Dried Cherries

I've mentiond that I was recently given some sour cherries and wondered how I would ever use them all. I love cherry pie so my first use for them was just that. That week was a particuarly busy week and I was worried they were going to go bad before I had a chance to use them. Then it dawned on me to dry them. So I set about looking for instructions to dry without a dehydrator.

They dried perfectly and several days later I had family coming and knew that I wanted to make something with them so I rehydrated them and it was PERFECT! They were moist and delicious! Keep in mind they don't plump back up to cherry size. Think of a cherry flavored raisin and you'll have a great idea of what I'm talking about. Rehydrating them gives them great flavor for use in cookies, breads, and other fantastic dishes.

For my international friends: (Dzoli this is for you!) it may be more economical to purchase dried cherries for snacking, granola, baking, etc. I know the import of canned cherries can be difficult in some locations. Just food for thought...he,he!

Dried Cherries

Wash and pat cherries dry. Remove pits as leaving them in can can alter the taste of the dried cherry.Once pits have been removed place cherries on baking sheet cut side up. Place in 165 degree oven for 3 hours.

When the tops begin to look wrinkled, reduce temp to 135 degrees and leave in oven for 18-24 hours.

 How to tell cherries are done:
Cheries will be similar to raisins. Hard but pliable, wrinkled and a bit sticky.

Squezing them will produce no liquid.

Packing and Storing:

Once the cherries are dried, allow them to rest at room temperture before packing. You

can store in plastic containers or sealed bags.  After packing, watch for the first week

to be sure no moisture appears on packing. If moisture appears they cherries are

not completely dried and will not preserve well. Remove cherries and return to

oven to dry a little longer.

Rehydrating Dried Cherries

1 C Dried Cherries

1 C water

1 C sugar

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C cherry liquor (I used fruit juice & blueberry juice is what I had on hand)

Bring water, sugar and juice to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in dried cheries.

(if using liquor, stir in after removing from heat)

Soak the cherries overnight in the rerigerator or an hour at the minimum. Drain remaining

liquid before using cheries in recipe.

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