I’m lucky to live where some of my favorite fruit can grow. Recently I brought home half a peck of dark sweet cherries from a nearby orchard.
Cherries can stain your hands, clothing, and the kitchen counters, but they’re so worth making a mess! There are many ways to pit cherries – but my favorite is to recruit a family member to do it, and keep my own fingers clean.
Amaretto Cherry Butter
Amaretto Cherry Butter is smooth, delicate, and restrained. It’s cooked in a slowcooker (crockpot): no standing and stirring!
Link to recipe: amaretto cherry butter
Cherry Apricot Jam
Apricots and cherries are a natural match. The apricots add a welcome tartness to the sweet cherries, giving a jam that’s incredibly good with a cheese plate or on pancakes. Once the cherries are pitted, it goes together very quickly.
Link to recipe: cherry apricot jam
Smooth Cherry Jam
When you don’t have help pitting the cherries, consider Smooth Cherry Jam. This starts with 3 pounds of unpitted cherries; the pits are removed after the fruit has cooked enough to loosen them.