Dried Cherry
Dried cherries are tart or sweet cherries dried down into a chewy, concentrated form, popular in American baking, salads, and grain dishes for their bright sweet-tart punch.
How to buy
Look for plump, deep red to burgundy pieces rather than overly hard or sugar-crusted ones. Many tart Montmorency cherries are lightly sweetened to balance their natural tartness; check the label if you want unsweetened.
How to store
Keep in an airtight container in a cool pantry for several months. Refrigerating or freezing extends freshness and helps keep pantry moths away.
Culinary profile
- Flavor
- A concentrated sweet-tart cherry flavor, often brighter and more intensely fruity than fresh cherries due to the drying process.
- Texture
- Chewy and slightly sticky raw; plumps up softer when soaked in wine, juice, or warm water.
- Aroma
- A sweet, jammy cherry aroma with a faint tart edge.
How to prepare
- Plumped in liquid — Soaked briefly in wine, juice, or warm water to soften before using.
- Folded into baked goods — Added whole or chopped into scones, cookies, and quick breads.
- Tossed into salads — Scattered over greens for bursts of sweet-tart contrast against savory elements.
- Simmered into sauce — Cooked down with liquid and sugar into a sauce for roasted meats or cheesecake.
Classic dishes
American
- Cherry scones — Buttery scones studded with chewy dried cherries.
- Trail mix with dried cherries — A classic snack mix combining dried cherries with nuts and seeds.
- Wild rice and dried cherry salad — A hearty grain salad brightened with dried cherries and toasted nuts.
- Spinach salad with dried cherries and walnuts — A classic combination of greens, cheese, nuts, and sweet-tart dried cherries.
- Cherry oatmeal cookies — Chewy oatmeal cookies studded with dried cherries for bursts of tart sweetness.
- Dried cherry stuffing — Bread stuffing for roast turkey brightened with chopped dried cherries.
- Dried cherry pie — A classic fruit pie made with rehydrated dried cherries off-season.
- Chocolate-covered dried cherries — A simple candy pairing dried cherries' tartness with sweet chocolate.
- Dried cherry compote for cheesecake — A thick cherry sauce simmered down to top cheesecake or ice cream.
Italian
- Cherry almond biscotti — Twice-baked cookies studded with dried cherries and toasted almonds.
Indian
- Dried cherry chutney — A sweet-spiced condiment simmering dried cherries with vinegar and spice.
French
- Dried cherry sauce for duck or pork — A sweet-tart pan sauce built on reduced dried cherries and wine.
- Cherry clafoutis — A baked custard dessert, sometimes made with dried cherries when fresh aren't available.
German
- German-style muesli — A breakfast grain mix often studded with dried cherries and other dried fruit.
British & Irish
- Cherry soda bread — A quick, yeast-free bread studded with dried cherries for sweetness.
Substitutions
- Dried Apricot — Dried apricots can substitute for dried cherries in baking or salads at a similar ratio, though they lean sweeter and more honeyed rather than tart and berry-like.