot with the cherries (after I’ve pitted them).
I ask this because I freeze my tomatoes whole and the first time I dumped all of the juice/water from the tomatoes down the sink and discovered that the sauce I made wasn’t flavourful at all. Now I pour the tomatoes (after I’ve skinned them) and whatever liquid is in the bag into the pot and it’s perfect.
Thanks for any advice you may have.
You’re going to need to account for the extra moisture when you thicken. For pie filling, I’d thaw first and drain, then continue.
Is there an easier way to make cherry wine?
I don’t have all that equipment.
There may be but I don’t know it – generally speaking the equipment is necessary.
I do not have enough to make the butter can I freeze the pitted cherries till I have morning. Thank you. Penny
Certainly.