Cherry season is short but oh-so-sweet. Whether you’ve gone cherry picking, snagged a great grocery store deal, or just have a loaded tree in the backyard, it can be overwhelming figuring out what to do with them all. Fortunately, cherries are incredibly versatile and easy to preserve. In this post, you’ll find 9 tried-and-true ways to preserve cherries — from quick freezer methods to long-term canning options to dehydrating, and more. Whether you’re brand-new to preserving or looking for new cherry preservation ideas, this roundup post has something delicious for you.
Let’s dive into 9 simple and delicious ways to preserve cherries for the months ahead.
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1. Can Cherries Without Pitting Them
Did you know you can can cherries whole—with the pits still in? It saves a ton of time and creates a stunning jar that looks like it came straight from the farmer’s market. The great thing about preserving cherries without pitting them by canning is that all you have to do is wash them, pull of the stems, drop them into jars, and water bath or pressure can them. I provide all the info on how you do that, in the blog post below.
✅ Learn how to can whole cherries without pitting them
Pro Tip: Let your guests know the pits are inside if you serve them straight from the jar!
By the way, in the spirit of giving credit where credit is due, I want to acknowledge that I first got this idea from RoseRed Homestead in this video:
2. Freeze Cherries
Freezing cherries is one of the easiest preservation methods. Frozen cherries are perfect for smoothies, baking, or snacking. They also work beautifully in sauces and homemade cherry compote. Best of all, you can freeze them until you have time to do something more time consuming, such as canning or dehydrating. For the details on how to freeze cherries, check out the blog post below.
✅ Read the step-by-step guide to freezing cherries
Pro Tip: Pre-freeze cherries on a tray to prevent clumping in storage bags.
3. Preserve Cherries by Dehydrating Them
Dehydrated cherries make great snacks and are perfect for trail mixes, oatmeal, or even baking. They’re chewy, naturally sweet, and easy to store for long-term use. Dehydrating is also one of the best ways to preserve cherries without taking up freezer space.
One thing I love about dehydrating cherries is that you can rehydrate them and use them for things like cherry pie filling.
✅ See how to dehydrate cherries the right way
Pro Tip: Use a cherry pitter to remove pits quickly, and if it matters to you, don’t skip pre-treatment to prevent browning. Here is the cherry pitter that I use, that you can pick up on Amazon.
4. Make Cherry Jam
Homemade cherry jam is a sweet and slightly tart treat that captures summer in a jar. You can water bath can it for long-term shelf stability. I love preserving cherries by making jam with them because it’s a way to enjoy cherries in small servings throughout the year.
Pro Tip: Add lemon juice to enhance the flavor and ensure a safe pH for canning.
✅ Read the step-by-step guide to making cherry jam here.
5. Make Chocolate Cherry Jam
Okay, I know that I just mentioned making cherry jam. But let’s face it: chocolate + cherries = magic. This decadent jam makes a beautiful gift or a special treat for yourself. As an added bonus, there aren’t many “approved” recipes for preserving chocolate, and this delicious chocolate cherry jam is a great way to add some chocolate to your prepper pantry!
Pro Tip: A little cocoa goes a long way—don’t overdo it or it may affect the flavor.
✅ Read the step-by-step guide to making chocolate cherry jam here.
6. Preserve Cherries by Fermenting
Fermented cherries are tangy, fizzy, and gut-friendly! They make a unique topping for yogurt or oatmeal and are a fun way to explore natural preservation.
Pro Tip: Use raw honey or whey to kickstart the fermentation process.
7. Make Cherry Liqueur
Cherry liqueur is simple to make and makes a lovely homemade gift. Just soak cherries in vodka or brandy with a bit of sugar and let time do the work.
Pro Tip: Use a sterilized jar.
8. Can Cherry Pie Filling
Home-canned cherry pie filling makes it easy to whip up a homemade dessert in minutes—just pour into a crust and bake.
Pro Tip: Be sure to use Clear Jel (Amazon)—not cornstarch—for safe and shelf-stable pie filling.
For more information on canning cherry pie filling, check out this article on the National Center for Home Food Preservation website.
Make every jar count. Learn how to set smart canning goals, track your inventory, and build a pantry your family will love—with the Home Canning Success System.
👉 Check it out on Amazon9. Make Cherry Vinegar
Cherry vinegar is sweet, tart, and perfect for salad dressings or marinades. You can make it by infusing vinegar with cherries, as another unique way to preserve cherries.
Pro Tip: Use raw apple cider vinegar as the base to maximize flavor and health benefits.
And in case you’re wondering why you should make your own flavored vinegars, check out this video by LifeByMikeG on why he started making his own vinegars.
Bonus Tip: How to Pit Cherries
Admittedly unless you chose to preserve cherries by canning them without pitting them, pitting cherries is the hardest part of preparing cherries for preserving. The good news is, there are multiple ways to pit cherries.
I found that using this cherry pitter (Amazon) made the job way easier because with it, I was able to pit 7 cherries at a time. It was still work, but not as much as it would have been without a cherry pitter or if I had one of those cherry pitters that only pits one cherry at a time.
The good news is that there are ways to pit cherries without a pitter, so if you have a bunch of fresh cherries staring you in the face that you need to do something with ASAP before they go bad, check out the two videos below that show multiple ways of pitting cherries without a cherry pitter.
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🍒 Which Cherry Preservation Method Will You Try First?
- Want the easiest method? → Try freezing or dehydrating.
- Love baked goods? → Cherry pie filling or jam is perfect.
- Curious about gut health? → Give fermented cherries a try.
- Want something elegant? → Make cherry vinegar or liqueur.
With so many easy and delicious ways to preserve cherries, there’s something here for every skill level and taste. Whether you’re filling your pantry or stocking your freezer, your future self will thank you when cherry season is long gone.
🍒 Want to Print a Cherry Preservation Method?
My blog posts below have printable instructions or recipes. Note that you may need to scroll down a bit to get to the printable recipe/instruction card.
- How to Can Cherries without Pits
- How to Dehydrate Cherries
- How to Freeze Cherries
- Making and Preserving Cherry Jam
- Making and Preserving Chocolate Cherry Jam
💬 Let’s Chat!
Have a favorite way to preserve cherries? Tried something new this year? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear from you!