When cherry season comes along, we almost always have more than we can enjoy fresh. We try our best to preserve as much as we can to enjoy later by either freezing our cherries or dehydrating them. I used to use some of the frozen ones for making pies, however I have discovered how to can cherries for pies instead.

If you are a canning addict like me, then you will probably find the process very simple, because it actually is pretty easy. Dust off the old water bath canner for this one, because you are going to need it. As for pitting the cherries, I had to call on my little army of helpers to help me and they were happy to spend some quality time helping mummy with her dirty work.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• sweet cherries
• sugar
• water
• wide mouth quart jars
• canning jar rings and lids
• water bath canner
• canning tools
• ladle
• kitchen towel
• cherry pitting tool
• medium pot

The cherries will need to be pitted before you can begin. The fastest and easiest way to do this will be using a pitting tool. Add water and sugar into the pot, bring to a boil and then let simmer. In each jar you will start with the cherries, and then fill to about an inch below the rim with the syrup. Remove any bubbles that may have formed, before wiping the rims and screwing on the lids with the rings in place.

After you have filled all your jars, then you place them in the canner. Process the jars for 25 minutes after the water boils. The jars should be left in canner for at least 5 minutes before you lift them out and place them on top of the kitchen towel on your counter. Leave them on the counter for at least 12 hours or as I do overnight, to allow them to seal.

You can follow step by step instructions on The A Modern Homestead blog, here…

How To Can Cherries For Pies

You can watch the video below on canning cherries for pies…

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