Cherries in syrup
Contents:
Cherries in syrup are a delicious preparation made with fresh fruit, which finds its roots in the family tradition, handed down from generation to generation, and due to its characteristics, it can be named as preserve. Preparing cherries in syrup at home is a simple and rewarding experience, especially since the recipe is extremely simple.
You’ll need just a few ingredients – we suggest to use hard cherries also called duroni for this preparation-, sterilized jars and a pinch of patience: after having prepared and placed them in the jars, your cherries in syrup need to rest in the dark for about 30 days before being eaten. As soon as they are ready, you can enjoy them plain or accompany them with different sweets or desserts such as cakes, ice cream or yogurt, but also with creamy cheeses and delicious meats.
Ingredients
For two 500 ml jars you will only need:
- 2 kg of hard cherries
- 200 g of granulated sugar
- 1 l of water
Depending on your taste, you can also add 1 cinnamon stick, 1 vanilla bean or ½ glass of your favorite liquor!
Preparation
- Wash the cherries and dry them with a clean cloth. Remove the stalk and, if necessary, remove the stone.
- Meanwhile, fill a saucepan with water, put it on the heat and pour all the sugar into it. Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Pay attention not to overcook the syrup otherwise you risk caramelizing it.
- If you like it, add the cinnamon stick, vanilla bean or liquor
- In the meantime, place the washed cherries in the previously sterilized glass jars, filling them up to 2 cm below the rim.
- Once the sugar has completely dissolved, remove the cinnamon stick or vanilla bean from the pan and let the syrup cool for a few minutes.
- Then pour the warm syrup into the jars, until the cherries are completely covered. Close them hermetically and let them cool.
How to preserve cherries in syrup
Once you have prepared your cherries and closed them in the jars with their caps, it is time to create the vacuum. It’s very simple: wrap the jars in a towel and immerse everything in a pot with water. Boil for 10 minutes then remove the jars and place them upside down on a shelf. Once cooled, check the vacuum, just press the center of the cap which will not have to make the classic “click-clack” sound.
After preparing your cherries in syrup, you will need to store them in a dry, cool and dark place, such as a pantry or kitchen counter. A very important thing to know is that, as all other fruit in syrup, before enjoying your cherries, you will have to let them rest for at least a month, but we assure you that it will be worth it!
Once opened, however, they should be kept in the refrigerator for a few days.
How to eat cherries in syrup
Cherries in syrup are a delicious sweet snack that can be enjoyed alone, without exaggerating, or used as an ingredient in various summer desserts or, again, as a garnish for ice cream, yogurt, muffins or pancakes.
Furthermore, if you really like this preparation, you can also serve it along with different savory foods such as mature cheeses (brie and gorgonzola, just to name a few) or meats.
