Preserved sour cherries for cakes

Recipe for Preserved Sour Cherries for Cakes

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 40-50 minutes
Total: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Number of servings: 8 jars (5 jars of 650 g and 3 jars of 550 g)

Preserved sour cherries are an excellent choice to add a splash of flavor to cakes, compotes, or even sauces. This simple and quick recipe transforms fresh fruit into a versatile ingredient that you can use throughout the year. It is a tried and tested recipe that will bring a smile to the faces of your loved ones. Let's get started!

Ingredients:
- 4900 g pitted sour cherries
- 16 tablespoons of sugar

Step by Step: How to Preserve Sour Cherries

Step 1: Preparing the Sour Cherries
1. Washing and cleaning the sour cherries: Start by washing the sour cherries well under a stream of cold water. Make sure there are no impurities or leaves left. Then, remove the pits. This process can be a bit laborious, but it is essential for achieving delicious preservation. If you have a pitter, use it to speed up the process.

Step 2: Packing in Jars
2. Filling the jars: After cleaning the sour cherries, weigh them. You should have about 4900 g. Divide the cherries into jars, putting 650 g in each of the 5 jars and 550 g in the other 3. This step is important to ensure an even distribution of the fruit.

3. Adding sugar: To each jar, add 2 tablespoons of sugar. The sugar not only helps preserve the sour cherries but also enhances their flavor. An interesting variation would be to experiment with brown sugar or natural sweeteners to reduce calorie intake, but this may slightly alter the final taste.

4. Sealing the jars: Place the lid on each jar and shake them well to ensure that the sugar dissolves and distributes evenly among the cherries. This is a simple but essential step to achieve homogeneous preservation.

Step 3: Boiling the Jars
5. Preparing for boiling: Choose a large pot and place a towel at the bottom. This will prevent the jars from breaking during boiling. Arrange the jars in the pot, leaving enough space between them.

6. Boiling: Fill the pot with water up to the level of the jar mouths. Then, place it over medium heat. Once the water starts to boil, boil the jars for 40-50 minutes. This process will not only preserve the fruit but will also create an aromatic delight throughout the house.

7. Cooling the jars: After the boiling time has expired, let the jars cool in the water. This step helps form a vacuum that will seal the jars, ensuring that your cherries remain fresh and delicious.

Step 4: Storage
8. Storage: Once the jars have completely cooled, label them with the date and contents. Store them in a cool, dark place. These preserved cherries can be used throughout the year, bringing a fresh taste of summer to any dish.

Helpful Tips:
- Choose fresh sour cherries: The quality of the cherries is essential for an excellent result. Opt for firm and well-ripened fruit.
- Experiment with spices: You can add cinnamon or vanilla to the jars to enhance the flavor of the cherries.
- Checking the jars: Make sure the lids are well sealed after cooling. If a lid is not in place, use that jar sooner.

Calories and Nutritional Benefits
Sour cherries are rich in antioxidants, vitamins A and C, and can help improve cardiovascular health. A serving of preserved sour cherries may contain about 100-150 calories, depending on the amount of sugar added. Using a smaller amount of sugar can significantly reduce calorie intake.

Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can I use other fruits for preservation? Yes, this method works very well with cherries, peaches, or plums.
2. How can I use preserved cherries? They are excellent for cakes, puddings, sauces, or even served with yogurt or ice cream.
3. How long can the jars be kept? If properly preserved, they can be kept for a year.

Serving Suggestions
To add a splash of creativity, serve the preserved cherries with a vanilla sauce or alongside vanilla ice cream. You can use the cherries to fill a cheesecake or to create a delicious sauce for pancakes.

Conclusion
Preserving sour cherries is a simple and effective way to keep the taste of summer in jars. With a little patience and love, you can transform these delicious fruits into a versatile ingredient that will bring joy to every dessert you prepare. Try this recipe today and enjoy the fresh taste of sour cherries all year round!